Das Boot (the original uncut version DVD)

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by flakmonkey

Best sub movie by far, although 4:42 is a tad long to watch in a single sitting, i picked it up for 99p from woolworths before they went bust, bargin!

Way to go

[JScones]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Oh..right...what's this film about ? Is it any good ? (joke)

Just watch SH5.

[Rapt0r56]

Agreed, i still watch and love the uncut Tv mini series, also when i known the whole Movie and every Scene in it.

[Sailor Steve]

WOW! Was this really resurrected after three years? I'm not complaining, just surprised.

I actually wish the long version was divided into the original miniseries episodes. It would be easier to watch, and I've always been curious to know where the episode breaks are.

[Panser]

The miniseries is one of my strongest memories of growing up. As I recall it was a regular fixture on BBC2 at about 6pm in the late 80's / early 90's. I guess I really didn't stand much chance of not being a silent hunter fan... I've no idea how many times I must have seen Das Boot over the years!

As for the best version, I suppose this all comes down to personal preference, though I will be controversial and say that I prefer the full, uncut version. The subtitles differ in some ways to those of the Director's Cut (I own both), but with my scant knowledge of German I feel the full version has the more accurate subtitles. Neither are perfect, but I think the DC version tends to gloss over some of the more crass lines to make them less rude, something which seems rather petty given the sort of men the film is about (Frenssen's farts and the infamous violin string spring to mind). It also has a tendency to be rather apologetic, particularly by "explaining" apparently controversial scenes with subtitles that just aren't spoken or even suggested in any way, a prime example being the scene with the survivors fleeing the burning ship.

To draw my conclusions to a close, I feel the DC version has been cut to be more palatable and easily understood by British and American audiences or those who don't quite understand the realities of war and the lifestyle these men had to endure. I also reckon the uncut version matches the pace of the book much better, as it really draws out the frustration and impatience of certain scenes. For a first time viewer, I would probably advise the Director's Cut. For anyone familiar with the film, do yourself a favour and check out the uncut version!

As an aside, my copy of the DC has an amusing error in it:
In the scene where Thomsen has collapsed on the toilet floor in the brothel, even with German audio on he gets up and declares (in English) "I AM NOT IN THE CONDITION TO ****!" before continuing in German

[Sailor Steve]

It's the same in the Uncut version. Another funny is just before the captain's "Now, men...all clear?" The Chief turns to Werner and says "Here it comes. The Speech." and after he says "Some speech, huh?"

That scene isn't in the Uncut version or the Director's Cut, but it is in the very shortest theatrical version. I find that strange and funny all at the same time.

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by Panser

As an aside, my copy of the DC has an amusing error in it:
In the scene where Thomsen has collapsed on the toilet floor in the brothel, even with German audio on he gets up and declares (in English) "I AM NOT IN THE CONDITION TO ****!" before continuing in German

Don't know if I'm misunderstanding you, but I'm not sure the English dialogue is an error - I think it was either written in the script for him to say it in English, or else the actor just decided to do it that way and they left it as is because Petersen liked it. (On the DC commentary they do allude to the fact that the actor's drunkenness in the scene was not all acting, lol, so who knows?) Either way there are other instances in "Das Boot" where Der Alte also speaks English, especially (it seems to me) to emphasize a point to someone.

I could be wrong but I think English language was an educational requirement for Kriegsmarine officers at the time? So I don't find it particularly unusual that Thomsen uses English in that scene.

I do find it funny that I get English subtitles for a line very clearly and effectively spoken in English, lol. Although on one version - can't remember which - they actually don't appear, IIRC, until after he's already completed the line and is tossing off the sarcastic "Sieg Heil" to end the scene.

There are things I like about each version over the other - the DC certainly is handy when I want to sit down and watch the storyline to completion in one go but don't have enough time for the uncut version. Also there are some scenes in the uncut version I could do just as well without - my biggest dislike (and it's still a small one) is the introduction of Ullman's French girlfriend as a flesh-and-blood person instead of just another far-off loved one to be worried about and longed for. She's the only one "left behind" at home or back in port by any of the men that we actually see and hear in person - everyone else is just a face in a picture or the subject of a conversation among the officers and men of the Kriegsmarine, and to me the absence of "face time" for the viewer with those faraway loved ones does something to increase the poignancy of the situation. It seems to emphasize even more the isolation of the officers and crew from things most of us take for granted and their distance from the comforts of home and life on land.

Also I'd really prefer the nightclub scene to play out without being interrupted by scenes of Ullman and Francoise, even if they have to be in there somewhere. I find it really jarring to be yanked from one to the other and back again - maybe it was done for some kind of effect but it just doesn't work for me.

On the other hand, there are SO MANY great extra scenes in the extended version that to complain about a few at the very beginning seems like the worst kind of nitpicking, even from a certified veteran nitpicker like myself.

