How Do You Watch Das Boot

[McHibbins]

Interesting note : L.G.Buchheim didnt´t like it. He blame Petersen for the Party-scene at the Beginning of the film also for the Kpt´s permanent complaining about the Leadership.
Heinrich Lehman-Willenbrock surely wasn´t a Nazi but he never was so angry about the BdU and others like in that film.

Petersen´s statement later was, that he wanted to make an Anti-War-film and so he replaced Willenbrock with "Der Alte". This person was fiction.

[Monica Lewinsky]

Originally Posted by Kaptain Hans Wolf

but how do you watch it, i watch it in german with english subtitles.

I set my TV to go to sleep after 60 minutes. I fast Forward to the scene that I remember watching the night before and press the PLAY button and go to sleep.

The next morning I awake, reach over to my partner, and realize I re-lived Pearl Harbor. I.E. blown to hell and back.

EVERY night. :p

[Platapus]

English with english subtitles as I most often watch Das Boot while I am playing SH3

Haven't yet gotten the long version, the 5 + hr version that is the best one but saw it from television a couple of times.

I do have some gripes with the film, not that they in any way shake the significant position this film has as the most worth while sub movie. For example the Tipperary song scene, for some reason I don't think the real German submariners were that keen about that song, to me it kinda sends a strange, mixed message. It's as if they were supposed to be real happy to sing that british song.

I guess it's really difficult to make a war film and to convey both the realism of war and at the same time give a sobering "war is hell" - type message. I guess the factual books manage to come closest to this. Das Boot IMO manages both and has a good cast, direction, etc. but it still leaves me with some minor gripes.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by McHibbins

Interesting note : L.G.Buchheim didnt´t like it. He blame Petersen for the Party-scene at the Beginning of the film also for the Kpt´s permanent complaining about the Leadership.
Heinrich Lehman-Willenbrock surely wasn´t a Nazi but he never was so angry about the BdU and others like in that film.

Petersen´s statement later was, that he wanted to make an Anti-War-film and so he replaced Willenbrock with "Der Alte". This person was fiction.

But the party scene was in the book, and the main officers had no names in the book either. The captain was called 'Der Alte' in the book, so it couldn't have been Petersen's decision, but Bucheim's.

I've heard that some former u-boatmen said that the book was not real either. I've only heard that, never read it from a source, so I don't know if it's true.

[Elmer Kosterman]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

But the party scene was in the book, and the main officers had no names in the book either. The captain was called 'Der Alte' in the book, so it couldn't have been Petersen's decision, but Bucheim's.

I've heard that some former u-boatmen said that the book was not real either. I've only heard that, never read it from a source, so I don't know if it's true.

I understand that Buchheim liked the movie, but found two things unrealistic. The first was the party scene in the boat (although he thought it well done). Second, if someone threw a greasy rag in an officer's face, they would have been court marshalled.

[Kaptain Hans Wolf]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

German, of course, with subtitles.

Which version do you have? The 2 1/2 hour movie version, the 3 1/2 hour director's cut, or the 5 hour uncut miniseries version?

I only watch the long one these days, about once a month.

cheers, i have the directors cut, the best version imo

have watched all three versions- the longest DVD minseries compilation is clearly the best- IMHO. it really gives you the feeling of all the emotions of sub life - from day after day of boredom to instantaneous spleen splitting fear !. The interactions between the crew characters is much more brought out in the long version- by the end you really get a feel for each character's emotions/demons/fears etc. and the ending is a true kick in the balls after the long ardous battle to survive Gilbraltor.

[Kaptain Hans Wolf]

wish i could get that mini series, sounds great

[danurve]

I have the directors cut.
I watch it any way I want to, usually with beer.

[Tango589]

I watch the 3 1/2hr version, german with english subtitles, turned up loud with the Buttkicker Gamer turned on, so I really feel the pound of the engines and the blast of the depth charges!

Also, a few beers are nearby for easy refreshment!

[Lible]

Plain' German when I watch it alone
With subs when I watch it with someone not good at German

I watch it ~3 times a year, because when I watch it more often I have every last scene frozen in my head and it's not interesting.

[JetSnake]

I watch it in my underwear with a german midget and a jar of lotion.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by JetSnake

I watch it in my underwear with a german midget and a jar of lotion.

What kind of lotion ? :hmm:

[nikimcbee]

With big sub woofers and surround sound