The Cruel Sea (1953)

Donald Sinden: Lockhart

Photos 

Quotes 

• 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] 

• 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.

• 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!

• Lockhart : [after a battle]  Are you all right?

  Capt. Ericson : No, I don't mind telling you I'm not!

• Bennett : What sort of gun have we got?

  Ferraby : Four inch.

  Bennett : Four inch what? Breech-loading, quick-firing, mark IV, mark VI, fixed ammunition?

  Ferraby : Four inch... I... I don't know.

  Bennett : Find out! I'll ask you the next time I see you. Get to the dock office, and start mustering the confidential books!

  Lockhart , Ferraby : Yes sir!

  Bennett : I'm the first lieutenant around here. And don't you forget it!

• Morell : Most Moving. I imagine there's nothing we can do to help him.

  Lt. Cmdr. Ericson : What are you all grinning at?

  Lockhart : Sorry, sir. I was thinking of something.

  Morell : It hardly does you credit, at a time like this. If the First Lieutenant is in pain, I should not have thought you would be able to laugh at anything else.