Das Boot

[Wizbomb]

Hey guys,

I just got around to watching Das Boot Directors cut in German (for full effect) and i have to say that is the best film i have ever seen, never has a movie made me teary eyed with joy when that sub lifted of the gibraltar sea floor bed! i couldn't believe how good this was even the "sitting around waiting for something to happen" scenes were really good! And ive never shook my fist at the screen before like when they just got home after being through so much **** just to have an air raid blow them all to hell and the captain watches his boat sink...incredible! I give it a Five out of Five!!!!!

is this an actual true story?

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by Wizbomb

is this an actual true story?

Nope. It's based on a novel by Lothar-Günther Buchheim, a war correspondent who indeed was on one patrol with the U-96 under the command of Lehmann-Willenbrock in late 1941. It incorporates his own experience (indeed the main character of the book/movie is based on himself), along with stories that he heard on the boat (with many characters being semi-caricatures of real men and officers he met), into a fictional literary plot. There are definitely parts to the book and movie that are very true, but others are artistic exaggaration or Buchheim's own perspective and, some would argue, his underlying (anti-war, anti-Nazi) message that he often prioritized over accuracy.

It's a fantastic book and movie, and one of the best war films ever made for sure, but as many of the old grogs here will tell you - it'd sure be great if people didn't take it as a U-boat "bible". There are many things in it which are historically inaccurate or artistically embellished. As someone said in another thread just the other day (I think it was Sailor Steve?), you can think of it as a classic German opera set on a U-boat, with all the over-the-top dramatic set pieces and a tragic, brooding hero to boot.

Oh, and by the way, I highly recommend the book. The movie is a lot like the book, and in some ways different, but the novel is a great read and extremely well-written all the same. I can't say which I like more - the book or the movie. They both have their own good points!

[Sailor Steve]

I can't say it any better than CCIP did, other than to also recommend the 5-1/2 hour 'Uncut' version. The characters are much better developed, and the extra time is well worth it.

[Wizbomb]

im glad i got those extra minutes because i like back story and the whole "its the trip not the destination" type thing

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Wizbomb

im glad i got those extra minutes because i like back story and the whole "its the trip not the destination" type thing

You said you had the Director's Cut. It is an hour longer than the theatrical release, but the version I mentioned is an hour-and-a-half longer than that. You're still missing a lot.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Wizbomb

. . .I just got around to watching Das Boot Directors cut in German (for full effect) . . .

Given the option I will always take original language with subtitles over dubbed, aside from early Jackie Chan movies . It would be even better if I didn't need the subtitles and could get by on just the spoken word but unless they're telling me the train station is the second (or third) on the left (or right) I'm at a loss. (At school I learnt that the German and French public transport systems are great - the bus-stop, or train station are only ever a couple of turns away!).

Glad you enjoyed it, like Steve said, get the uber-long version.

[Hottentot]

Originally Posted by CCIP

It's a fantastic book and movie, and one of the best war films ever made for sure, but as many of the old grogs here will tell you - it'd sure be great if people didn't take it as a U-boat "bible".

[Off topicish joke attempt]
Have you read Jared Diamond's Guns Germs and Steel, by the way?
[/Off topicish joke attempt]

More on topic: it's funny to see this thread here now of all the times. I have wanted to watch the movie again for a long time and been planning on it, but since I have the blasted uncut version, I can't ever find enough time to stare it from the beginning to the end. If nothing else, my dog will start protesting.

Must add this on the to-do-on-holiday list. It's a great film for sure. And when you have seen it, you can start making cool references to it and feel really "inside" when no one else understands them. Or that's what I keep telling myself every time I randomly yell: "Alaaarm!"

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Hottentot

[More on topic: it's funny to see this thread here now of all the times. I have wanted to watch the movie again for a long time and been planning on it, but since I have the blasted uncut version, I can't ever find enough time to stare it from the beginning to the end. If nothing else, my dog will start protesting.

I've gotten into the habit of watching it 48 minutes at a time, just like the original miniseries. I can never justify sitting in one place for five hours.

[BossMark]

The film was very good, but the book was bloody marvellous

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by CCIP

It's a fantastic book and movie, and one of the best war films ever made for sure, but as many of the old grogs here will tell you - it'd sure be great if people didn't take it as a U-boat "bible".

Blasphemer! Someone notify the Inquisition! Everybody knows Das Boot and Iron Coffins is a 100% historically accurate portrayal in every detail and tells it all how is really was!

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Blasphemer! Someone notify the Inquisition! Everybody knows Das Boot and Iron Coffins is a 100% historically accurate portrayal in every detail and tells it all how is really was!

That depends who you ask. Karl Merten didn't like the book, said it was totally inaccurate. (regarding u-boat crew behavio(u)r.

Source:
http://www.uboat.net/men/merten.htm

http://www.uboat.net/books/item/210
(this book has a whole chapter about Das Boot and Merten/Bucheim's relationship.)

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

behavio(u)r.

Thank you otherwise I wouldn't have had a clue.

Or should that be 'Thank yo, otherwise I woldn't have had a clue'?

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Thank you otherwise I wouldn't have had a clue.

Or should that be 'Thank yo, otherwise I woldn't have had a clue'?

I just don't want anything getting lost in translation.

[Red Brow]

My only complaint is that the movie added in the scenes of the British air attack against the wishes of the book's author. Nor was the attack realistic since it did not show any barrage balloons over the docks. German U-boat men did mention that such ports were covered with barrage balloons to prevent low-flying aircraft from zipping in and dropping bombs into the open entrances of the concrete U-boat bunkers.

So when I watch this movie I stop right before the air alarm. Then I switch to the beginning of the show and end with the officers having a good time at the local brothel/bar. In fact the first scene I open the movie with is where they captain is escorting the corespondent through the U-boat bunkers past all the repair work.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Red Brow

Nor was the attack realistic since it did not show any barrage balloons over the docks.

Is that all???

The long shot of the bomber formation breaking up was cut from Battle Of Britain. All other shots were of T-6 Texan/Harvards pretending to be combat planes.

German U-boat men did mention that such ports were covered with barrage balloons to prevent low-flying aircraft from zipping in and dropping bombs into the open entrances of the concrete U-boat bunkers.

That would have been hideously expensive, especially for just one scene. I can think of a lot more to complain about than that. To me that's like complaining that they changed the "man going crazy" from Franz to Johann.

Also at the end of the book no one died except Herr Kaleun, and he wasn't really dead, coming back for two sequels. The movie changed a lot, and the book was very much better, but it's still a great movie and worth owning the 'Uncut' version.