The Boat (Das Boot) Interviews: 1982

David Childs talks with Wolfgang Petersen and Jürgen Prochnow about the film The Boat (Das Boat) made in 1982. This interview was recorded at Imperial College London on 24 March 1982. Recently someone asked if I could add subtitle for this video, which I have now done. They are automatically generated by KZbin so please forgive the odd error, here and there!

[@petemarr824]

preferred the subtitled version than the dubbed one

[@craigsmith2030]

Best sub film ever made, by a mile, i watch and recomend watching it in german with english subtitles. Absaloutly brilliant. Great cast, jurgen prochnow is superb. Cant speek more highly of him. All the cast were awesome. Just a masterpiece that will live on as the best submarine film ever made.

[@InazumaStudios1]

Wholeheartedly agree!

[@mikehoncho1005]

Yeah the dubbed version is shit, the first time I saw it I watched the dubbed version and turned it off after 20 mins. With the subtitles it's the best ww2 film I've ever seen.

[@ewawilsons]

All of the main actors are bilingual in German and English, and when the film was dubbed into English, each actor recorded his own part (with the exception of Martin Semmelrogge, who only dubbed his own role in the Director's Cut).

[@grahambull5802]

This the way an interview should . A respectful host allowing the guests to talk .

[@jamesgordon6483]

All the opposite of, say, Bill Maher 😂

[@bcvanrijswijk]

Then it was the best warmovie ever. Now 40 years later it is still greater, because it did not age at all. An all time classic.

[@freeagent8225]

I always watch it with English subtitles, so much of the character of the film comes from hearing the German. All these years later it's lost nothing.

[@sabercruiser.7053]

just like me

[@angrykermit3192]

No disrespect to whoever did the english dubbing but it comes across as a bit comical at times. The movie is much better in German with subtitles.

[@wewd]

@@angrykermit3192 The German actors dubbed their own lines, at least most of them did.

[@zehei2497]

exactly!

[@aryan4170]

Of course, the dub just ruins the experience

[@agwhitaker]

Still the best film on combat in a WWII submarine, - and by a wide margin.

[@yoyo762]

Most sub movies show squeaky clean men and conditions. Its hollywood nonsense.

[@christinesmith7625]

correct 100 %

[@brucegibbins3792]

@@yoyo762 And Pinewood too, similar, but more annoying than Hollywood that at least have no pretensions of authenticity, only entertainment. Both have their place, only the style and countries of origin are different.

[@Normalhowaboutyou]

Best Submarine War Film ever made. And one of the best, if not the best War Film ever made as well

[@phvangalen4310]

One of the best films I have ever seen! Rest in peace Wolfgang Petersen.

[@kayfischer9235]

Ich bin Wolfgang Petersen sehr dankbar, dass er diesen Film, Das Boot, gemacht hat. Da ich weiß, welche Umstände seinerzeit herrschten, ist es noch einmal mehr eine Bewunderung wert. Dass Petersen nun von uns gegangen ist, macht mich traurig - aber er hat uns sehr viel gegeben, und das sollten wir erhalten. - Kay Fischer, Germany, Berlin.

[@Xth3Z]

The English synchronisation is horrible to listen to. This movie should be watched in German with subtitles to get the real experience.

[@chevinbarghest8453]

English ? No way... Like listening to Rammstein in Chinese... I spent 3 weeks 'one-on-one' learning German, but still, 30% of my German vocabulary is from the film...

[@brucegibbins3792]

I have two versions of Das Boat. One I dubbed onto a VHS tape from a broadcast on TV and the other, a director's cut DVD. As the title suggests, and without doing a frame by frame comparison, the first easily identifiable different is in the first five minutes, the scene when on the ocean floor while waiting out a depth charge attack. Perhaps the final frames, the ending, is a little different from each other too - perhaps. Outside of my DVD library of American Film Noir movies, Das Boot gets a regular play 9ver the years. Too difficult to put into words, there is something, perhaps it is charisma, of the lead players, especially the Captain, a man of the type a crew would willingly follow through the gates of Hell - I know that I would.

[@Littlewolf13]

Definitely! The similarities between German & English are striking. MUCH better than being dubbed!

