The Best of Men (2012 TV Movie)

Eddie Marsan: Dr Ludwig Guttmann

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Sergeant Hills has been posted to the Spinal Unit] 

  Sergeant 'Q' Hills : I don't know anything about paralysis.

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : You will learn. Become an expert.

  Sergeant 'Q' Hills : I'm a PT Instructor, not Jesus Christ. I don't raise men from the dead. Sorry.

  [Hills salutes and walks away] 

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : You are a soldier. This is your posting.

  Sergeant 'Q' Hills : No. There's been some mistake.

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : Of course. I should be Head of Neurosurgery in Breslau, while watching children playing in the Oder. My friends and family should be enjoying the autumn in Silesia. But "some mistake" happened and most of them are in SS camps while I am here with you. So we must make the best of it.

• [Dr Guttmann and Dr Cowan are arguing over whether a spinal patient should have an operation that could damage his spine] 

  Dr. Cowan : What brings you to my department?

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : This young man, William Heath, he is my patient.

  Dr. Cowan : I operate tomorrow. Unstable fracture of the ninth vertibrae.

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : [looking at X-rays]  No! I think not. Ah, my apologies. Yes, he *does* have a fracture, you are right. And yes, for all anyone knows, it *may* be unstable. But, no, you are not going to operate on him. We don't know yet how much movement may be restored.

  Dr. Cowan : None.

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : And with the operation, you are *guaranteeing* this.

  [they continue the discussion in General Blake's office] 

  Dr. Cowan : The Army consultant sent Heath here expressly for this operation.

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : He sent him to my ward.

  Dr. Cowan : Actually he sent him to *me*.

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : But now I'm here so I can take over. From today, all spinal patients are my responsibility.

  Dr. Cowan : I gather that you haven't touched a patient for years.

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : I haven't been *allowed* to.

  General Blake : Dr Guttmann has specialised in spinal patients all his life.

  Dr. Cowan : Yes, in Germany.

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : The spinal cord is the same for Wilhelm or William, Henry or Heinrich. There are pioneering treatments.

  Dr. Cowan : Experimental.

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : No, new but already proven. Munro is doing great work in Boston.

  Dr. Cowan : America? Say no more. I am doing what I consider to be the best for this mortally wounded young man.

  Dr. Cowan : He has *not* been mortally wounded.

  Dr. Cowan : His life expectancy is what? Six months?

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : That is why I am here. Too many cripples in the last war. Too many men dying young. Too many wounded men made helpless by medical neglect. Too many widows. That is why I am here.

• Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : Today, I realise the height of the mountain we must climb. Every one of you. And me. There are walls to scale and break down and sacred cows to deal with.

  [asks to privates] 

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : What are you doing here? What is the purpose of this place? Is it to create dependent but smiling children, hiding from the world? A hushed room full of forgotten men and caring, too caring, staff?

  [shouts] 

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : No! It is to send you out of here! Out! With ambition and purpose! And no sacred cows. You must have none. These are men. They have desires. Some of you will be fathers and husbands, understand that. And you will have all the same problems as everyone else and a few more besides. Rent, tax, I pay tax, so will you. You have a right to these problems.

  [louder] 

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : I will not protect you from them. I will not!

  Corporal Wynne Bowen : Bloody tax. We still have to pay tax?

• Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : I cannot make it any plainer, William. If you do not look after yourself, your father will. Do you want that? If you don't decide what you want to do with your life, YOUR life, not your parents', then you will be an eternal child. If you do not find your voice and your balls, we will all have wasted our time. Do not ask me what you do now. Tell me.

  Private William Heath : I don't know.

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : [scoffs]  Then I can't help you.

• Private William Heath : [on first Stoke Mandeville Games, javelin competition]  Bugger. I've only got one throw left.

  Mr. Heath : You'll do it.

  Private William Heath : Nah, done my wrist in. Q and his weightlifting.

  Mr. Heath : We could tighten it.

  Private William Heath : Hurts like hell if you do that.

  Mr. Heath : Is it worth it?

  Private William Heath : [gazing to Dr. Ludwig] 

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : [flat face]  Your hand, your pain.

• [the committee is discussing Dr Guttmann's proposals for a national spinal injuries games] 

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : What is it that so offends you?

  Dr. Cowan : Yes, that's the word. It offends me, it *does*. This is a hospital. We have respectable people here, visiting sick relatives. We have children visiting their parents.

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : I don't understand.

  Dr. Cowan : It's not pleasant. I'm sorry, but it's not. People in wheelchairs, withered limbs, damaged bodies.

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : Ah, now I understand. We hide them away. Is this it? Is this what you say? Corporal Bowen with the bitter humour and the wife who loves him? Corporal James with his longing to teach history. David Dakers who plays the baboon like an angel.

  [everyone sniggers at Guttman's mistaken use of "baboon" instead of "bassoon"] 

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : And William Heath who has fought longer and harder to survive than you will ever have to. *We* are ashamed of *them*?

  Dr. Cowan : I'm not saying *that*.

  Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : No, you are not honest enough to say it.

• Dr. Ludwig Guttmann : Did you think that you would make plans and life would follow them obediently?