Das Boot - The Original Uncut Version

Starring:JÃ¼rgen Prochnow, Herbert GrÃ¶nemeyer, Klaus Wennemann, Hubertus Bengsch, Martin Semmelrogge, Bernd Tauber, Erwin Leder, Martin May, Heinz Hoenig, Uwe Ochsenknecht, Claude-Oliver Rudolph, Jan Fedder, Ralf Richter, Joachim Bernhard, Oliver Stritzel, Konrad Becker, Lutz Schnell, Martin Hemme, Rita Cadillac, Otto Sander
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
This 282-minute version of Das Boot is the full-length TV series, originally shown in six parts but here edited into a seamless whole. Director Wolfgang Petersen has since graduated to mega-budget Hollywood productions (2004's Troy for example), but has never managed to even come close to this, his German-language masterpiece. Petersen and his sterling cast (including JÃ¼rgen Prochnow in his best role as the U-boat Captain) went to great lengths to ensure that this claustrophobic depiction of life aboard the German sub U-97 while attacking British convoys in the Atlantic is thoroughly authentic, and totally convincing. Even the set itself, which is a replica of a U-boat interior, had no false walls, so all camera angles are necessarily from within its horribly narrow, overcrowded and sweaty confines. The result is certainly the finest submarine drama ever made, and one of the most compelling depictions of the physical, psychological and emotional effects of warfare.

Amazon.com

This 282-minute version of Das Boot is the full-length TV series, originally shown in six parts but here edited into a seamless whole. Director Wolfgang Petersen has since graduated to mega-budget Hollywood productions (2004's Troy for example), but has never managed to even come close to this, his German-language masterpiece. Petersen and his sterling cast (including Jürgen Prochnow in his best role as the U-boat Captain) went to great lengths to ensure that this claustrophobic depiction of life aboard the German sub U-97 while attacking British convoys in the Atlantic is thoroughly authentic, and totally convincing. Even the set itself, which is a replica of a U-boat interior, had no false walls, so all camera angles are necessarily from within its horribly narrow, overcrowded and sweaty confines. The result is certainly the finest submarine drama ever made, and one of the most compelling depictions of the physical, psychological and emotional effects of warfare.

Customer Reviews:

mi mi series?.......2007-07-03

is this the complete 6 hour mimi series
with is the longest vertion of das boot?

The Original Uncut Version.......2007-06-27

The full-length "uncut" version ties together a lot of loose ends that
were present in the shorter versions. In the shortened versions, it was
never clear why the U-96 was ordered to make the extremely dangerous run
through the straits of Gibralter or why U-96 was reprovisioned in the
Spanish port of Vigo. The uncut version provides an answer to that. It also
adds a bit of suspense because it becomes evident in the uncut version that
u-boat operations may have been penetrated by British Intelligence and Admiral Dönitz was taking measures in an attemp to throw the British off
their scent. The Germans were indeed trying to get some u-boats into the
Mediterranean to help secure Rommel's supply lines. This version also gives greater depth to the relationship between the captain and his crew
and their determined loyalty to him. Individual characters are seen much
more fully developed, this seemed especially true for radioman/sonar operator/medic Hinrich and the extraordinary care he rendered to the badly
injured Kriechbaum after U-96 was strafed by a British fighter in the
straits. This version does take some liberties with the english
sub-titles compared to the German dialogue, in many instances the "translation" does not fit at all, as a german speaker I did find that
a bit annoying but overall it doesn't detract that much from this version.
If you like submarine movies and "Das Boot" in particular, the "uncut"
version is highly recomended.

Director's cut is for women & children; Un-cut is for men........2007-06-12

I originally saw this on VHS ages ago (back before DVD), which was the original uncut version. An absolute riveting masterpiece to me at the time. I was watching it when I myself was sailing on a merchant vessel in the middle of the ocean and had plenty of time to kill, so I could some-what relate to the movie at the time I suppose. Years and years later, I bought it on DVD for my collection, not realizing it was a different, shortened Director's Cut version. It just wasn't the same movie!

I think the editorial review at Amazon says it best when it compares the Directors cut/Un-cut versions of Das Boot with Saving Private Ryan/Band of Brothers. Its the pace that sets the two versions apart, with the un-cut version seemingly unfolding in real time, and making you really feel what its like to be part of the crew. You feel the clausterphobia, and how tired you get of your shipmates faces, and the agonizing feeling of helplessness of getting blindly depth-charged. Really the true telling of a World War II epic of a submarine patrol! And the character development is lacking in the Director's cut version, as well as plot development. And we're not talking just a few outside shots of the submarine being edited out from the Director's cut, we're talking an hour and a half of the director's original vision gone! Imagine taking an hour and a half out of another long-telling epic war movie, like Lawrence of Arabia, and boiling it down to just the more action-packed sequences. It wouldn't have been anywhere near the Best Picture oscar winner that it was! Its all those little, subtle things that all add up into making it fully what it is. (kinda random example, but hopefully helps to illustrate the point). The Director's cut version of Das Boot is more of just a shallower action-flick, but admittedly is much more appealing to those with short attention spans.

But anyone who is into war movies, for their ultimate telling of the human condition in times of the most extreme psychological and physical conditions mankind can come up with, will appreciate the complexity of this full length version. Those brave movie-goers that want to explore the depths and voyage into the misery, the insanity, the desperation, and the shear terror of war, will find the Un-cut version the ONLY version; and the Director's cut a much simpler, dumbing-down-of-america, crowd-pleasing type of movie.

When the original, un-cut version was finally released on DVD several years later, I rushed out and bought it THE VERY DAY it came out, and skipped work to go home and watch it. Ah ya, baby, that's the good stuff. Just what I had originally remembered, and what I had been jonesin' for since I was forced to settle with the inferior Director's cut version many years before.

satisfied customer.......2007-05-12

got this for my hubby and he is very happy with it and the price we paid

Sub lovers highly recommend!.......2007-05-09

Outstanding uncut, detailed, emotionally filled action submarine classic. If you watched the original movie in the past and enjoyed it, I would highly recommend this full, uncut version of this movie! The only negative issue I saw in the movie, was the special effects, (i.e. model ships/subs) took away somewhat the full impact of the classic 'sub vs ship' hunts. But I guess that is understandable since the movie was filmed circa 1981. Very good submarine movie; recommend using the subtitles option, in order to feel the full experience of the German crew aboard their U-boat!

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