[@SongJLikes]

I agree… but, they actually did a pretty f’n good job with the voiceovers… it is a VERY challenging thing to accomplish ‘well’

[@phillawrence5148]

Agreed

[@rancidpitts8243]

In 1983 when I first saw the movie I had just returned from a 2 month TDY . The film was recommended by an other NCO with No spoilers other than you will like it. At the end of the movie I was shocked at the air attack, thinking how dare they kill My Men. Yes, My Men. I had bonded with the crew.

[@stefanlausen6824]

Rest in Peace Wolfgang Petersen !!😥😥😥😥

[@tarynwatson7461]

One of the best war films of all time

[@ritahorvath8207]

. anti war film

[@zoltanpeternemeth2622]

Possibly the greatest movie made about seaman at war ❤ Nothing even come close to this very day

[@jim5746]

Possibly the greatest film ever made !!!

[@MH-jt3lx]

As soon as it came out in the United States I And twenty three of my friends put five Zenith televisions in our community center and watched Das Boot together. At that time it was the finest submarine movie ever made and we enjoyed it to no ends. I still remember cheering when it was over then we discussed it amongst our selves about how real it seamed. Then we played an encore after that we found things we missed the first time. The second time it was played in German because we were all fluent or semi fluent in German. That you Mrs. Burris for teaching us your beautiful language. After the viewings we had a wonderful dinner our mothers made for us. That was one of the funnest most entertaining days in my life then. It was like we could smell the stench from the U Boat , I could taste the awful food and even itched when everyone got the crab lice. The movie was from the the German point of view of men fighting to save their country. The movie was something we almost never got to see THE TRUTH about war. Not just the U Boat but war in general.

[@sebvv5219]

Which version did you watch? The short movie, the director's cut or the mini series(full length)? Imo there's nothing better than watching the REMASTERED mini series with a proper sound system.

[@ke6319]

This is one of the most real depicted war movies I have seen. It is real to an impressive degree, you can almost smell the stinky feet of Pilgrim 😂. They caught that claustrophobic theme perfectly. The camera work was wonderful. I have started watching the movie again right after it ended. Have seen it 5 years before, and it just got better by age

[@lawrencedockery9032]

First time I made my buddy watch it he said it's the only movie he's ever seen that is able to show how bad the smell of something is

[@christofrip1723]

If you haven't already you should definitely watch the 6 episode mini series

[@manuelmuller3105]

Rest in peace, Wolfgang Petersen!

[@tomricta5123]

Great movie. Much love to Germany from England ❤

[@tachikomakusanagi3744]

This is how to conduct an interview. I miss this era where the artists were just allowed to speak (and i realise this is from an independent student channel, but nevertheless). Bravo to the people who made this interview so we could actually hear how the film was made.

[@johnquinn7068]

Brilliant film as were all the actors.

[@coskuntoktamis]

INDEED.

[@michaelcuff5780]

Das Boot was an awesome movie! So good to see the German side of things. When I usually get barraged from the American side of the wars.

[@Kosty19]

It became awesome because they tried to stay close to the book and not make an americanized action hero movie out of it.

[@ichabodon]

Yes a great film. One of my favorites. Acting and scenes brilliant

[@_zoinks2554]

Excellent film. They don't make them like this anymore.

[@rolfwerner4502]

they had made a new TV series out of the real Boot Story last Year in Germany. Outcome was a woke bubble. total brainwashed horror!

[@Ah01]

Those dubbings suck sweaty balls big time. All time number one film, especially the longest 5h version, as it gets deepest into the personal characters of the crew.

[@gec-o2167]

First saw this as a kid in the '80s in a big screen movie theater and was blown away by the visuals- especially the realistic POV shots that showed the claustrophobic environment of a submarine. Such a great film.

[@guidine7]

RIP Wolfgang Petersen (1941-2022)

[@jackpinesavage1628]

Since I was a young boy, I have always been fascinated by submarines. Seeing the Disney film "20,000 leagues under the sea" started it all. I read everything about submarines I could get my hands on. I've watched "Das Boot" many times. To all who participated in making "Das Boot" a film, well done.

[@canuzzi]

Read the book.

