In Enemy Hands (2004)

When American submarine Swordfish is torpedoed the survivors are picked up by a passing German U-boat but an outbreak of meningitis threatens all aboard.

Director:

Tony Giglio

Writers:

John E. Deaver (screenplay), John E. Deaver (story)

Stars:

William H. Macy, Til Schweiger, Thomas Kretschmann

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William H. Macy	...	Chief of Boat Nathan Travers
Til Schweiger	...	Kapitän Jonas Herdt
Thomas Kretschmann	...	1st Watch Officer Ludwig Cremer
Clark Gregg	...	Executive Officer Teddy Goodman
Scott Caan	...	Lt. Cmdr. Randall Sullivan
Rene Heger	...	Quartermaster Klause
Carmine Giovinazzo	...	Buck Cooper
Jeremy Sisto	...	Jason Abers
A.J. Buckley	...	Medical Officer
Sam Huntington	...	Virgil Wright
Connor Donne	...	Lt. Bauer (as Conner Donne)
Ian Somerhalder	...	Danny Miller
Branden Morgan	...	Benny Romano
Andy Gatjen	...	Christophe
Gavin Hood	...	Achilles Captain

Storyline

At the height of Hitler's infamous U-boat war, the crew of the U.S.S. Swordfish were heading home after months at sea. They never made it. Now prisoners of war aboard U-boat 429, a small group of American survivors will find their loyalties put to the ultimate test when they're forced to join their German captors to fight for their very lives.

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Plot Keywords:

u boat | fight | prisoner of war | meningitis | chess | 

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Taglines:

Courage, trust and honor. In a time when ordinary men had no choice but to become extraordinary heroes.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller | War | Action

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

19 February 2005 (Japan)

Also Known As:

U-Boat

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,400,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$64,236

Company Credits

Production Co:

Artisan Entertainment, Splendid Pictures, John Brister Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The U-429 is a real boat that was made by the Germans in World War II, but was transferred to the Italian Navy after being produced. The boat, however, never saw combat.

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Goofs

Mrs. Travers' LaSalle in the final scene did not have an A, B or C gasoline rationing sticker on the passenger's side of the windshield.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Kapitän Jonas Herdt: [narrating] At the outbreak of World War II, Germany increased its U-boat production by 1,000%, mass-producing 17 new U-boats a month. Hitler knew the key to winning the war in Europe was to control the Atlantic. And control it he would. By 1942, German U-boats, working in groups called wolf packs, sunk over 1,000 Allied ships. Their success gave Germany a decisive advantage. They were winning the war. And if this trend continued, all of Europe would fall.

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Connections

Edited from U-571 (2000)

User Reviews

Not the Best, But Should be Seen

This movie slipped by in the U.S. theaters, with DVD release only, so I found out about it from a U-Boat movie recruit friend. With William H. Macy, Til Schweiger, and Thomas Kretschmann (the latter now well known for his role in "The Pianist" there is no excuse for no release.

The details are well documented in other reviews. I have seen many such films, in German and English. After watching half in English, I purchased a copy in German (well-dubbed). I tend to find such films more convincing (easier to suspend disbelief), although the down side there is seeing American actors speaking perfect German. Well, perhaps there will come a copy someday with appropriate subtitles.

Of course, the film that really shows U-Boat conditions is the film Das Boot. I do not know the budget of this film, but the cramped quarters, filth, and unseemly conditions were not part of the budget.

However, the decision of the Kaleun (Kapitän-Leutnant) Schweiger to take on American prisoners (against Oberkommando des Kriegsmarines orders), deal with the inevitable conflict--American soldiers and sailors were well-indoctrinated to hate Germans--after the certain death of his daughter to Allied bombing is more than touching.

Kretschmann's performance is especially noteworthy. Although he once wanted an American Hollywood acting career, and has most frequently been cast as a German military man, all of these performances have been quite different, a testimony to some real acting skill. He has it in spades. Til Schweiger is, as I have read, a "matinee idol"--he does not have to act.

To war film afficionados, most highly recommended, to those who wish to see some great German actors, also highly recommended, and finally, to fans of William H. Macy, a guaranteed pleasure. There is enough WW2 period ambiance to keep this film in suspense.