CHOCOLATE CAKE!
I like the bit where Kessler remonstrates to the General that the Americans have no conception of defeat, being able to 'have 'planes and fuel enough to fly chocolate cake over the Atlantic to the front'!
shareI like the bit where Kessler remonstrates to the General that the Americans have no conception of defeat, being able to 'have 'planes and fuel enough to fly chocolate cake over the Atlantic to the front'!
shareTRIVIA: That chocolate cake realistically resembled the kind baked in large numbers back in the U.S. by bakeries and by mothers. I think it was called a 'victory' cake. What made the victory cake unique was that it was made without eggs, a rationed commodity during the war. The lack of eggs had one beneficial side effect. The cake lasted longer and did not spoil as fast.
I admired the German general's self-reserve. Obviously the man must have enjoyed eating considering his bulk. But he didn't dig into the chocolate cake, which I admit looked highly delicious. LOL.
Ever since I saw this flick when I was young, I've remembered it for that scene.
Hessler asking for more time to assault, his superior demanding that he go around the town.
And then, out of nowhere, the totally unexpected, "Chocolate Cake Defence!"
"Go around Hessler! You're ten hours behind schedule already. Under no circumstance can we continue this assault."
"But sir, they've got cake!"
"Damn them! Attack immediately!"
If for nothing else, I'll always remember the film fondly just for that. Yes, I'm aware that his actual point was the yanks are flying cakes over, throwing resources at such frivolous things because they have no concept of defeat, and therefore there is a need to break their spirit, but ....
Aww hell, the Chocolate Cake Defence!
If I ever, ever get arrested and have to appear in court, sure I'll try the usual things, but if it looks dire, and if all else fails, you know I'm going to have a little secret weapon under a cloth sat right next to me in the defendant's box.
They'll never see it coming.
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I have never considered this scene as comic relief. It was giving a good illustration of the high morale and excellent logistical reserves of the Allies, particularly the U.S.A. Armed Forces. Remember, the disbelief that there was fuel to spare to fly cake across the North Atlantic whereas in contrast, the Germans were very short of oil and petroleum products.
All present enemies of the U.S.A. (one can also probably include other N.A.T.O. Countries as well), know that the latter fear high casualties in any conflict, knowing then, political and public support would probably be expediently removed thus, a truce or worse would have to be negotiated. Kessler realised that scenario existed back in late 1944 due to the foregoing.
Yes...it's a memorable scene. One has to wonder if Saddam and his henchmen watched the movie before HE took on the American Army for real. Certainly some of the Iraqi generals must have been a bit dismayed at all of the equipment, soldiers...and "chocolate cake" the US flew in from America to the desert.
CmdrCody
that scene MUST have happened for real somewhere sometime,because noone can make that up,its just so "weird that it may be true",one of the researchers must have found that story and put it in the movie
shareSome one posted in another thread that they saw a 'Playboy' magazine in this movie. THAT would have made for even better comic relief than the cake !
"Vat iz zis Shultz ? A girly magazine ... ?"
"Better than ummm... French post cards....Sir. You like, no ?"
"Yez, but don't you zee you fool .... the Ameri-kanz have ze rezourzes to vaste paper on nudie pictures ... and ze fuel to fly such zingz to ze soldiers across ze Atlantic !!"
"Even better Sir ... Playboy haz not been created yet ... Sir !"
"Zatz vat I'm zayin' you ninkenpoop - they are rezorceful !!"
"Ya vol ...Sir .... errrr, ummmm ...."
"Vat iz zat you are hiding Schultz ... hand it here !! Choc-o-lat cake ... from Bozton ?
I could have you shot Schultz ... nudie girlz and choc-o-lat !!" I CAN'T GET A SPARE GALLON OF FUEL FOR MY TANKS YET ZE AMERI-KANZ CAN HAVE NUDIE GIRLZ AND CHOCO--LAT !!"