[@jobsjobbed5125]

An absolute masterpiece!

[@n506higo]

Great movie. I've watched over and over. I like the original 6 story version, which contains many important scenes, but removed in the director's cut. Actually I watched with Japanese subtitle. I tried to understand words without it only to find out that I could understand only numbers, such as 13.5 meter, spoken in German! Na Maenner, alles klar?

[@e30kitty]

German is not that hard to learn depending on were u are from :D The grammer is a bit hard but just the words are more easy then english xD

[@neilrafferty2097]

Two amazingly articulate gentlemen . And the film is unequalled .

[@jsfbr]

Best submarine movie to date.

[@craftpaint1644]

Down Periscope is the best submarine movie overall. Das Boot is an okay WWII movie, but I don't think it's really the most typical U-Boat experience to observe. If I wrote an original script for a typical U-Boat service experience they'd convoy hunt and survive depth charges the first patrol, operation paukenshlag the second patrol, get destroyed by aircraft the third patrol, the end.

[@williamwallace6508]

one hell of a movie. loved it

[@AwesomeBeatles]

An excellent movie. Excellent acting.

[@JamesBoss]

Everyone who worked on this were way way ahead of their time. This man has got to me on my top ten favorite directors of all time.

[@ChanahsCreativeEdits]

Totally mesmerising film. It's the only movie where I wanted the German sailors to succeed

[@LyfovRyan51]

One of my favourite movies I often watch on DVD.

[@stephen7740]

I did some construction remodelling job for Jurgen. A completely nice, humble man. When those boats came home, the stench was terrible. 50 men, no bathing for three months, plus food and diesel

[@DaniboyBR2]

If you were in there for the whole time you wouldn't feel it since we get used to any smell if we live with it for long enough, the smell variation is what strikes us.

[@watcherman65]

Not only the best maritime war movie ever but possibly the greatest war movie of all time.. ..at least in my opinion. - A great movie is always accompanied by great music and so it is with DasBoot.. The music is perfect . - I watch it on a yearly basis, an All Time Favorite that I'm glad Hollywood didn't get a hold of..

[@chucknorris6640]

Agree with you this is the best movie ever made I watch for the first time a year ago and since I watch it it steak with me I felt like part of the crew

[@michelnormandin8068]

Das Boot remains the most anxiogenic movie i've watched the last 50 years.

[@welshpete12]

A panicogenic substance , what do you mean ?

[@winstoncat6785]

I lived near Kiel for a while and on the east bank of the "förde" is the naval war memorial, in Laboe. The plaques commemorate all the dead U-boat crews including from the first world war. The numbers of names are horrifying. Their ages even more so. On the shore is the preserved U-995. It is a very simple affair with a ramp in at one end, and a ramp out at the other. Nothing really done to the inside. A bit of glass protection here and there, but it's basically an 80 year old machine in original condition. When you walk through it and then think of the crew numbers (57 at full complement if I remember right) it is simply unimaginable. How they lived like that, I have no idea. And how they died in those things is unthinkable. The film which I saw as a child in the UK (the tv series actually) was a monumental achievement in cinema and television. It is a part of history that we should never forget. We should learn from it. Never to repeat those things again.

[@berwhaletheavenger]

I went there also in 2002. The sheer number of names - never ending. The underground museum with the models of the capital ships - Bismarck, Tirpitz etc is very impressive. When I was there, a group of Bundesmarine cadets were having a guided tour. They have big boots to fill.

[@brianforbes8325]

I believe that Petersen originally made this film as a mini-series on West German television about 1980, because the full length is five and a half hours. Given that length, it was probably shown over two nights, though German television was (and still is) more like PBS than commercial television in the U.S., so it was shown without (or very limited) commercial interruption. Imagine viewing it like that! The full version drags in some segments as it portrays the utter boredom of life on the submarine for long stretches of time, but Petersen did this purposefully, and it is still dramatically effective. And then, of course, the boredom is punctuated by the short periods of sheer terror, which Pedersen and the cast and crew did brilliantly. So if you are willing to spend the five and half hours, please see the original full-length version. And it is best in German with English subtitles. If you know German fluently and don't need the subtitles, even better!!

