Rome, Open City (1945)

Harry Feist: Major Bergmann

Photos 

Quotes 

• Major Bergman : Then I'll tell you who he is. He's subversive, he's fought with the Reds in Spain. His life is dedicated to fighting society, religion. He is an atheist... your enemy...

  Don Pietro : I am a Catholic priest. I believe that those who fight for justice and truth walk in the path of God and the paths of God are infinite

• Hartman : 25 years ago, I commanded firing squads in France. I was a young officer. I believed then, too, in a German "master-race." But the French patriots also died without talking. We Germans simply refuse to believe that people want to be free.

  Major Bergman : [Taken aback]  You're drunk, Hartman!

  Hartman : Yes, I'm drunk... I get drunk every night to forget. It doesn't help. We can't get anywhere but kill, kill, kill! We have sown Europe with corpses... and from those graves rises an incredible hate... HATE!... everywhere hate! We are being consumed by hatred... without hope.

  Major Bergman : [Incensed]  Enough!

  Hartman : We will all die... without hope...

  Major Bergman : [Fuming at Hartman, to no avail]  I forbid you to continue!

  Hartman : [Ignoring Major Bergman]  ... without hope.

  Major Bergman : You forget you're a German officer!

• Major Bergman : I've a man who must talk before dawn and a priest who is praying for him. He'll talk

  Hartman : And if not?

  Major Bergman : Ridiculous.

  Hartman : And if not?

  Major Bergman : Then it would mean an Italian is worth as much as a German. It would mean there is no difference in the blood of a slave race and a master race. And no reason for this war.

• Major Bergman : You clearly aim to harm the Reich and its armed forces.

  Don Pietro : That wasn't exactly my aim.

  Major Bergman : Then what would you call a man who not only provides refuge and forged documents to Italians plotting attacks on our soldiers but even shelters German deserters?

  Don Pietro : A man who humbly seeks to practice charity.

  Major Bergman : He's a traitor who must be punished, subject to the military law of the Reich.

  Don Pietro : God will judge.

• Major Bergman : How these Italians scream!