Although I've never experienced war at sea or anywhere else for that matter, this I believe is probably nearer the truth than 95% of those other movies out there. There isn't a lot of action in the movie, which may sound like a criticism, but isn't! The movie portrays life aboard ship that almost seems mundane and boring, but this heightens the action sequences to a level of excitement rare in a war movie. It seems very real. I suspect that there are many ex-servicemen and women who would recognise the months of tedium punctuated by those few hours of horrific warfare. The movie succeeds on many levels. Great location footage, with a documentary feel, (although we have to forgive the occasional exploding plastic model ships) Jack Hawkins does some great acting as Captain Ericson, almost bringing tears to my eyes after an incident depth-charging a supposed submarine. Somehow, the movie just feels right, from the start, to one of the best endings I've ever seen on film. A great companion movie to 'Das Boot'
Review of The Cruel Sea