[@thatsme9875]

I agree, the version in spoken English is not as good as the version with spoken German and English subtitles

[@richardlincoln886]

Yes he did - The mini-series was rebroadcast at some point in serial form in the UK - German language sound with English subtitles. Its an amazing movie in the serialised form. Must have been early/mid 1980s in the UK waiting a week to watch the next part!

[@slotuck]

Been my favorite movie since I saw it in theaters when I was 13 years old. Good interview too.

[@RayBecker]

I was in the Service when this movie came out. Didn't watch it until many years later. The acting is very good, especially Prochnow. He gave his character quite a bit of depth. You could feel the sense of disappointment or elation coming from the Skipper. Funnily enough, I was in Submarine School when this movie was in the Cinema. This movie is right up there with any of the Submarine flicks.

[@donna25871]

After suffering with the crew for the entire film the ending is devastating. This tops Saving Private Ryan and sits with 1917 as the most authentic depictions of war. The submarine division were the most anti Nazi of the German forces.

[@costa1788]

Yea I fully fucking cried at the end

[@Signofevil_Smile4theCam]

You once watch 'Stalingrad' and 'Die Brücke'. Both German movies as well, both brutal in their way, but authentic.

[@Cre80s]

It's odd to think that the film is now as far back in the past as the war was from the film.

[@Ms2blackcats]

Really ! I was the only one that had those kind of thoughts

[@roberthoffhines5419]

geez...right. perspective.

[@chucknorris6640]

Fue I was thinking the same is estrange to think how many time had pase since this masterpiece was launch on the big screen

[@bagoistvan3182]

😏 Das Boot , Operation Petticoat & Hunt for Red October will remain forever my all time favorite submarine movies !

[@chrisklammer3713]

if you like operation pettycoat you should watch " Down Periscope " :))

[@bagoistvan3182]

Hahaha...right , right ...i just forget to mentioned it in the list...of course .

[@HartDoug]

There was another; I saw a clip on it recently... I had forgotten it. ‘The Enemy Below’ (1957) with Robert Mitchum and Curt Jurgens. It was, I thought, a good movie but ‘Das Boot’ is the best movie (about submarines) that I’ve ever seen (and that’s saying something considering I am American)...

[@fockewulf8055]

This movie makes u feel like you are one of the crew ,but the fear of being down there in real life must have been scary .

[@welshpete12]

One of the best anti war films ever made . Remarkable , more like a documentary than a fictional war film . I do not think it would have been such a good film if the Americans had made it, with well known actors !

[@Gribbo9999]

welshpete12 I agree - you might watch U571 to get an idea how Hollywood deals with the subject. Incidentally Jurgen Prochnow, the captain, is quite well known actor. (Sorry can't find the u umlaut on my phone) and has acted in English in several English language movies. The film is a masterpiece no doubt.

[@jessestewart169]

Best movie they ever made so real.

[@villyvassel6295]

They both speak perfect English very impressive,,

[@IrishCarney]

If the real U boats had sunk more ships, maybe the rest of us would be speaking perfect German...

[@colinmontgomery1956]

@@IrishCarney , good point.

[@rosenscharf]

I was going to comment that I was relieved to hear them speak good English. Think about it: Helmut Kohl became chancelor in 1982 and he never spoke English on camera. Up to this day, a lot of Germans' English skills are poor considering we start learning the language in 3rd grade. Now, having heard this interview, I have the impression that Prochnow kind of thickened his German accent for the English dubbing.

[@mwewering]

Die Deutschen, sie sprechen Latein, Französisch, Polnisch, Russisch, Ungarisch, Tchechisch, Italienisch oder Englisch, je nach Besatzer.

[@Kosty19]

Prochnow also spoke himself in the english version. You can hear him talk in english with his german accent in the movie clips shown here.

[@cannibalholocaust3015]

First saw Prochnow in Dune as Duke Leto. Brilliant in that and excellent in this, you would think he’d have become a bigger name.

[@paulb6716]

He was suggested as the actor to play The Terminator until they decided to get someone like Swarzenegger!

[@welshpete12]

One of the best , if not best antiwar films ever made !

[@neilrafferty2097]

welshpete12 It’s exceptional .

[@frankzappaspussy7362]

i did not see it particularly as a war film or an antiwar film.. more about what happens when you lock fifty men in a very tight tube and put them in extraordinary jeopardy over the space of a few months.. "cross of iron" is by far the best antiwar film of all time..

[@sabercruiser.7053]

a master piece

[@UNUSUALUSERNAME220]

It's amazing that they were able to find ANY submariners to talk to. The fatality rate was something like 90%. That is a brutal %. These people knew that there was a 90% chance that they were never coming back again.

[@jamesunger8433]

Close actually 75% did not survive and U Boat losses actually escalated in the last two years of the war when modern Allied antisubmarine warfare technology overcame the U-boats ability to evade detection. Germany did actually develop anti detection technology which were incorporated into their type XXI submarine but these were not producing any quantities to have any effect obviously. They were equipped with among other things the ability to conduct an entire patrol submerged due to the installation of a snorkel which allowed the diesel engines to operate while submerged at periscope deprh. But the attrition rate in the last two years of the war was extremely high many U-boats only conducted one patrol before being lost. tragic reality of the price everybody pays for war and the extent that countries will go to to put their sons In harm's way in defense of their country.

[@UNUSUALUSERNAME220]

@@jamesunger8433 Yep.

[@NickFortier]

I do think its accurate to say, germany lost 90% of its male population in war time

[@SnoDog2112]

I remember seeing this film back in the early 1980s on TV and now recently got it on Blu-ray with the full uncut version both english (which most of the actors spoke) and german. It still gives me chills. Excellent Movie!!!!

[@tinkersailorhead4360]

The original book is worth reading. A relentless testimony on the senselessness of war itself.

[@malcolmscally1533]

one of the best war films ever made.

[@Wollemand]

When germans make a film about World war 2, it is always much better than anything other produced: Das Boot, Stalingrad and Der Untergang..

[@stephenwhitehead4199]

Generation War

[@PpunktP]

Die Brücke

[@chuckabutty888]

An excellent movie all credit to them for the making of it. Yes they were the villains of the time but the majority of no fault of their own. Like our lads they were put into the situation and so had to do their bit. All aspects of war is terrifying and this gives such a realistic example, the only good thing they got out of it was the true comradeship they experienced, this because the terror was the same for all no matter what the rank.

[@rosskardon7195]

I am Jewish and when I saw the movie "Das Boot(The Boat)" in 1982, I still cheered for the crew of the WW2 German U-boat and I still became very deeply upset when only one of the crew survived the air attack at the end of this fantastic movie!

[@WinterhudeTube]

Let me tell you a secret: Israeli Navy cadettes (at least 20 years ago) used to watch this movie all the time, like a cult film. Pilot cadettes had top gun, navy Das Boot. Also when they trained with German troops or stationed in Kiel after purchasing the Dolphin submarines (during the months of preparations), they used to watch it together. This is life, time passes, in Blue Flag excercises you see IAF jets with the painted star of david sharing formation with German Europfighters with the painted iron cross (and their high command are all friends, even though one of the German's father - or grandfather, I'm not sure - was a flight ace during the war - there was a video about that). Ten years ago, many of the short clips you could find of Das Boot in KZbin had Hebrew subtitles.

[@lepanhman]

Right up there with the best war film ever made .Easily the best Submarine movie by a country mile . Brilliant & Timeless !*****

[@qamarsuleman896]

Most amazing concept..what approach by Wolfgang Peterson... I loved his work.. the forever ♥ movie war ...its best and amazing ..I have seen many times..loved forever

[@subliutenant]

A masterpiece!! I watched the original series on the TV then bought the Video cassette, which I still have, complete with VHS recorder/player and have the DVD as well. When I'm looking for inspiration, I watch it. I haven't seen the new second Das Boot though, the original is good enough for me. My Father was in the RNVR as an engineroom artificer, most of that war on Escort vessels protecting convoys. I served as a Naval volunteer reservist marine engineer, for sixteen years, on Inshore minesweepers and small patrol vessels, so can appreciate the cramped conditions that these Guys lived in. Excellent film and a brilliant tribute to the people that served in the submarine service of any country!

