Tom Hanks' new convoy war movie: Greyhound - Page 6

iambecomelife · 03-10-20, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff-Groves

It's just a movie Folks.
So like Spiderman and Star Wars?
It's just not real.
I'll watch it!
I enjoy movies that entertain me. Don't care if it's full of BS!
Part of the fun on this one will be pointing out the BS!
Which will totally annoy the Wife.

Yep! That is my attitude. The trailer makes me feel like, although there are cliches and it won't be perfect (and, yes, it's the 'Murican point of view again!!!) it will be a watchable movie - fun, and dealing with a subject I like.

I don't believe Hollywood could make another "Das Boot" or its equivalent today; accurate submarine movies are kind of a niche market. The pacing and character-heavy style of "Das Boot" is not likely to appeal to most people.

And then there's the political issue. It's hard to imagine a modern, mass-market American Hollywood movie that would portray any WWII German protagonist positively. Aside from exceptions (like Tom Cruise in "Valkyrie" as the anti-Hitler von Stauffenberg).

That's a shame to me; I agree that a balanced, historical Hollywood film about Kretschmer/Prien etc would be interesting. German film makers have proven with recent series (Generation War, etc) that it's possible to take a nuanced approach .... to humanize Germans who fought during WWII and, at the same time, point out that Nazism was evil and had to be defeated.

Perhaps a modern U-Boat film maker could solve the pacing issue by covering the sinking of Royal Oak, several convoy battles, etc instead of one patrol like Das Boot.... thus, plenty of drama/pyro stuff, and plenty of historical material.
Ah well, food for thought.

John Pancoast · 03-10-20, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iambecomelife

Yep! That is my attitude. The trailer makes me feel like, although there are cliches and it won't be perfect (and, yes, it's the 'Murican point of view again!!!) it will be a watchable movie - fun, and dealing with a subject I like.

I don't believe Hollywood could make another "Das Boot" or its equivalent today; accurate submarine movies are kind of a niche market. The pacing and character-heavy style of "Das Boot" is not likely to appeal to most people.

And then there's the political issue. It's hard to imagine a modern, mass-market American Hollywood movie that would portray any WWII German protagonist positively. Aside from exceptions (like Tom Cruise in "Valkyrie" as the anti-Hitler von Stauffenberg).

That's a shame to me; I agree that a balanced, historical Hollywood film about Kretschmer/Prien etc would be interesting. German film makers have proven with recent series (Generation War, etc) that it's possible to take a nuanced approach .... to humanize Germans who fought during WWII and, at the same time, point out that Nazism was evil and had to be defeated.

Perhaps a modern U-Boat film maker could solve the pacing issue by covering the sinking of Royal Oak, several convoy battles, etc instead of one patrol like Das Boot.... thus, plenty of drama/pyro stuff, and plenty of historical material.
Ah well, food for thought.

I'd like to see the British side of a "Das Boot" type movie made; instead of a German sub, a British escort around the same time frame or in the spring of '41 instead.

But it'd probably have to be a British production; Hollywood would Ramboize it to much.

Tanyrhiew · 03-12-20, 06:54 PM

No CGi back then, they just used the ships.

Excuse the Brit sub masquerading as a U-boat.

Dated but still worth watching.

iambecomelife · 03-12-20, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Pancoast

I'd like to see the British side of a "Das Boot" type movie made; instead of a German sub, a British escort around the same time frame or in the spring of '41 instead.

But it'd probably have to be a British production; Hollywood would Ramboize it to much.

Good idea, John. I would like to see a remake of "The Cruel Sea". For those who don't know, it's a novel about a Flower Class corvette crew, from 1939 - 1945. It was an excellent book and I heard the 1953 movie was good, although I've never seen it.

A modern version with good special effects (but not excessive Michael Bay crazy stuff) would be nice. A movie faithful to the book would be too long, but a 2 hour film could include all the best action-packed chapters. The book has submarine, Luftwaffe, and German Destroyer attacks, which would be a nice variety of combat scenes to keep the audience excited. Plus, there's a good romance in the novel, and if they cast a "cute" young male actor as the love interest, that would help keep both men and women interested.

EDIT: lol!! Timely post!

John Pancoast · 03-12-20, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iambecomelife

Good idea, John. I would like to see a remake of "The Cruel Sea". For those who don't know, it's a novel about a Flower Class corvette crew, from 1939 - 1945. It was an excellent book and I heard the 1953 movie was good, although I've never seen it.

A modern version with good special effects (but not excessive Michael Bay crazy stuff) would be nice. A movie faithful to the book would be too long, but a 2 hour film could include all the best action-packed chapters. The book has submarine, Luftwaffe, and German Destroyer attacks, which would be a nice variety of combat scenes to keep the audience excited. Plus, there's a good romance in the novel, and if they cast a "cute" young male actor as the love interest, that would help keep both men and women interested.

EDIT: lol!! Timely post!

Yes, "The Cruel Sea" is a great book. Didn't realize it had been made into a movie at one time.

Not on the sea, but "A Piece of Cake" is a good read set during the Blitz.

Jimbuna · 03-13-20, 09:40 AM

John Pancoast · 03-13-20, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Took a look on Amazon for it.....to rich for my blood.

