A character in Force 10 from Navarone (1978)

Mallory quotes from Force 10 from Navarone (1978)

Robert Shaw

Most-quoted character in Force 10 from Navarone (1978): in 10 of its 13 quotes
Most scenes with: S/Sgt. John Miller (5), Barnsby (4)

Scenes with Mallory

10 scenes
Jensen

We're tacking you onto Force 10. The code name for an operation for the Allied mission in Yugoslavia.

Mallory

Excuse me, sir. What's their objective?

Jensen

It's being treated on a need-to-know basis. And you don't need to know.

Jensen
[Handing Miller and Mallory a photograph]

I'm afraid it's not exactly a masterpiece... but I wonder if you can identify this fellow. [sees no sign that they recognize anyone in the picture] Think back to Navarone.

I'd rather not, sir.

Jensen

Nicolai? Yes. Let you down a bit, didn't he?

Mallory

But what about him? Andrea's people had him shot as a traitor, didn't they?

Jensen

Yes, so we were told. In fact, he escaped. He wasn't a traitor. He was a German agent, who we believe is operating now in Yugoslavia with the Partisans, posing as one Captain Lescovar. Now, you both knew Nicolai. In fact, you're the only people we know of can make a positive identification. So I'd like you to go out there and cope.

Cope, sir?

Mallory

Kill him.

Maj. Schroeder

Ah, tell me what has all this to do with that, uh, suitcase case you keep looking at?

Mallory

Well, that suitcase is full of our penicillin.

Maj. Schroeder

Oh, indeed. Perhaps I could see some of it?

Mallory

Certainly, Major. Open it Miller.

You can't do that here, sir. You'll ruin the lot. You know perfectly well that any contamination will destroy it. It's got to be opened under laboratory conditions.

Sorry about Marko.

Lescovar

Thank you. It's a risk we all take. He was a brave man and a good friend. Then he got careless.

Mallory

You think that big sergeant spotted him as a partisan?

I can't buy that. The sergeant wasn't that bright. [to Lescovar] He saluted you - you're wearing a corporal's uniform. That doesn't rate a salute in the German army.

Mallory

Not in anybody's army. Why do you think he saluted you, Lescovar?

Lescovar

Perhaps he recognized my natural superiority.

Mallory

Yes, perhaps.

Mallory

Next time, you can play the corpse. You seem pretty handy with that thing, though.

Could've been luck.

Mallory
[thoughtfully]

Miller, what would happen to the bridge if that central arch were suddenly hit by several million tons of water?

Mallory

I think we've been talking about the wrong target. Remember that dam we passed by on the way up here?

[suddenly all ears]

Dam? What sort of dam?

It's just up the road, about half a mile that way.

Well, my dear chap, why didn't you say so before? Oh, I could do a tremendous job on the dam! See, with the dam, you've got your natural elements working for you. It's like having an enormous bath - what have you got to do? Pull the plug!

Mallory

I don't suppose they taught you German at that awful school of yours?

What, instead of Latin? Heaven forbid, old boy.

Mallory

May I talk to you personally, sir?

Maj. Petrovitch

You are talking to me personally.

Mallory

No, I mean alone.

Maj. Petrovitch

No. The People's army does not conduct military business in secret.

Mallory
[with Lescovar standing next to Major Petrovitch]

I was sent here to identify a German agent, code name "Nicolai." We are reliably informed that he has infiltrated the People's Resistance Army, and is now known as Capt. Lescovar.

Maj. Petrovitch

And having identified this man, what were your further orders?

Mallory

I was to eliminate him, sir.

Maj. Petrovitch

Eliminate? Don't you mean kill?

Mallory

Yes, sir. I do mean kill.

Maj. Petrovitch
[to Lescovar]

Do you hear that, Lescovar? The gentlemen from London want us to shoot you. [Bursts out laughing] I'm sorry, major. I must admit you are indeed partly right. There was an agent named Nicolai... operating somewhere south of here and also calling himself Lescovar. But he was identified many months ago. And eliminated. The British were informed.

Mallory

But London were very specific, sir

Maj. Petrovitch

Yes, they frequently are specific... and just as frequently wrong! [to Marko] Lt. Marko, see that these gentlemen... give you a full report on their activities in the Chetnik camp. A specific report.

What happened to you?

Weaver

He bit me in all the excitement. But damn it to hell, we did it, Colonel! We did it!

Yes we did, Sergeant! Yes we did!

And a merry Christmas!

Mallory

Yes, gentlemen, we did it! [chuckling] But before we can start awarding ourselves Victoria Crosses and Congressional Medals of Honor and so on and so forth and such like... I think I'd better point out that one, we're now on the wrong side of the river. That two, we have no hope whatsoever of rejoining the partisans. That three, this neck of the woods will soon be crawling with very bad-tempered Germans. And that four, I don't think our little genius Sergeant Miller there has even got a box of matches left in his suitcase. And so I think we can take it, gentlemen, that we're going to have a very long walk home.

Other characters in Force 10 from Navarone

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