Boot, Das (1981)

Director:

Wolfgang Petersen

Writers:

Lothar G. Buchheim (novel)
Wolfgang Petersen (writer)

Release Date:

10 February 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

This is the story of 42 raw recruits caught up in a war they didn't understand, and the Captain who must lead them in their struggle to survive.

Plot:

The claustrophobic world of a WWII German U-boat; boredom, filth, and sheer terror.

Plot Keywords:

Tanker | Sailor's Death | Oil | Bare Butt | Fear

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Jürgen Prochnow	...	Capt.-Lt. Henrich Lehmann-Willenbrock - Der Alte
Herbert Grönemeyer	...	Lt. Werner - Correspondent
Klaus Wennemann	...	Chief Engineer Fritz Grade - Der Leitende-Der LI
Hubertus Bengsch	...	1st Lieutenant - Number One-1WO
Martin Semmelrogge	...	2nd Lieutenant - 2WO
Bernd Tauber	...	Kriechbaum - Chief Quartermaster-Navigator
Erwin Leder	...	Johann
Martin May	...	Ullman
Heinz Hoenig	...	Hinrich
Uwe Ochsenknecht	...	Chief Bosun
Claude-Oliver Rudolph	...	Ario
Jan Fedder	...	Pilgrim
Ralf Richter	...	Frenssen
Joachim Bernhard	...	Preacher
Oliver Stritzel	...	Schwalle

Also Known As:

The Boat (Philippines: English title) (USA) (dubbed version)

MPAA:

Rated R for some war violence and brief language. (director's cut)

Runtime:

149 min | 209 min (director's cut) | 293 min (uncut version)

Country:

West Germany

Language:

French | German | English

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (director's cut) | Dolby (original release) | SDDS (director's cut)

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Netherlands:16 (director's cut) | Norway:15 (director's cut) | Norway:16 | Portugal:M/12 (original rating) | Portugal:M/16 (director's cut) | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (dubbed directors cut) | UK:15 (subtitled directors cut) | USA:R | USA:Unrated (original uncut version) | West Germany:12 (w)

Filming Locations:

Atlantic Ocean

Company:

Bavaria Film

Trivia:

When Wolfgang Petersen set out to cut down the German TV mini series version of the film to the 3 hour 26 feature director's cut, he discovered that the original music soundtrack had been lost due to film melt. Original soundtrack composer Klaus Doldinger painstakingly archived all the original soundtrack and remixed all the music cues that had been melted in 6 track format. Music editors then had the unenviable task of re-cutting the music to fit the new feature length of the film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In one scene the Skipper goes to his cabin and retrieves his service pistol, a 9mm P.38 Walther. The weapon in the movie is actually a post-war Iterarms version sold in the sixties and seventies.

Quotes:

Heinrich: Noooo! Second contact closing fast, bearing 076!
Captain: Damn them! Another one!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Joan Rivers/Musical Youth (#8.17)" (1983)

Soundtrack:

La Paloma

Top of the line

When you go to a liquor store to buy Vodka you can purchase one of several brands or you can purchase Stoli. That's what Das Boot is when it comes to Submarine films. You can watch any one of several or you can watch Das Boot. Like Stoli Vodka it's in a class by itself. Superb film either way you see it i.e. subtitles or the dubbed version. See the directors cut if you can. The German crew could be any nationality the film is so well done it doesn't matter. Andy Rooney once said that when you're in a war you live life at 100%. The opening scene of this film demonstrates that. The men are living life at 100%. I never saw any other war movie that captured that like Das Boot.