Das Boot (the original uncut version DVD)

[urfisch]

seen this movie several times since 1985, when watching the tv-version as a child. this was a magic moment...when my parents left me home and letting me watch tv. and there was this great and unforgetable movie "Das Boot". Afterwards i got the book "Iron coffins" from Herbert A. Werner and my uboat frenzy started.

I guess it is not available in english, but i recently bought my copy of a book called "The search for the crew of U-96" (Die Suche nach der Crew von U-96, which is a "catalog" with 300 sites from the german film-museum. There was a fair in this museum, called "Das Boot revisited" with all kind of photos, relics, requisites, etc. shown from the film.

[Terragon]

Just finished watching the Wolfgang Peterson collection, watched Das Boot and Air Force One back to back.

Saw a cool tribute to Das Boot in Air Force One. General Radek is played by Jurgen, who is the Captian of the U-Boat is Das Boot. When General Radek is released from a Russian prison (watch the movie), four men in Russian uniform come to meet him. The two with their covers off are crewmembers from Das Boot. The only reason I realized it is because I watched it back to back. Shortly after that, Jurgen gets machine-gunned again.

Bad luck dying as a German AND a Russian officer. Perhaps he should try American.

[JScones]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

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

Just watch SH5.

[Shape76]

The first time I watched "Das Boot" I was still in my pree-teen years and I already loved it like crazy back then.

Many years later the first DVD came out, labelled as Director's Cut. Anxious and thrilled as I was I totally oversaw that it was just a bit longer than the cinematic version back from the 80's but to me there is only one true version - the long 5-6 hour version. Grrrreeeeaaat disappointment !

Then someday about 3 years ago I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the original long version available as DVD which I bought practically instantly. Never saw the Directors Cut after that again.

[comet61]

Originally Posted by Tacyon

German with subtitles is a must, the crew saying "Captain" instead of Herr Kaleun seems a little out of place to me

I agree 100%. Don't use the English track. Subtitles only. The translation and dubbing in English is way below par and it takes something away from the scenes. Yes...it is long. But you must remember that this film was never intended for theaters. It was originally a 6 part mini-series...hence the uncut length. I found that the scenes cut from the released version to be somewhat refreshing and granted a few of them were on the dull side. The director did not make this as a war movie but about people under unusual stressful circumstances in a U-Boat. The cat-and-mouse scenes are intense and the Jurgen Prochnow character (kaptain) said it best in one scene.."now it gets psychological"....which it is and the movie follows the characters during these intense scenes. The captain of the original U-96 was on the set as a "technical advisor"....watch the extras on the DVD.

I like this movie a lot. One of the best war-time movies ever made.

[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 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.

[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.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

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.

I kind of agree, but in my case it's mostly that she wasn't a 'real' character in the book. I did like the scene - also not in the book - with Der Alte and 'Werner' discussing the girl in the window as they leave the docks.

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.

Another scene from the book that wasn't in the movie was the Spanish freighter at the end. I can see why they left that one out, and replaced it with the sinking British tanker, but it still might have been interesting.