[@LoneWoIf1776]

Watch it on Blu-ray

[@canadaarm165]

Incredible movie RIP Wolfgang

[@Xen_Prime]

To make a diy steadycam in late 70s tech is also a great achievement. Very impressed

[@larrymcjones]

One of my favorite movies of all time I try to only watch it only once every 2 - 3 years so I don't remember the next sentence verbatim and can try to enjoy it like the first time. Thanks for the upload

[@BelloBudo007]

The effort of the writer, director, actors, camera crew and all those working hard behind the scenes, really paid of with a wonderful movie that showed the human side of a U boat crew. I have seen it many times. It is one of the best movies.

[@12dougreed]

Super film , fantastic actors especially the captain. The bridge ( as mentioned) is also a great film.

[@poetryreincarnations]

Thanks Colin this an absolute gem,crikey Das Boot is one of my all time favourite movies and the quality of interviewing in these videos is top notch its a pity TV today doesn't do more interviews of this quality Mark Lawson before he fell out with the BBC was the last one to do interviews like this. The video work on this is really good quality as well.Thanks for sharing.

[@ColinGrimshaw]

Glad you enjoy them. I had fun making them too.

[@poetryreincarnations]

Looking forward to more Gems

[@stevejordan7275]

Thank you for posting this!

[@Dilbert0123]

The movie is (before Downfall) the metaphor how many germans think they experienced the war: Trapped in a tin can, drafted, not sure where it is going, no exit, just war and after all the horror there is one outcome waiting for many: Death. Even though this narrative leads to declarations of innocence and guilt in some case (what could we have done?), it was a horrible journey that was experienced together. Its the story of a traumatic experience in every psychological sense.

[@chucknorris6640]

This masterpiece in 2021 is as old as the mission it was based when the movie was released

[@your_royal_highness]

I first saw this movie in a theater, subtitled (thank God). The dubbed version is a disappointment (I hate dubbing). This is not only one of the best war movies ever, but a great movie, period. Very impactful, very well done.

[@almelling6699]

Yes brilliant by brilliant people my all best film.

[@Chris_WG]

Thank you for sharing this! I love the movie! This movie is s good! i'm in california . Such a great interview. TY!

[@Ravens-ft2hn]

Good Cast.........Actors.

[@evo5349]

Great film and so real been on a british diesel boat and the smell off fuel salt water and sweat I will never forget.

[@rainerfantasie9573]

Buchheim went on one patrol, actually. The episode at Gibraltar didn't happen as depicted in the book and movie. In reality, the boat was grounded three times. They got down to 180m, then they emerged and went closer to the African shore and touched ground at a lesser depth, then again. It was still a very close escape from the British ships but not that dramatic. Also, when they waited for their pick up before entering La Rochelle they didn't meet that U-Boat that got sunk by a mine and a plane. That actually happened to U 981. Buchheim was on U 309 fleeing from Brest to La Pallice (which is by some, especially Bucheim supposed to be counted as a patrol) after Brest had gotten encircled by US land forces after D-Day. Waiting for the escort to La Pallice, U 309 met U 981, U 981 hit the mine, a plane sunk it. There's actually pictures of that taken by Buchheim, just as there are many authentic picturses he took on the 7th patrol of U 96. So basically yes, all that happened but slightly different. Buchheim started writing "Das Boot" during the war, it was a manuscript titled "Das geduckte Leben" (The hunched life). It didn'T make it to print and only after the war Buchheim said he could finish it properly, without being censored and without the need to make it a work of propaganda. Buchheim's job back then was producing magazine articles, paintings and photographs to be used for propaganda, mainly to get more recruits for the U-Boats. That worked pretty well, the U-Boats always had enough young men volunteering, despite the huge losses they took. Ironically, when Das Boot was released it had a similar effect as the propaganda in WW2: The German U-Boats became very popular with marine recruits.

[@brianforbes8325]

Thanks, Rainer Fantasie, didn't know this stuff about Buchheim.

[@johnstevenson9956]

My only complaint about Bucheim's book, being a painter, he spent a LOT of time describing sunsets.

