Actually, Lothar Günther Buchheim (the author of Das Boot) said for himself that he wasn't really pleased with the movie. It is to much action focused , the crew is showing no real life discipline and respect for one another and things like that. Things that where included just for creating action and emotions in the movie that weren't in the book. (But that's just how movies work, I guess ;)).

There was a pretty long text about this. Maybe I can dig it up again and translate it to post it somewhere around here, if its not already known. Its pretty interesting, really,

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Boot

So now do we mod sh5 to be like das boot because its not a simulation ?

The author must have watched a different film than I did. The final scene is about as anti-war as you can get, as is the abandonment of the swimming merchantmen after their tanker caught fire and sank, not to mention the Spanish buffet scene with a bunch of oblivious landlubber German officers or even Johan's breakdown. There was only one real diehard Nazi on board either, so I don't get this "glorification" of German nationalism stuff. The only thing I can think of is the dramatic music when the boat is attacking or sailing at flank speed, but of course that is how film works.

BTW it's playing right now (dubbed version) on an American cable channel called "MPLEX".

I dont think he was trying to be rude, just explaining that you were wrong. You decided to bash Das Boot when many people that served on subs at that time commend the movie for its accuracy.

After seeing this film many, many times, including in the theater back when it was released and several times when it has been shown at the River Oaks art theater, I agree. I think there was a bit too much screaming and shouting. In my exerience in those kind of sheer terror situatiuons, (motorcycle crash, very rough airline turbulence) the jaw is clamped shut in fear. The verbal reaction is more like groans and grunts than yelling. But it is a damn fine movie, all the same.

I do wish there was a version without the music.
I really don't like the music. It's too over bearing.

One thing to remember is, always take Hollywood with a grain of salt. Hollywood's job is to make movies that make money. Some parts may be realistic, others not, and yet it can still be "based on a true story." Personally I use Das Boot as the holy grail of realism for U Boats about as much as I use Crimson Tide for Tridents subs.

Good point, thinking back on one experience, it was indeed very very quiet. No time to scream type of thing, the yelling comes after.
Although I'm glad Petersen went for the multiple exploding bolts instead of just one, those were memorable movie moments.

Buchheim was also not very popular among the former German submariners.
They accused him that he has described life aboard a submarine partly false and has partly misrepresented the submarine war in his novels.

das boot IS just a movie

das boot is NOT pure realism that you can base your idea of how it should be in real life

serious sub simmers do get upset when people keep saying this or that was or wasnt in das boot because das boot is a movie and its not a realism guide

das boot is a very good movie that is very realistic in "most" of what you see

because i choose to see das boot for what it is, a great movie but still just a movie, that is not rude or insulting but just stating the truth.

if you prefer to not hear the truth that is your choice but everything i said was correct

and for the record i love das boot but im not pretending its pure realism either.

Das Boot is a German movie, no Hollywood involved (at least AFAIK).;)

True. Even though it goes as a Hollywood blockbuster, indeed it ain't. All crew were germans, the shooting was done in the studios at Munich and France (the port arrive and departure sequences), and the bunch of money it costed was in Deutsche Mark (BRD's currency at the time). Thing is that the movie was slated for release as a blockbuster, and it was a major success around the world, hence looking as it was Hollywood's creation.

About the movie itself, well, the shouting is certainly overdone, but certain procedures can be hold as very realistic, and the set was awesome.

Cheers

"Hollywood" is sometimes used as a generic term for all corporate filmmaking. Hollywood has made some truly great films along with the crap. And British, French and German filmmakers have made some crap along with their great films. Das Boot was Wolfgang Petersen's ticket to Hollywood, and he's made some movies there that fall into both categories. The same is true for Jurgen Prochnow.

The dramatic images of a skipper at the attack scope could not be accomplished in the close quarters of the conning tower. The German kriegsberichters needed the 'extra' room afforded by the control room to use their motion picture cameras effectively. :know: