"Das Boot" (1985) TV mini-series 1985-

Director:

Wolfgang Petersen

Writers:

Wolfgang Petersen
Lothar G. Buchheim (novel)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

24 February 1985 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

A World War II German U-Boat crew have a terrifying patrol mission in the early days of the war.

Plot Keywords:

U Boat | Submarine | Naval Uniform | Underwater | Nazi Soldier

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Jürgen Prochnow

...

Der Alte (unknown episodes)

Series Directed by
Wolfgang Petersen		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Lothar G. Buchheim		(unknown episodes)
Wolfgang Petersen		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Günter Rohrbach	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Klaus Doldinger		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Gerhard Fromm		(unknown episodes)
Leander R. Loosen		(unknown episodes)
Peter Maiwald		(unknown episodes)
Ernst Schmid		(unknown episodes)
Ernst Stritzinger		(unknown episodes)
Wolfgang Treu		(unknown episodes)
Jost Vacano		(unknown episodes)
Egil S. Woxholt		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Hannes Nikel		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Willy Schlenter		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Götz Weidner		(unknown episodes)
Rolf Zehetbauer		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Monika Bauert		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Alfred Rasche	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Ago von Sperl	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Rüdiger von Sperl	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marie-Antoinette Petersen	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Karl Baumgartner	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Sati Tooray	....	colorist (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Isabel Goslar	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Bavaria Film
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (co-production)
• Radiant Film GmbH
• Süddeutscher Rundfunk (SDR)
• TF1 (co-production)
• Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)

Distributors

• Astro Distribution (1994) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• EuroVideo (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Super! Drama TV (2008) (Japan) (TV)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

Germany:50 min (6 episodes) | USA:293 min (DVD)

Country:

West Germany | UK | France

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Helgoland, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Company:

Bavaria Film

Trivia:

The cast received extensive drills on how to literally run through a submarine in order to shift its balance like a experienced crew.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV)

The ultimate war film

If you want an action movie, watch something else. Das Boot reflects what war must really be like, showing not just the 1% of terror and confusion, but also the 99% sitting around waiting for things to happen. It is also the best if not only explanation I know, of how honourable men could have fought for the Nazis.

I have now seen "Das Boot" 4 times. The first time was the "Director's Cut" with subtitles. Since then I have learnt German, so each time I watch the film I understand it better. It is still very difficult to follow, and a great deal passes me by; I think this film probably has the hardest German of any of the 50 or so German-language films I've seen. This is part of its authenticity; you don't expect people to speak Standard High German when they think they may die horribly in the next five minutes.

The original mini-series has about the same amount of action as the Director's Cut, but a great deal more explanation and character development. For example, the Captain gets to comment on his actions towards the English sailors from the sinking oil-tanker. I think the sound of the Director's Cut was redone for Dolby-7, so the noises seem to come from all around and at times make you want to hide under the seat. However in all other respects, I think the mini-series is very much better than the Director's Cut, brilliant though that is.