Hannibal (Annibale)

In 218 B.C.,

Hannibal made Carthage master of all Spain.

Rome, jealous of the treat to her power,

promptly found a pretext to declare war.

The mount is ready.

Good. Get.

While Rome prepared to invade Spain by sea,

Hannibal stole a march on his arch-enemies.

He crossed the Pyrenees into the valley of the Rhone.

Summer found him at the foot of the Alps.

Silence.

Let there be order.

All the government can say is "silence".

Why don't you tell Hannibal to go home?

Maybe he'll listen to you.

Quiet.

Let Minucius speak.

Continue, Minucius.

I repeat: Only a madman...

would dare to cross the Alps...

with a horde of thousands and scores of elephants.

I tell you:

far from being alarmed,

we, the Senate of Rome, should rejoice.

Offer thanks to the Gods,

because, just as surely...

as if our legions confronted Hannibal,

the snow and the bitter cold,

will defeat this arrogant barbarian.

And if any Carthaginians...

should survive their own death-trap,

they will be so exhausted,

that our own border-legions will make short work of them.

Quiet.

Fabius Maximus has the word.

Correct me if I'm mistaken, Minucius,

but I was under the impression,

our border-legions...

have their hands full subduing the backward Gauls.

Who'll relieve them to face Hannibal?

Scipio's army will join them.

In time?

I doubt it.

Fabius is always a harsh critic of this administration.

Quiet.

I say, Fabius is right.

Let him speak.

I merely wish to caution...

against over-optimism.

In a few short years, Hannibal united all of Spain.

Not by force of arms alone,

but fine diplomacy.

A man of his shrewdness will not let the Alps...

become a death-trap.

Hannibal will be pleased to know,

that he has such a staunch admirer...

in the Roman Senate.

Listen. - Quiet.

Hannibal is crossing the Alps.

The Roman garrisons are in flight.

Is no one opposing him?

Only Rutarius.

But he was always against us.

Rutarius and his tribe know their mountains,

they'll be able to slow Hannibal down.

So the fate of Rome...

is in the hands of an enemy of Rome.

Keep climbing.

Pass the word down.

This ledge is safe.

Keep climbing.

Keep moving.

Get up.

A standard-bearer is no good on his knees.

Remember: You're the best man in your regiment.

On your feet.

Keep climbing.

Pull the animals and get them to hurry.

Keep climbing.

Keep them coming.

Keep moving, men.

Keep that line going.

Come on, it's dangerous. Watch your step.

Keep moving. Don't stop.

Come on. Move ahead.

Watch your step there.

Keep going.

Move ahead.

Walk underneath.

Keep coming. All safe.

Keep going.

Keep going.

Keep marching.

Keep moving, or you'll freeze to death.

Keep marching.

Keep marching.

Keep moving. Form a line, go.

Almost there. Keep moving.

Move.

Move along, men.

Move.

Keep climbing.

Watch this over.

We're near the summit.

Keep climbing.

Keep marching.

Get up.

Keep the elephants moving. Keep them climbing.

Don't be afraid, Kim.

Come on. Let's go.

It's safe. Don't be afraid, come on.

Keep the elephants moving. Come on, men.

Move.

Steady.

Steady boy.

Steady.

Watch out below. He's frightened.

Leave him, he died.

Come on. Get up.

Alright men.

Keep going, or you'll freeze to death.

Come on, keep marching now.

Watch your step. Careful, move on.

I'm frozen. I don't have any feet left.

Keep those elephants under control.

Get your bread, men. Get your bread.

Eat and march. Get your bread.

Get your bread.

Eat and march. Get moving.

Eat and march.

Hannibal, the rations are all but gone.

The men are freezing to death.

How long can we keep going?

Would it be any better if we turn back?

To go back would be madness.

There's nothing left for us to do, but to go forward.

Until we fall in our tracks.

Not you, Maharbal. You're indestructible.

Hannibal, relieve me of my command.

Relieve you of your command?

Why do you always want to leave me?

My first allegiance is to Carthage.

And mine isn't?

Whose army do you think I command?

Your command is in Spain,

not here in these accursed mountains.

Return to Spain, before you are recalled...

and disgraced to Carthage.

Would I've marched my army half way across Europe...

and be camped here in these forbidding Alps,

if there was any other way for me to prevent Rome...

from invading our home-land?

Stay with me, Maharbal.

I need you.

You and my brothers have always been my strength.

The great conqueror needs no strength but his own.

I'll bring him back. It's always the same old story.

He quits, but he never leaves you.

Hey, Maharbal.

Hannibal.

Rutarius and his men are surrendering.

Rutarius has come down to negotiate.

See my brother?

We must always teach ourselves to be patient.

Hannibal will listen to you.

Are you Rutarius? - I am.

Speak.

Don't think I've come to surrender.

I'm here to offer you an alliance.

I don't accept conditions.

I think you're a clear thinking man.

My tribes can block your way into Italy...

for a long time.

With my help, you can be master of the plain...

in a few days.

Just what do you want in return for this?

Supremacy of my tribe...

over all the other tribes in the valley.

I accept.

Get back.

Don't shoot you fool. Help him.

Go on.

Get out of the way. Take them back.

Take them back.

Take them back to their trainers.

Tell them, the next time this happens...

there'll be severe punishment.

When will they ever understand...

that the elephant is one of our most valuable weapons?

If you had been killed,

it would have been all over with us.

Why do you always set so little value in yourself, brother?

At ease.

Well, here we are.

There is Italia,

Valley of the Po.

Mago.

Pass the word along to the men.

The Alps are behind us.

We prepare for the descent. - Alright.