Chapter 9 of 30 · 3'50"
Two German officers call at the British Embassy about Clive Candy, and their request turns out to be a duel: he has insulted the German Army, and an officer must answer for it. Fitzroy is horrified, while the British side works out that Candy has no real choice.
They Want a Duel With Candy
Candy Has No Option
German officers visit the British Embassy to find out about Clive Candy, and reveal that they mean to challenge him to a duel for insulting the German Army. Fitzroy is aghast. Colonel Goodhead explains that Candy has no option: militarily he must fight or run, politically he must fight. The Germans draw lots to choose their man.
The scene is a comedy of incompatible codes. The German officers are scrupulously polite about the most violent of requests — a duel is only proper if both men are equals in "position and honour" — while the British side can barely process the word "Duel?!" at all. Candy's own views are set aside by everyone: his superiors decide what he must do, and the officers he insulted are "drawing lots to decide who is to fight this gentleman... who has not insulted anybody." The humour comes from the fact that every side is following a code that makes perfect sense to itself, and the film lets you see how much suffering those codes can produce. Even the effort to protect Candy's reputation involves telling a lie about Miss Hunter, which is presented as the only honourable option left.
A1–C2 is the CEFR scale. Cards above the level you pick fade, and playback will not auto-pause on them.
“An officer of the Imperial German Army cannot demand satisfaction from an opponent who is not his equal in position and honour.”
The formal cannot plus the who clause states a rigid code of honour as if it were simple fact.
Formal
“Militarily speaking, Mr Candy has no option.”
Militarily speaking frames the verdict, and no option closes every exit in four flat words.
Formal
“If he cannot fight a duel, he must run away.”
It reduces the situation to two options, and the paired if and must leave no room to breathe.
Neutral
“They're drawing lots to decide who is to fight this gentleman... who has not insulted anybody.”
The randomness of drawing lots collides with the innocent who clause, exposing the code as absurd.
Neutral
“Being on British territory, shouldn't we speak in English?”
The participle sets up the ground rule, and the tag question wraps a demand in courtesy.
Formal
Up next · 10Strictly between ourselvesThe scene: The Seconds Set the Duel RulesBecause he insulted the German Army. They explain that any officer whose honour is touched can demand satisfaction, and that Candy, being an officer, can be challenged.
Because of the code. An officer of the Imperial German Army cannot demand satisfaction from a man who is not his equal in position and honour, so rank had to be confirmed first.
Because the alternatives are worse. Militarily, refusing means running away; politically, that would be disastrous. So, by the logic of everyone in the room, Candy has no option.
They are drawing lots. Eighty-two Ulan officers want to challenge Candy, so chance selects one of them, and the lot falls to Theodor Kretschmar-Schuldorff.
To hide the political reason for the visit. If people believe Candy travelled to see Miss Hunter, the duel looks like a private matter rather than an insult to a foreign army.