[@TheMave34]

All what you claim to be incorrect is later described in the 2nd Book of the Trilogy. "Die Festung" ("The Fortress").

[@pixiedixie3682]

The best sub movie ever, in my opinion. PD : after Operation Petticoat. 😁

[@edstoutenburg3990]

A classic among the 'War Movie' genre-thanks to all the effort put into it by the producer and actors. Great interview-i never knew it took so long to film! I had read the book-(paperback)-some months before seeing the movie at a smaller old theatre in Atlanta Ga then. An 'indie' / spe cialty cinema -so it was shown in German w English subtitles.Makes a difference in the viewing I think. Cant remember length of that movie though vs later cuts. The attention to authenticity was cutting edge since all previous Submarine films were generally so 'clean/roomy due to set designs. Most postwar US nd British ilms could use actual sub for exterior shots but interior was usally fixed view due to space if inside the actual boat- but no custom camera rigs like this films. At the time the only surviving Boats were two type IX s- U-505 at the Chicago Natural Museum of Science,USA,captured in early 1945 IIRC, and the Norwegian Navy had one that they kept as a war reparation in 945and used operationally for some years after-as they had stocks of spare parts at the U-Boat Bunker in Bergen,(I think thats the location) . That Sub was given back to Germany as a good will gift(?) Gesture in early 1990s I think,and is now displayed up on shore at a specially made Park and memorial in Keil Harbor to the lost Subs and crews of both World wars U-boat branches. You can tour thru both the U-505 in Chicago and the boat at Kiel. A book I would recommend reading that is as good as Das Boot is "Iron Coffins" by a U-Boat Cdr . Named Herbert Werner. Covers his career in the Kreigsmarine from his Cadet Training just before the War thru his service on several subs and finally his own command and thru to the End of the war.

[@radamus210]

This is one of the greatest movies on the subject ever made. It is one of the few movies I've ever bought it is that good but do not get the "English Voiced" version, get the "English dubbed" version. This is the proper way to see this movie not like 1970's Japanese voice-over cartoonish things. This movie deserves more respect.

[@evoste]

Nah German language with English subtitles is the genuine article, the dubbing is alright because it was done by the actual actors, but native language is always better.

[@Kosty19]

If You like the movie I absolutely recommend to get and read the book where this film is based on: Das Boot by Lothar Günther Buchheim. There You will get more details and insights and backgrounds.

[@petertimowreef9085]

That movie is so good I was kind of relieved to see Der Alte wasn't actually dead.

[@brucegibbins3792]

Regardless of the genre, Das Boot is my all time favorite movie. I have two versions: one I have on DVD titled the Directors cut, while the other I dubbed from a TV broadcast on VHS. The latter starts the story in more expanded detail than the former, featuring briefly a goodbye scene where the young submariner waving a sad farewell to his French love interest high above the harbour waving from a window. Das Boot is skillfully crafted and its not long before I, the viewer was easily immersed in the film. The story is portrayed in such away that an empathy for the main characters is quickly developed. The captain is clearly a leader of men and has their respect and implicit trust. After all, this is a community with a common purpose directed by duty and- a need to survive this harsh and unforgiving world of the Kreigsmarine U Boat service. A wonderful movie to be sure.

[@dinorocker8647]

Well it originally was a 5 part mini series in '81 that got a theatrical release later on, I don't know when the British/European theatrical release came out, but the one we got in the U.S.A came out 4 years later.

[@thomasklugh4345]

I'm a Baby-Boomer. And I say that proudly. My dad was a Marine right at the end of WWII. Fortunately, he didn't have to take part in the D-Day invasion. He was assigned to a little-known action in the southern coast of France, as well as other ports of call in the Mediterranean. But he and my mom instilled into my brothers and me, the importance of sacrifice, of patriotism, of serving ones country, and for that, I say, thank you mom; thank you dad... Thank you.

[@beedalton9675]

Years ago we drank with some German merchant sailors at a bar in Singapore.. We spoke different languages but we knew beer and women.. Lol after that when it all comes down to it we were sailor of different countries but in the end we were sailors on each side vets of ww2 we can learn from the older guys war is wrong

[@moviechilltime123]

Yours and your parents' view is stale, and unfortunately responsible for the deaths and atrocities this film is trying to prevent in its expression. What is there to be proud of in war? Disgusting.

