A mechanized pitching machine hurled baseballs at the building's roof to cause a diversion, as Ethan jumped off the adjacent building, swung across on a cable, dropped onto the sloped roof, shot and killed two security guards, and managed to hold onto the gutter to avoid sliding off the edge of the roof." Public relations specialists Mr.Casalais (Franklin Pangborn) and Mr.Jones (William Demarest) describe their elaborate preparations for an expeditionary "land-yacht" that follows behind with all the modern, luxurious conveniences (food, liquor, a hot shower, and support personnel).Framed by the windows of a German school, the military parade can be seen outside.The camera pulls back through the window into the schoolroom, where elderly, war-mongering, nationalistic eacher Professor Kantorek (Arnold Lucy) preaches to a class of young German boys.[Lancaster was one of the first film actors to become an independent film producer.] Homage was given o this film by one of the characters in Barry Levinson'sDiner (1982), who quotes liberally from the rich dialogue.