IMDb RATING
7.4/10
4.7K
YOUR RATING
The World War II adventures of a British convoy escort ship and its officers.The World War II adventures of a British convoy escort ship and its officers.The World War II adventures of a British convoy escort ship and its officers.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
4.7K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- Nicholas Monsarrat(by)
- Eric Ambler(screenplay)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Nicholas Monsarrat(by)
- Eric Ambler(screenplay)
- Stars
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 4 nominations total
Videos1
- Director
- Writers
- Nicholas Monsarrat(by)
- Eric Ambler(screenplay)
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJack Hawkins wrote in his 1973 autobiography "Anything for a Quiet Life" regarding this film, "All of us in the film were sure that we were making something quite unusual, and a long way removed from the Errol Flynn-taking-Burma-single-handed syndrome. This was the period of some very indifferent American war movies, whereas 'The Cruel Sea' contained no false heroics. That is why we all felt that we were making a genuine example of the way in which a group of men went to war."
- GoofsSome depth charges are clearly labelled "INERT FILLED."
- Quotes
Norwegian Captain: You are thinking about the men in the water? The men you had to kill?
Capt. Ericson: The men I had to kill.
French Captain: It was necessary to do it.
Norwegian Captain: It is war. There is no blame. But there may be thoughts.
French Captain: Naturally there may be thoughts.
Norwegian Captain: And for thoughts, there is gin.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Only Fools and Horses: To Hull and Back (1985)
- SoundtracksThe Chestnut Tree
or "The Spreading Chestnut Tree" (uncredited)
Author unknown, perhaps traditional song
Sung by the sailors in the raft to keep awake
Top review
Torpedos off Starboard Bow
Archetypal British WW2 fare which is very clearly a cut above the rest. Jack Hawkins steers HMS Compass Rose, a small escort ship, through the perils of convoy duty and the ever present risk of U-boats.
Hawkins excels as the exhausted Captain in this no frills account of men battling against a constant and ruthless enemy - the sea. A melancholic soundtrack and the distinct lack of jingoism create a forlorn atmosphere as the ship's company endures periods of grinding boredom interrupted only by the sudden terror of U-boat attacks. In the tensest of scenes, during a rare heady pursuit, the radar gives Hawkins his firmest ever indication of an enemy submarine. "There are men in the water just there" he murmurs, realising that as Captain he is alone in making an agonising decision - whether to drop depth charges and risk killing a group of British survivors floating ahead of him. The attack is pressed home, killing the defenceless men but failing to hit the U-boat, and leads to a moving scene where Hawkins' resolute professionalism crumbles in a brief but heartfelt show of drunken emotion.
The trips to sea are punctuated by tableaux scenes on shore, where the tribulations of officers and crew are no less fraught with threats and worry. In a country under siege there can be no escape from air-raids or even an adulterous wife. "It's no-ones fault" says Hawkins "It's the war, the whole bloody war." A strong supporting cast, includes 'youngsters' Denholm Elliot, Donald Sinden and Stanley Baker.
This is a film that succeeds in telling how dangerously close to the edge the British came during the Battle of the Atlantic and of the enormous impact it had on ordinary individuals. The closing scene leaves the audience with a real sense of how, after five long years of war, a nation was left exhausted and emotionally drained.
Hawkins excels as the exhausted Captain in this no frills account of men battling against a constant and ruthless enemy - the sea. A melancholic soundtrack and the distinct lack of jingoism create a forlorn atmosphere as the ship's company endures periods of grinding boredom interrupted only by the sudden terror of U-boat attacks. In the tensest of scenes, during a rare heady pursuit, the radar gives Hawkins his firmest ever indication of an enemy submarine. "There are men in the water just there" he murmurs, realising that as Captain he is alone in making an agonising decision - whether to drop depth charges and risk killing a group of British survivors floating ahead of him. The attack is pressed home, killing the defenceless men but failing to hit the U-boat, and leads to a moving scene where Hawkins' resolute professionalism crumbles in a brief but heartfelt show of drunken emotion.
The trips to sea are punctuated by tableaux scenes on shore, where the tribulations of officers and crew are no less fraught with threats and worry. In a country under siege there can be no escape from air-raids or even an adulterous wife. "It's no-ones fault" says Hawkins "It's the war, the whole bloody war." A strong supporting cast, includes 'youngsters' Denholm Elliot, Donald Sinden and Stanley Baker.
This is a film that succeeds in telling how dangerously close to the edge the British came during the Battle of the Atlantic and of the enormous impact it had on ordinary individuals. The closing scene leaves the audience with a real sense of how, after five long years of war, a nation was left exhausted and emotionally drained.
helpful•401
- Rob Fox
- Feb 19, 1999
Details
- Runtime2 hours 6 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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