MovieChat Forums > Waterloo (1970) Discussion > 'Whoo's the boy with the hooky nose'?

'Whoo's the boy with the hooky nose'?

posted 20 years ago by JOhannesII
16 replies | jump to latest

Before the battle, Napoleon rides on a white horse in front of his troops. Wellington does the same on his own horse, but in addition the British soldiers start a kind of dialogue between one single trooper and the rest of the troops. The dialogue goes like this :"Who's the boy with the hooky nose"? and the rest soldiers reply "Our Atty" (Wellington's nickname). The dialogue continues and the troops'reply is always "our Atty"...Is there anybody who could help me finding the complete dialogue which takes place in that scene?

[–] Highice007 20 years ago

One of the questions is "Who's the lad who leathered (whipped) the French?" Reply "Our Atty!"

Our last message to you is, "Live as You please!"-Dessert

[–] grofaz1939 20 years ago

Not "Atty" but "Wellie" --as in Wellington and the song itself comes from a sea chant that postdates the battle and was popular in the mid 19th century called "Boney was a Warrior". Boney of course being Buonoparte.
Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione.

[–] mellul 20 years ago

Nonsense! Balderash!

[–] terribilvia 20 years ago

Wellington was known as "our ATTY," as "atty" was a familiar form of "Arthur."

He was actually said to have been known to his troops as "the Bugger that beats
the French," though in the film he's "the lad that leathers the French." Here
is the dialogue as rendered by a Japanese fan:

&&&&&&&

DELANCY : "Shall I shut them up, sir?"
WELLINGTON : "No, no, indulge it." "Anything that wastes time this morning. indulge it."
WELLINGTON : "Normally, I don't like cheering. But there's always a time to cut cards with the devil."
WELLINGTON : "Would you kindly announce me? Delancy."

Delancy smiled, and goes to the front of troops on horseback.

DELANCY : "Who's the lad who leathers the French?"
Soldiers answer by the cheer.
Soldiers chorus : "Our Atty!"
British Soldier K : "Who's the boy with the hooky nose?"
Soldiers chorus : "Our Atty!"
British Soldier L : "Who's the boy to kick Boney's arse?"
Soldiers chorus : "Our Atty!"

WELLINGTON : "I have no need of a white horse to puff me, By God!"
Wellington calmly goes to the front of troops on horseback.

British Soldier M : "Who gives salt to Marshal Soult?"
Soldiers chorus : "Our Atty!"
British Soldier N : "Who gave Johnny Francois's jaw a jolt?"
Soldiers chorus : "Our Atty!"
British Soldier O : "Who'll beat and peck Boney's bum?"
Soldiers chorus : "Our Atty!"
British Soldier P : "Who makes the "Parlez-vous" to run?"
Soldiers chorus : "Our Atty!"
British Soldier Q : "Who's the boy with the hooky nose?"
Soldiers chorus : "Our Atty!"
British Soldier R : "Who's the lad who leathers the French?"
Soldiers chorus : "Our Atty!"
British Soldier S : "Who's the boy to kick Boney's arse?"
Soldiers chorus : "Our Atty!!!!"

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] grofaz1939 20 years ago

As mentioned in passing in Robert Soule's book, "Wellie" was an oft used nickname for "Nosey" a/k/a the Iron Duke. Since Bondarchuk was such a fanatic about the Napoleonic period it would suprise me if he HADN'T read the book, along with Mercer's, Pearsons's, Marbot's and Cooper's. Given the age of the film, the trans-nationalism of production (dubbing etc. and Russians as extras) and the awful audio I, for one, would be circumspect of putting too much faith in subtitles or dubs. Primary sources are always preferable to idle speculation.

Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione.

[–] JOhannesII 20 years ago

Terribilvia, this is precisely what I was looking for. Thank you very much.

[–] tom_finchy 20 years ago

since we're on it, could someone tell me what the British are singing about Napoleon...? 'Boney tata Prussians'...or something...:s
Plus, could someone tell me what tune the Old Garde plays in the beginning of the movies as Napoleon moves out to exile?
thx

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] tom_finchy 20 years ago

it helps a great deal...I've been wondering 4 years what exactly they were singing...many thx! :)
I think the whole movie is grossly underestimated...personally I find the portrayal of Napoleon by Rod Steiger simply splendid, thinking this was the same actor who played the racist redneck sheriff in 'In the heat of the night'.

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] tom_finchy 20 years ago

I really wouldnt know what my favorite part of the movie is, although I have a small preference for the scene where N lands on French shore again and Marshal Ney is awaiting him with his troops to drive N back into the sea...when all of a sudden the soldiers literally run over to N, there is this great piece of music attached to it, highlighted by a few notes of the Marseillaise...goosebumps-moment there :)
I'm reading '1812' now, by Adam Zamoyski, and just read 'The Age of Napoleon', by J.C Herold, while there r a few more books ready to be read about him:)

PS : still wanting to know what the slow march is, being played as N leaves his Old Guard in the beginning of the movie :)

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] teacher_tom516 19 years ago

And Pontius Pilate in Jesus of Nazareth.

[–] grofaz1939 20 years ago

Back to my previous post: the song about "Boney's" exploits is a sea chant called "Boney was a Warrior" from the late 1820's, early 1830's. Although an anachronism in the film there are a number of variations of it from both sides of the Atlantic. It is a basic--and humorous litany of Boney's career.

The march that is played in the courtyard when Boney gives his farewell address to the Guard is called "La Boiteuse" and was written after the Moscow fiasco. The other march played throughout the film is known by two names: “Marche d'Austerlitz” or “La Victoire Est a Nous”. ( also known in the extended “dance mix” version as one of the Consular Marches)

Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione.

[–] 20 years ago

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