The Cruel Sea (1953)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Charles Frend

Writers:

Eric Ambler (screenplay)
Nicholas Monsarrat (novel)

Release Date:

19 August 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

Monsarrat's brilliant best seller comes surging to life

Plot:

The World War II adventures of a British convoy escort ship and its officers.

Plot Keywords:

Sea | Convoy | U Boat | Ship | Survivor

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Jack Hawkins	...	Ericson
Donald Sinden	...	Lockhart
John Stratton	...	Ferraby
Denholm Elliott	...	Morell
John Warner	...	Baker
Stanley Baker	...	Bennett
Bruce Seton	...	Tallow
Liam Redmond	...	Watts
Virginia McKenna	...	Julie Hallam
Moira Lister	...	Elaine Morell
June Thorburn	...	Doris Ferraby
Megs Jenkins	...	Tallow's sister
Meredith Edwards	...	Yeoman Wells
Glyn Houston	...	Phillips
Alec McCowen	...	Tonbridge

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #16500)

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

Ealing Studios

Trivia:

Stanley Baker fought for the part of Bennett, and actually replaced another actor who had originally been cast.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The U-53, a type VIIB u-boat, was sunk on 23 February 1940 in the North Channel by HMS Gurkha, not late in the war.

Quotes:

Lockhart: [at the mess table] Getting rattled, John?
Morell: Well, whatever we do, these damn U-boats seem to get through the screen every time. We lost almost half our convoy and an escort and are almost two days from Gibralter.
[he gags with disgust;]
Morell: It's an odd thing to think if nothing else happens, this is probably the worst convoy in the history of sea warfare.
Lockhart: [trying to be comforting] Something to tell your grandchildren.
Morell: Yes, indeed, in fact, if you can guarantee I will have grandchildren, I shall recover my spirits immediately.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005) (TV)

My father's experience in the Royal Navy

My father served in the Royal Navy for 42 years. He joined in 1914 and retired in 1956 and was in active service throughout both World Wars. He told me that the film 'The Cruel Sea' was the most realistic account of how it was during those terrible times.