The Cruel Sea (1953)

Actors: Don Sharp (actor), Liam Redmond (actor), Bruce Seton (actor), Alec McCowen (actor), Stanley Baker (actor), Sam Kydd (actor), Richard Leech (actor), Harold Goodwin (actor), Fred Griffiths (actor), Barry Letts (actor), Meredith Edwards (actor), Jack Hawkins (actor), Denholm Elliott (actor), Glyn Houston (actor), Donald Sinden (actor),

Plot: At the start of World War II, Cmdr. Ericson is assigned to convoy escort HMS Compass Rose with inexperienced officers and men just out of training. The winter seas make life miserable enough, but the men must also harden themselves to rescuing survivors of U-Boat attacks, while seldom able to strike back. Traumatic events afloat and ashore create a warm bond between the skipper and his first officer. Atmospheric sea footage.

Keywords: based-on-novel, battle-of-the-atlantic, battle-strategy, british-seaman, convoy, corvette, deep-sea, depth-charge, ealing, gibraltar
Genres: Drama, War,
Taglines: Monsarrat's brilliant best seller comes surging to life

Quotes:

Lt. Cmdr. Ericson: [as Narrator] For us the Battle of the Atlantic was becoming a private war. If you were in it, you knew all about it. You knew how to keep watch on filthy nights, and how to go without sleep, how to bury the dead, and how to die without wasting anyone's time.

Tallow: If anyone else makes a noise, I'll have his guts for a necktie.

Capt. Ericson: Steady as she goes, Number One.

Lockhart: Sir, reports from HQ say that there are five U-boats in this area.::Capt. Ericson: Five? It was good of them to tell us!::Lockhart: [Later that evening] Now they say there are nine U-boats operating around this area.::Capt. Ericson: Nine? Good grief, we must be very popular this evening!

Bennett: Snorkers! Good-oh!

Capt. Ericson: [opening lines as narrator] This is a story of the Battle of the Atlantic, the story of the ocean, two ships, and a handful of men. The men are the heroes; the heoines the ships. The only villain is the sea, the cruel sea that man has made more cruel.

Lockhart: [at the mess table] Getting rattled, John?::Morell: Well, whatever we do, these damn U-boats seem to get through the screen every time. We lost almost half our convoy and an escort and are almost two days from Gibralter.::[he gags with disgust;]::Morell: It's an odd thing to think if nothing else happens, this is probably the worst convoy in the history of sea warfare.::Lockhart: [trying to be comforting] Something to tell your grandchildren.::Morell: Yes, indeed, in fact, if you can guarantee I will have grandchildren, I shall recover my spirits immediately.::Baker: But how can he guarantee you'll have grandchildren?::Morell: [angrily] Well, if they're as stupid as you are, I hope I don't have any!::Baker: [taken aback at the outburst] Oh, I say...::Baker: [he eats without further response]

Lockhart: [after a battle] Are you all right?::Capt. Ericson: No, I don't mind telling you I'm not!

Capt. Ericson: [after choosing a battle strategy that has cost lives] I had to do it!::Lockhart: Anyway, it's all in the report.::Capt. Ericson: It was my fault!::Lockhart: I... I identified it as a submarine. If anyone murdered those men, I did.::Capt. Ericson: No one murdered them - it's the war, the whole bloody war! We've just got to do these things and say our prayers at the end.

Watts: [repairing the engine] Come to see the fun, sir? It won't be long now.::Morell: Fine, chief, but the captain's a little worried about the noise. Could you do anything to... tone it down a bit?::Watts: Pretty well finished now, sir. We're just flabbin' up the nuts. Could you hear the hammerin' up top?::Morell: Hear it? There were U-boats popping up from miles around complaining about the racket.