| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jürgen Prochnow | ... | Capt.-Lt. Henrich Lehmann-Willenbrock - Der Alte | |
| Herbert Grönemeyer | ... | Lt. Werner - Correspondent | |
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Klaus Wennemann | ... | Chief Engineer Fritz Grade - Der Leitende-Der LI |
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Hubertus Bengsch | ... | 1st Lieutenant - Number One-1WO |
| Martin Semmelrogge | ... | 2nd Lieutenant - 2WO | |
| Bernd Tauber | ... | Kriechbaum - Chief Quartermaster-Navigator | |
| Erwin Leder | ... | Johann | |
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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 | |
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. Written by Anthony Hughes <husnock31@hotmail.com>
The first time I saw this film I could not take my eyes from it. I was mesmerized with the transition of a hearty young crew leaving port evolving as the sheer moments of terror (deep under water battles and personal struggles as well as the final scene) lead them all to rethink their actual cause, and their very own mortality (as well as our own in the perils of war!). I can't imagine another film actually displaying what it must have been like to be on one of Nazi Germany's U-boats - young nationalist boys being plucked from their mother's bosom and cast into the claustrophobic iron wolfs in the heat and height of the second world war, who begin to doubt the cause and victory of the fuhrer they've been taught to love and trust. Very colorful, contrasting characters and a script and plot thick with surprises and emotional drama/trauma. Top-notch direction, action, acting and sets. This is perhaps the greatest movie ever made in my opinion. Sorry I couldn't be more specific with the review, there is just too much to cover without spoiling anything for those yet to enjoy it, and thus I just highly recommend it to anybody, not just war movie buffs. I have seen both the regular version and the director's cut (which I own on DVD now) and I must say that the DC is superior. A masterpiece!