When destroyers start dropping depth charges on the grey wolves that submerge in a desperate attempt for survival, some are attempting to prevent spraying water from adding weight to the iron ship, others attend to the wounded and the captain through constant damage reports guides them with specific orders towards a hopeful escape of death.įollowing emergency dives, the unit gathers in the control room patiently playing the wait game. Handling a submarine relies on teamwork more than anything and Cacano makes sure we don't miss any of the collective labor efforts. It is through his unconventional approach of filming such material that we learn how a submarine works. It amazes me that he maintained steady shots when dealing with actors rushing in and out of a frequently shaking cramped confinement. However, when the film ended, the audience gave the film a standing ovation in appreciation of the artistry of the filmmakers."Ĭinematographer Jost Vacano shot the film by maneuvering within tight quarters using a handheld camera. They weren't sure how a former enemy nation in that war would react to the film, especially in a city with a large Jewish population, and their fears were reinforced when the audience applauded the opening caption saying 30,000 of 40,000 German submariners were lost in the war. The viewer has no choice and there's no room for judgments as Peterson effectively places us amongst the cramped hulls so that the viewer is more of a crew member than an outside observer.Īccording to IMDB, "the producer greeted the first American showing of the film at the Los Angeles Film Festival with great trepidation.
He was wise in taking the risk to avoid such an approach and even wiser for not resorting to Nazi propaganda for "Das Boot" is simply a detailed account of single patrol mission and nothing more. We've been bombarded with films taking this angle many times and had he used the available material to portray a bunch of villains taking orders from an evil leader we wouldn't be discussing the film 30 years later. Wolfgang Peterson doesn't go into any politics or waste time with the horrors of Nazi ideologies. I also like the added narration as it makes the experience more personal.
I prefer this fully restored uncut version because it makes the mounting tension and sudden plunge into terrifying action all the more surprising and shocking. We get more background information about the characters and get to know them better through their conversations and boredom spent in silence as they eagerly await orders for anything to happen at all. The uncut "Das Boot" adds more waiting and forces the viewer to endure the daily trauma and monotony of the crew members. Peterson once said that "the fully restored mini-series will be even more shocking and affecting for audiences" and while it does enriches the experience to a whole new level, it is not for everyone.
DASBOOT VS TAISA SERIES
Peterson basically cut out the opening and closing credits of the TV series and stitched all the footage together into a humongous continuous feature film. With the introduction of DVD technology, Peterson quickly released the film "as it was originally intended to be seen." The original uncut version runs at 4 hours and 42 minutes in length and is the most complete version available yet. Depending on whether you like it or not, I would go for the ultimate and last version of the film. I recommend the Director's Cut to viewers who are yet to embark on this brilliant drive. This version is far superior to the original theatrical version and the result is nothing short of a great film. The additional footage before and after the key battle scenes perks up the previous release with more fully realized character development.
The Director's Cut also features improved sound and better picture quality. In 1997, Peterson revisited the film and released a Director's Cut clocking in at 3 hours and 20 minutes. So in short, avoid the original theatrical release at all costs. It was never meant to be seen as an all-out action flick but rather a long epic voyage into torturous warfare. You get all the action sequences but don't see what leads to them, which is a shame because "Das Boot" is about the journey leading up to the destination. Watching the 145-minute original theatrical version is the equivalent of watching game highlights when you miss a 90-minute sports match. This heavily edited version is the worst version available and yet it earned the film six Academy Award nominations.
The original theatrical version that came out in 1982 is a trimmed down version of a six-hour mini-series that aired on German television the year before.
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