Das Boot (1981)

The claustrophobic world of a WWII German U-boat; boredom, filth and sheer terror.

Director:

Wolfgang Petersen

Writers:

Wolfgang Petersen, Lothar G. Buchheim (based on the novel by)

Stars:

Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, Klaus Wennemann

Top Rated Movies #82 | Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jürgen Prochnow	...	Capt.-Lt. Henrich Lehmann-Willenbrock - Der Alte
Herbert Grönemeyer	...	Lt. Werner - Correspondent
Klaus Wennemann	...	Chief Engineer Fritz Grade - Der Leitende-Der LI
Hubertus Bengsch	...	1st Lieutenant - Number One-1WO
Martin Semmelrogge	...	2nd Lieutenant - 2WO
Bernd Tauber	...	Kriechbaum - Chief Quartermaster-Navigator
Erwin Leder	...	Johann
Martin May	...	Ullman
Heinz Hoenig	...	Hinrich (as Heinz Hönig)
Uwe Ochsenknecht	...	Chief Bosun
Claude-Oliver Rudolph	...	Ario
Jan Fedder	...	Pilgrim
Ralf Richter	...	Frenssen (as Ralph Richter)
Joachim Bernhard	...	Preacher
Oliver Stritzel	...	Schwalle

Storyline

It is 1942 and the German submarine fleet is heavily engaged in the so-called "Battle of the Atlantic" to harass and destroy British shipping. With better escorts of the destroyer class, however, German U-boats have begun to take heavy losses. "Das Boot" is the story of the crew of one such U-Boat, with the film examining how these submariners maintained their professionalism as soldiers and attempted to accomplish impossible missions, all the while attempting to understand and obey the ideology of the government under which they served.

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Plot Keywords:

submarine movie | war at sea | claustrophobic setting | sonar | submarine captain | 

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Taglines:

The other side of the Battle of the Atlantic.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Thriller | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some war violence and brief language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The only film that year to be Oscar nominated for Best Director, but not Best Picture.

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Goofs

When two crewmen get up to get to their stations, they clearly go around the cameraman who is blocking the entrance to the torpedo room.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Captain: Out boatswain's mate. Been on quite a bender tonight.

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Alternate Versions

A 210 minutes Director's Cut has been re-released in USA on April 4th, 1997.

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Connections

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

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Soundtracks

Heimat deine Sterne
(uncredited)
Performed by Wilhelm Strienz

User Reviews

Reality

I spent 17 years of my life in Royal Navy submarines. 'T' class, 'A' class and 'R' class. Das Boot is the only submarine movie that shows exactly how it was. It could be a documentary. Bouncing around in the Bay of Biscay with the sea too rough to be able to dive safely and get away from it. 'Goffers' pouring down the conning tower and the control room deck ankle deep in the green stuff. Going down backwards at 500ft and you know there is 10,000ft below you, with seawater pouring in through a burst cooling pipe and one main motor out of action. Existing for two weeks on kai or oxo because your stomach is rebelling against the elements. Laying in your bunk in ultra quiet routine with the sweat just dribbling down. When the sweat starts to dribble upwards you know it's a cockroach crawling up your body. And that Klaxon. 'Hunt for Red October', 'Crimson Tide'. They are just adventure films.

Details

Official Sites:

Twin Brothers

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

10 February 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Boat

Filming Locations:

Bodensee, Bavaria, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

DEM32,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$26,994, 14 February 1982

Gross USA:

$11,487,676

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,487,676

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bavaria Film, Twin Bros. Productions, Radiant Film GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

149 min 208 min (director's cut) 138 min (video) 293 min (Original Uncut Version) 300 min (Original Uncut Mini-Series Version) 209 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (director's cut) Dolby Stereo (original release) SDDS (director's cut)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1