[@rolwehner]

a masterpiece

[@TheAwedax]

Few movies you never forget...this is one of them....indeed a masterpiece...

[@timsan55]

I think it's one of the best films ever made, IMHO, which is all the more reason for regretting the mess they made of the directors cut, which they seemed to have gone at with a chainsaw. Many of the best scenes omitted including the reception party in Spain where the the political agent gets mistaken for the captain, and the Semmelrogge character demonstrates the depth charges with the punch bowl. Again this is just MHO.

[@holmes5517]

I saw the director's cut version because I didn't realize there were any others. So impressed with the film now intend to get every other version, except the dubbed one, and the book. ( I did the same with TTSSpy). BTW the scene in Vigo with the captain's identity mistake IS in this version.

[@johnthatcher2349]

Daz boot was hard to watch because of sub titles when I watched it but once into it it was a fantastic film.

[@jb9090]

It’s so much better in the native tongue without the awful English dub. I don’t speak German but you get used to the subtitles and the voices of the actors give the film much of its tension and authenticity, which is lost when dubbed over. The camaraderie and fight for survival is unlike any other film. You can really feel that these men have bonded in a common cause. It’s no surprise that it took a year of shooting to capture such an amazing experience

[@frankzappaspussy7362]

yes.. spaghetti westerns gain an extra magic from the cheesy or clever dubbing - but anything else just fucks it up and makes it feel stayed or unreal..

[@jimbobeire]

That was interesting. Thanks for uploading it.

[@hornsby5533]

Danke für das Video.

[@dawnjohnson5059]

What a Movie..!

[@wcstevens7]

Mrs J ..It one of my top 10 war movies....Superb, acting, directing....etc. etc..

[@b43xoit]

Prochnow sniffs. I had assumed it was part of the character he played.

[@of1300]

RIP Wolfgang Petersen. Das Boot. Best German fim. Best antiwar film.

[@svens.5139]

"Na Männer, alles klar?" "Jawohl Herr Kaleun!" "Na Kriechbaum, wie sind die Gefühle?" Antwort: Wird klappen Herr Kaleun, ganz sicher! "Beide Maschinen AK, hart Backbord, auf 107 Grad gehen, Angriff beginnt!"

[@robertmcgowan4312]

This is gthe best ww2 submarine movie ever made I went too a veterans day event I got too talking to an American Sub vet and asked him what it was like being depth charged he told me it was one of the most terrifying experience he told me that the only movie that came close to the real thing was Dad Boot

[@pauljohnson3340]

You have to watch the entire film with English subtitles in its original language. Watching it in dubbed English just does not work.

[@badddd]

which one is the best one to buy...which version? the 2 disc one?

[@Zalied]

i thought the 5 hour one was the TV version which is like 75 minutes longer than the directors cut which is longer than the theatrical cut. that being said. the 5 hours are worth it

[@dapsapsrp]

Totally agree even if the translation is a bit off, German language version is more natural. Of course, many of the German actors were fluent in English.

[@fliegeroh]

Yes, but watch it dubbed too, so you can spend time enjoying the full quality of the cinematography.

[@kecapmanis4191]

The English version feels strange. I have the directors cut in German language with English subs.

[@34tab]

How I wish that i had found out more about fritz"s experience about the uboat that he served in. I was in calgary- steel shop- he was a welder from germany-- Missed opportunity-- such nice man. !968 0r so

[@dixiebrick]

A weapon not a boat! Chilling!

[@Juggernaut30]

I watched Das Boot so many times in german,I know every single word. And hearing The boat in english is a little bit strange,because the complete atmosphere changed. It`s not what they say,it`s more like how.....

[@JVerschueren]

You're right, it really does. That why I always watch movies in their original version, with subtitles if necessary. Mind you, it's one thing to translate the meaning of the original lines, but quite another to then transform that into a script which can be dubbed over the footage.

[@shortaybrown]

Juggernaut30 - I love it subtitled in the original German too ! Most of my friends hate subtitled films and watch dubbed films :((( puke.