Firing squad lingo

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  • Firing squad lingo

    Does anybody know the exact wording of the sequence of orders? I found this online:

    Squad attention!...get ready....take aim...fire.

    Does that sound right? It's for a WWI story.

  • #2
    Re: Firing squad lingo

    I think movie goers have watched that scene so many different times in so many different movies that they would appreciate an attempt to do it different. You're telling me there is nothing more thematic or ironic that could be said there then 3, 2, 1.

    If you want to go the ole regular way, the answer is it doesn't matter, as soon as the audience sees guys lined up with weapons pointed at an unarmed man and a countdown starts, they will immediately get the point.

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    • #3
      Re: Firing squad lingo

      Originally posted by Cyfress View Post
      I think movie goers have watched that scene so many different times in so many different movies that they would appreciate an attempt to do it different. You're telling me there is nothing more thematic or ironic that could be said there then 3, 2, 1.

      If you want to go the ole regular way, the answer is it doesn't matter, as soon as the audience sees guys lined up with weapons pointed at an unarmed man and a countdown starts, they will immediately get the point.
      How about: Yo dudes! Ready? Blow that motherfucVer's head off!

      I'm talking about an *historically accurate* command. You know, like some sort of *official* military protocol.

      And: It's not my script. I'm translating from the French version. And I get the feeling the original authors were intricately linked to the narrative and to what went down in those trenches. So I want to respect that. I'm not really into just "making up" military lingo if I can find the authentic version.
      Last edited by Rantanplan; 06-13-2015, 07:35 PM.

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      • #4
        Re: Firing squad lingo

        My first thoughts were ready, steady, go! then I googled and found


        http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_L...e_dec-1947.pdf Page 5 gives the whole procedure
        I heard the starting gun


        sigpic

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        • #5
          Re: Firing squad lingo

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5urPU3g0fH0

          Youtube has First World War firing squad footage. The orders shouted sound like: First round. Rack it. At the end: Cease fire!

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          • #6
            Re: Firing squad lingo

            Thanks to both of you!

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            • #7
              Re: Firing squad lingo

              fwiw, i'd check out the firing squad sequence in valkyrie. although for your translating purposes the command verbiage takes a back seat; i think the final scene is an incredible display of character, goal, plot, subtext and theme all rolled up into one emotional moment with a final punch at BAMM!
              life happens
              despite a few cracked pots-
              and random sunlight

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              • #8
                Re: Firing squad lingo

                "Ready." (they shoulder their arms)
                "Aim." (all marksmen sight their target)
                "Fire!" (the target slumps to its knees)

                That's all you need. In French it's: "Prêt! Visez! Tirez!"

                The so-called "WW I footage" is a heavily effected (SFX) piece of video from a reenactment apparently in England. Use the Army manual.

                The following is excerpted from the Army manual:

                "b. Commands for the execution will, when practical, be given
                by a combination of manual and oral signals as prescribed.

                (1) When the officer charged with the execution raises the right
                arm vertically overhead, palm forward, fingers extended and
                joined, the execution party will come to the "Ready" position as
                prescribed for firing a volley, and will unlock rifles.

                (2) When the officer charged with the execution lowers his arm
                to a horizontal position in front of his body, the execution party
                will take the position of "Aim."

                (3) When the officer charged with the execution drops his arm
                directly to his side and orally commands: FIRE, the execution
                party will fire simultaneously.

                (4) The officer charged with the execution will then bring the
                execution party to "Order Arms."

                c. When the use of manual signals is not practical, the following
                oral commands are prescribed :

                (1) At the command READY, the execution party will take that
                position and unlock rifles.

                (2) At the command AIM, the execution party will take that
                position with rifles aimed at target on the prisoner's body.

                (3) At the command FIRE, the execution party will fire simultaneously.
                "
                Last edited by Clint Hill; 06-17-2015, 04:05 PM.
                “Nothing is what rocks dream about” ― Aristotle

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                • #9
                  Re: Firing squad lingo

                  Thanks. That's what was also in the link posted by Southern Land. It's nice to have the official version.

                  FYI, the AIM command is "En joue" in French.

                  @asjah: I don't remember the firing squad scene in the movie. Sounds good though!

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                  • #10
                    Re: Firing squad lingo

                    Originally posted by Rantanplan View Post
                    Thanks. That's what was also in the link posted by Southern Land. It's nice to have the official version.

                    FYI, the AIM command is "En joue" in French.

                    @asjah: I don't remember the firing squad scene in the movie. Sounds good though!
                    In play? Really? Well, then ... merci, methinks.
                    “Nothing is what rocks dream about” ― Aristotle

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                    • #11
                      Re: Firing squad lingo

                      Originally posted by TigerFang View Post
                      In play? Really? Well, then ... merci, methinks.
                      Joue also means cheek. I think the expression comes from raising the rifle up to your cheek, but I could be wrong.

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                      • #12
                        Re: Firing squad lingo

                        Originally posted by Rantanplan View Post
                        Joue also means cheek. I think the expression comes from raising the rifle up to your cheek, but I could be wrong.
                        My French has more rust on it than the Titanic. Let's ask a passing Frenchman, shall we? "Excusez-moi, Monsieur! Venez ici, s'il vous plâit! Nous avons une question pour vous!" (in French every sentence ends with an exclamation point because ... because ... because they drink a lot of wine, I guess).
                        “Nothing is what rocks dream about” ― Aristotle

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                        • #13
                          Re: Firing squad lingo

                          I was READY to help solve the Original Poster's problem, so I took AIM at it, did what I could to help, thus may you FIRE me if you like; the assistance received was worth exactly what you paid for it!
                          “Nothing is what rocks dream about” ― Aristotle

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                          • #14
                            Re: Firing squad lingo

                            Originally posted by TigerFang View Post
                            My French has more rust on it than the Titanic. Let's ask a passing Frenchman, shall we? "Excusez-moi, Monsieur! Venez ici, s'il vous plâit! Nous avons une question pour vous!" (in French every sentence ends with an exclamation point because ... because ... because they drink a lot of wine, I guess).
                            True, they do like their exclamation points. When I translate French comics into English, I usually get rid of about half of them. They like to over punctuate quite a bit !!!!!!!!

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                            • #15
                              Re: Firing squad lingo

                              Très bien! Write on.
                              Last edited by Clint Hill; 06-20-2015, 04:55 AM.
                              “Nothing is what rocks dream about” ― Aristotle

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