Das Boot (1981)

VHS CASE/SIDE

Length of film: 149 minutes (Director’s Cut: 208 Minutes)

Rated: 14A

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller

Staring: Jurgen Prochnow, Herbert Gronemeyer, Klaus Wennemann, Hubertus Bengsch, Martin Semmelrogge

Director: Wolfgang Peterson

IMDB Rank: 8.4/10

Part 1 Time:  N/A Minutes (Director’s Cut: 119  Minutes)

Part 2 Time:  N/A Minutes (Director’s Cut:  89 Minutes)

*** The VHS version breaks at 116 minutes following Johann’s (Erwin Leder) panic attack.

Where does the first part end?  Lt. Werner (Herbert Gronemeyer) lays in his bunk trying to hide from the chaos brought on by a British destroyer, dropping depth charges.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “220 meters, we’re drowning” unknown crew member shouts, camera focuses on Lt. Werner starring at a photograph.

First line of dialogue on the second part: “Take this down in your log book” states Captain Lt. Henrich Lehmann-Willenbrock (Jurgen Prochnow).

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Very jarring, the U-96 submarine has been bombarded with depth charges forcing the submarine to travel downward. The pressure is immense causing damage to the submarine. How will the crew survive this horrific situation?

Which part is better? Part one introduces the day to day operations of the submarine and the conditions experienced by the crew. As the submarine travels across the Atlantic Ocean the threat of inmate battle is always felt. Part two highlights U-96’s travel back to La Spezia, Italy, however the crew must navigate the Strait of Gibraltar- an area heavily defended by the British Royal Navy. Part two is better as the audience is on the edge of their seat feeling the ongoing pressure, stress, and danger of underwater conflict.

Academy Awards: Best Director (Nominated), Best Writing- Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Nominated), Best Cinematography (Nominated), Best Sound (Nominated), Best Film Editing (Nominated)Best Effects-Sound Effects Editing (Nominated).