I especially love all the extra interaction we see between Der Alte and different members of the crew, especially when he's shown in more parts of the boat than just the control room, o-messe, and his own quarters. Makes him seem much more involved than might be obvious from what gets shown in just the DC. Of course in a boat that small it would be hard NOT be involved in darn near everything that goes on, lol, but it's nice to see it. The little conversation with Johann back in the engine room about good seamen and careful seamen and how "they" want heroes no matter what the cost is, to me, priceless.

But oh how I wish they'd been able to work in the scene from the book that Petersen said he wanted to include but didn't or couldn't - Der Alte in the galley cooking up potato pancakes for the entire crew. Now that would have been awesome.

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

It's the same in the Uncut version. Another funny is just before the captain's "Now, men...all clear?" The Chief turns to Werner and says "Here it comes. The Speech." and after he says "Some speech, huh?"

That scene isn't in the Uncut version or the Director's Cut, but it is in the very shortest theatrical version. I find that strange and funny all at the same time.

I wonder why it didn't make the longer versions? Someone referred to it in another forum I was at a while back and I had no idea what they were talking about - kept looking for it in both of the versions I have and was mystified. Thought I must be missing some background dialogue that just wasn't subtitled. I've never seen the original, shorter theatrical release so now my confusion is, er, less confusing.

[Panser]

frau kaleun and Sailor Steve, I 've just checked on my copy (yes, I'm really that anal) and you're right, he speaks English in that scene on both versions. I guess that was just a case of misremembering on my part, but I always figured it to be an error in the audio tracks. I never realised that was intentional.

[Terragon]

Bought mine as part of the Wolfgang Peterson collection. Directors Cut, still pretty good. Mom's side of the family is German, so I know a little bit, but not nearly enough to keep up with three hours worth of it. Used English subtitles, quite a powerful movie. The best sub movie I probably have ever seen. U571 was such a let down, don't you agree?

[DaveU186]

Not even sure which version I have. Blinding film though.

"Sink them all"

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by DaveU186

Not even sure which version I have. Blinding film though.

"Sink them all"

if you have it on dvd, i think it's got to be either the director's cut theatrical re-release or the miniseries extended version. iirc the original shorter theatrical version never came out on dvd. i could be wrong though.

i think the director's cut clocks in at around 3 1/2 hours, one disc that you have to turn over midway through. extended cut is closer to 5 hours on two disks. (at least the region 1 versions i have.)

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by Panser

frau kaleun and Sailor Steve, I 've just checked on my copy (yes, I'm really that anal) and you're right, he speaks English in that scene on both versions. I guess that was just a case of misremembering on my part, but I always figured it to be an error in the audio tracks. I never realised that was intentional.

i think i had to go back at first and make sure he really said it in english too, because i've had a couple of dvds of foreign films (okay they were old hong kong chop socky flicks but still) where the one and only audio track contained both original language and dubbed english dialogue, first one and then the other, all the way through. didn't think a 'das boot' dvd would be as haphazardly put together as that, but you never know.

whether or not it was intentional on anybody's part, other than the fine actor playing Thomsen, is another question i don't know the answer to. everything i've heard about his performance including petersen's own comments suggests that he was at least a couple sheets to the wind when they filmed those scenes. what was in the script and what he improvised - well, i'd love to know. he doesn't get much screen time but he sure makes the most of it!

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by Terragon

Bought mine as part of the Wolfgang Peterson collection. Directors Cut, still pretty good. Mom's side of the family is German, so I know a little bit, but not nearly enough to keep up with three hours worth of it. Used English subtitles, quite a powerful movie. The best sub movie I probably have ever seen. U571 was such a let down, don't you agree?

i haven't seen it, and nothing i've heard about it so far has made me want to.

i do really like 'hunt for red october' and i saw 'crimson tide' (if that's even the right title - gene hackman, denzel washington, that one) when it was in the theaters. and saw the old one with... er... clark gable and william holden? is that 'run silent, run deep'? with an ex-boyfriend years ago.

obviously, i'm not a submovie connoisseur by any means, lol. but i do love a really well-made film and 'das boot' certainly qualifies in every respect IMO. didn't realize it would jumpstart so many new and interesting things for me to get into, but i'm certainly having a good time with all of it.

i messed around with learning a little german years ago and have started trying to pick some up again - just my luck a german family now living here in the states just joined up at my dojo so i have the little girl in my kid's class and the dad's been coming to our adult classes as well. gives me chance to use (and not forget) what little german i have, although i must say the opportunities to yell 'anblasen' are, sadly, few and far between in that context.

[frau kaleun]

*sigh*

well now i think i will have to go and watch Das Boot again, or at least as much of it as i can fit in between now and bedtime.

what a tragedy, i don't know how i'll survive it.