Bob Hoskins credited as playing...
Nikita Khrushchev
- [Emerging from his conference with the disgraced Red Army General, Khruschev calmly waits for the sound of a gunshot, then addresses the roomful of commissars]
- Nikita Khrushchev: My name is Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev. I've come to take things in hand here. This city is not Kursk, nor is it Kiev, nor Minsk. This city... is Stalingrad. *Stalingrad*! This city bears the name of the Boss. It's more than a city, it's a symbol. If the Germans capture this city, the entire country will collapse. Now, I want our boys to raise their heads. I want them to act like they have *balls*! I want them to stop *shitting their pants*! That's your job. As political officers, I'm counting on you.
- [he looks at one man]
- Nikita Khrushchev: You. What's your suggestion?
- Sweating Officer: [visibly nervous] Sh-shoot all the other generals who have retreated, and their chiefs of staff, too.
- [Khrushchev moves down the line to another man]
- Stammering Officer: M-m-m-make some examples. D-d-d-d-d-d-deport the families of the d-d-d-deserters...
- Nikita Khrushchev: [turning away] Yes, yes, that's all been done.
- Danilov: [from the back of the room] Give them hope!
- [Khrushchev turns around and strides down the line to Danilov]
- Danilov: Here, the men's only choice is between German bullets and ours. But there's another way. The way of courage. The way of love of the Motherland. We must publish the army newspaper again. We must tell magnificent stories, stories that extol sacrifice, bravery. We must make them believe in the victory. We must give them hope, pride, a desire to fight. Yes, we need to make examples. But examples to *follow*. What we need... are heroes.
- [Khrushchev glances around the room, then leans in closer to Danilov]
- Nikita Khrushchev: [wryly] Do you know any heroes around here?
- Danilov: Yes, comrade. I know one.
- Nikita Khrushchev: You won't give up the river bank. I don't care if you lost half your men. Lose the other half. Lose yourself.
- Red Army General: [in tears] I carried out my orders. I sent in all of my boys. But the Germans engulfed us. They have artillery, aircraft, tanks. And me, what did I have?
- Nikita Khrushchev: A sacred duty to resist! I have to report to the Boss.
- [puts a gun on the table]
- Nikita Khrushchev: Perhaps you'd prefer to avoid the red tape.
- Nikita Khrushchev: Write it then - "Vasilli Zaitsev is *not* dead. This is what he had for breakfast this morning, here's a picture of him reading today's newspaper." You're the poet.
- Nikita Khruschev: Look at him with pride, because he's looking at you. The whole country is looking at you.
- Reporters: Vassily!
- Nikita Khrushchev: [Smiling] Come to my hand!
- [Hugging Vassily]
- Reporters: Did you come to volunteer?
- Nikita Khrushchev: [to Vassily] Put you cap back on you! You'll look more heroic!
- Reporters: Comrade Zaytsev!
- Nikita Khrushchev: I love this little fella!
- Reporters: Vassily! Was it true that you volunteered for the front?
- Reporters: Vassily! How old are you, Vassily?
- Reporters: You know what this true mean for our country?
- Reporters: Is it true that you killed the first wolf when you were 5?
- Reporters: Tell us how many fascists have you killed today!
- Nikita Khrushchev: It's a sign that the Germans are starting to shit their pants!
- Reporters: Tell us how are you going to deal with it!
- Vasilli: Eh, I...
- Nikita Khrushchev: Oh, enough! No...
- Reporters: One more question...
- Nikita Khrushchev: Take him to the Boss! He likes good hunting stories!
- [Starring at portrait of Stalin]
- Nikita Khrushchev: Look at him with pride! 'Cause Stalin's looking at you. The whole country is looking at you!