MovieChat Forums > Ice Cold in Alex (1958) Discussion > What alerts Sister Norton?

What alerts Sister Norton?


Can anybody translate the conversation between van der Poel and the German officer in the back of the ambulance that alerts Sister Norton to the fact that van der Poel is not a South African? German was never my strong point!

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The conversation is pretty much as translated by the van der Poel.

'How are you?'
....
'She has a stomach wound and must have hospital treatment.'
....
'Please tell the Nursing Sister I will search the vehicle!'

At the end the conversation in a low voice is (I think)

'I will ('gleich' = soon or immediately) <inaudible> your ('Geschichte = story, tale, narrative)'. The last word spoken would be the relevant verb, but it is faded out and inaudible. The word 'your' is in the polite form so it's impossible to tell if he is referring to the spy story of van der Poel as an individual, or to the current situation he has just been checking out. It may even mean 'I will immediately report my findings here'.

Van der Poel replies:

'Naturally - What are you going to do?'

To which the German soldier does not reply.

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In the original novel, the wounded nurse can speak German. She realises that Anthony Quayle's character is a German agent, but she is too weak by that time (although she tries to tell them) to communicate this to the others.

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