Jimbuna · 03-13-20, 09:57 AM

Less than a fiver on DVD in the UK, then I checked your whereabouts.

John Pancoast · 03-13-20, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Less than a fiver on DVD in the UK, then I checked your whereabouts.

Yeah, even eBay is no bargain. Always liked Jack Hawkins.

mapuc · 03-13-20, 06:33 PM

My longtime memory said to me:

You have seen this movie on German tv in the middle of the 70's.

Markus

Jimbuna · 03-14-20, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Pancoast

Yeah, even eBay is no bargain. Always liked Jack Hawkins.

I'm unaware of postage costs to you but it is next to nothing for a copy here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...a+dvd&_sacat=0

John Pancoast · 03-14-20, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I'm unaware of postage costs to you but it is next to nothing for a copy here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...a+dvd&_sacat=0

I'll look into that Jimbuna, thanks ! Just have to make sure to get one for my region.

Sonarman · 03-15-20, 05:55 PM

Can't believe so many haven't seen "the Cruel Sea" for me it is the second best naval war film ever made after Das Boot, a definite must see.

Greyhound is based apparently on 'The Good Shepherd" by CS Forester who wrote the Hornblower series so the story should be a good one.

John Pancoast · 03-15-20, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonarman

Can't believe so many haven't seen "the Cruel Sea" for me it is the second best naval war film ever made after Das Boot, a definite must see.

Greyhound is based apparently on 'The Good Shepherd" by CS Forester who wrote the Hornblower series so the story should be a good one.

Read the book (Cruel Sea) years ago. Never knew a movie of it existed until now.

Dvd is very expensive here in the states, but I'll keep checking now and then.

Mariner1 · 03-19-20, 04:00 PM

I spent 2 happy hours on Sunday last (15th March) watching the film on BBC2 in the UK, free-to-air (for licence-payers). It whittles down Montserrat's excellent novel, which was based on his real-life experiences in corvettes. The book also fictionalises to some extent the career of Johnny Walker, who some may say became the ace U-Boat hunter of the Western Approaches. In the film, only 2 U-Boats are sunk, from one of which survivors are rescued. The tone of both book and film is sombre, concluding that the sea is cruel to start with, and was made more so by men's wartime activities.
As an aside, Sea Breezes magazine for March 2020 has a first-hand account of a convoy battle SC 94 in August 1942 from the point of view of the First Lieutenant of HMS Primrose, a Flower-Class corvette. From Halifax Nova Scotia to UK "one third of the convoy of 34 merchants was sunk, two escorts were damaged and put out of action, and 3 U-Boats sunk. At its height 23 U-Boats were estimated to be in contact with the convoy". Fuller details on www.uboat.net, but I find it hard to envisage the scale and complexity of what occurred, just on that one convoy.

03-12-20, 06:54 PM	#78
Tanyrhiew Watch Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 17 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Already been done: No CGi back then, they just used the ships. Excuse the Brit sub masquerading as a U-boat. Dated but still worth watching.

03-13-20, 09:40 AM	#81
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 180,992 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	__________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!! GWX3.0 Download Page - Donation/instant access to GWX (Help SubSim)

03-13-20, 09:57 AM	#83
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 180,992 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Less than a fiver on DVD in the UK, then I checked your whereabouts. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!! GWX3.0 Download Page - Donation/instant access to GWX (Help SubSim)

03-15-20, 05:55 PM	#88
Sonarman The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ayr,Scotland,UK Posts: 1,383 Downloads: 79 Uploads: 0	Can't believe so many haven't seen "the Cruel Sea" for me it is the second best naval war film ever made after Das Boot, a definite must see. Greyhound is based apparently on 'The Good Shepherd" by CS Forester who wrote the Hornblower series so the story should be a good one. __________________ "The action is simulated...the excitement is real!" Microprose Simulation Software.

03-19-20, 04:00 PM	#90
Mariner1 Suavely concerned Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: South Coast, England Posts: 16 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The Cruel Sea classic film I spent 2 happy hours on Sunday last (15th March) watching the film on BBC2 in the UK, free-to-air (for licence-payers). It whittles down Montserrat's excellent novel, which was based on his real-life experiences in corvettes. The book also fictionalises to some extent the career of Johnny Walker, who some may say became the ace U-Boat hunter of the Western Approaches. In the film, only 2 U-Boats are sunk, from one of which survivors are rescued. The tone of both book and film is sombre, concluding that the sea is cruel to start with, and was made more so by men's wartime activities. As an aside, Sea Breezes magazine for March 2020 has a first-hand account of a convoy battle SC 94 in August 1942 from the point of view of the First Lieutenant of HMS Primrose, a Flower-Class corvette. From Halifax Nova Scotia to UK "one third of the convoy of 34 merchants was sunk, two escorts were damaged and put out of action, and 3 U-Boats sunk. At its height 23 U-Boats were estimated to be in contact with the convoy". Fuller details on www.uboat.net, but I find it hard to envisage the scale and complexity of what occurred, just on that one convoy.

03-13-20, 06:33 PM	#85
mapuc Fleet Admiral Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 17,837 Downloads: 37 Uploads: 0	My longtime memory said to me: You have seen this movie on German tv in the middle of the 70's. Markus