Movies and Films
This is the forum for Movie and Film discussions. Again, our topic is naval warfare in WWII for the most part.
Re: The appeal of Das Boot
Posted by:
Chris M.
()
Date: August 28, 2002 08:55PM
<HTML>Keith:
A most tantalizing query, but just about any answer will call on the subjective opinion of the viewer. Although I am only a closet expert on the Battle of The Atlantic (i.e. I've read and recommend Michael Gannon's "Operation Drumbeat" and "Black May" because they are engrossing reading, even the second or third time around), "Das Boot" tries to tell the U-boot war as it really was, from the German perspective of an average U-Boat during that period. Clearly, the film is intended as entertainment, not a documentary, but it probably comes as close to reality as any U-boat film ever will. In a word, realism is what makes "Das Boot" so extraordinary.
As for things that stand out to me as being exemplary: (1) The palpable frustration and boredom of the crew waiting for something to happen -- "When do we get some orders?!" (2) The frustration of the Captain with the U-boat war propaganda of the time versus the deadly reality. Also, his criticism levelled at Hermann Goering's failure to provide meaningful air support for U-Boats and convoy sighting purposes was something C-in-C U-Boats Karl Doenitz lamented throughout the war. (3) The friction between the Nazified Number One and the rest of the officers. By and large the U-Boat crews were the least Nazified of the German armed forces (although there were, of course, exceptions, particularly as the war dragged on). (4) The ending symbolizing the whole of the U-Boat war very powerfully. Although U-96 manages to return home, in the end she is destroyed, reflective of U-Boat war's final outcome. (5) The depth charging! "They'll soon be out of fireworks!"
One notable, but perhaps understanable, omission in "Das Boot" is the absence of Adolf Hitler's photograph on the conning tower ladder well. This was standard issue in all U-Boats, much the same way as President George Bush's photo is standard issue in post offices and federal buildings throughout the U.S. But as the film isn't about National Socialism, the omission does not take anything away. Probably a production decision by Wolfgang Petersen -- not to inject the spectre of Hitler where it might provoke an undue reaction by the audience.
Certainly my favorite sub movie of all time. I had high hopes for "U-571" -- but that is another story, and another posting.
Adieu.</HTML>
A most tantalizing query, but just about any answer will call on the subjective opinion of the viewer. Although I am only a closet expert on the Battle of The Atlantic (i.e. I've read and recommend Michael Gannon's "Operation Drumbeat" and "Black May" because they are engrossing reading, even the second or third time around), "Das Boot" tries to tell the U-boot war as it really was, from the German perspective of an average U-Boat during that period. Clearly, the film is intended as entertainment, not a documentary, but it probably comes as close to reality as any U-boat film ever will. In a word, realism is what makes "Das Boot" so extraordinary.
As for things that stand out to me as being exemplary: (1) The palpable frustration and boredom of the crew waiting for something to happen -- "When do we get some orders?!" (2) The frustration of the Captain with the U-boat war propaganda of the time versus the deadly reality. Also, his criticism levelled at Hermann Goering's failure to provide meaningful air support for U-Boats and convoy sighting purposes was something C-in-C U-Boats Karl Doenitz lamented throughout the war. (3) The friction between the Nazified Number One and the rest of the officers. By and large the U-Boat crews were the least Nazified of the German armed forces (although there were, of course, exceptions, particularly as the war dragged on). (4) The ending symbolizing the whole of the U-Boat war very powerfully. Although U-96 manages to return home, in the end she is destroyed, reflective of U-Boat war's final outcome. (5) The depth charging! "They'll soon be out of fireworks!"
One notable, but perhaps understanable, omission in "Das Boot" is the absence of Adolf Hitler's photograph on the conning tower ladder well. This was standard issue in all U-Boats, much the same way as President George Bush's photo is standard issue in post offices and federal buildings throughout the U.S. But as the film isn't about National Socialism, the omission does not take anything away. Probably a production decision by Wolfgang Petersen -- not to inject the spectre of Hitler where it might provoke an undue reaction by the audience.
Certainly my favorite sub movie of all time. I had high hopes for "U-571" -- but that is another story, and another posting.
Adieu.</HTML>
