The Captive Heart (1946)

Michael Redgrave: Capt. Karel Hasek

Photos 

Quotes 

• Capt. Jim Grayson : I wonder how Jane is getting on these days?

  Capt. Karel Hasek, alias Geoffrey Mitchell : Who's Jane? Your girl?

  Capt. Jim Grayson : No, no. *The* Jane. The strip in the "Mirror".

  Capt. Karel Hasek, alias Geoffrey Mitchell : [realizing he's made a mistake]  Oh, yes, the strip in the mirror.

• Lt. Stephen Harley : [as Christmas of 1940 approaches]  Last Christmas I had my first concert. It was where I met Caroline.

  Capt. Karel Hasek, alias Geoffrey Mitchell : Last Christmas I was in Dachau Concentration Camp. Christmas Eve a new batch of prisoners came in. One of them brought me news of my family. They'd been caught giving food to a Polish Jew. They were taken out and shot. My father, my mother, all of them.

• Pvt. Mathews : [discussing his escape plans with Horsfall and Evans]  Why, all I have to do is stow away in one of those garbage bins or something. Why, it's as easy as kiss your...

  [sees Mitchell approach] 

  Capt. Karel Hasek, alias Geoffrey Mitchell : If you're planning an escape, Mathews, may I give you a piece of advice? Individual escapes hardly ever succeed. These things have to be very carefully planned and co-ordinated by a whole group.

  Pvt. Mathews : All the same, sir, I'm going to have a go at it. If you have no objections!

  Capt. Karel Hasek, alias Geoffrey Mitchell : Well... Good luck to you.

  [walks off] 

  Pvt. Mathews : Good luck... Two-faced bleeder.

  Cpl. Ted Horsfall : I don't know what it is, but there's something phony about that bloke.

• Capt. Karel Hasek, alias Geoffrey Mitchell : [writing a letter to Celia in November of 1942]  "Our third winter is approaching, bringing with it a new enemy. It is not the duration but the indefiniteness of duration. For if a man knew the length of his sentence, he could plan accordingly. Afterwards in our memories, we shall relive only the sunny days. The pleasant scenes. The freedom of mind, and the comradeship. We shall forget the wet days... the wet weeks... Those days when it seemed an effort to do nothing and our bunks were the only release. Deep down in the hearts of all of us there dwells a lonely ache, a desperate yearning for those we love, and a fear. A fear of becoming forgotten men. Write to me again soon, Celia. You never know how great the comfort is that your letters bring. They give me strength, and hope, and happiness. You will never know how much they mean to me."