Posted on 02/23/2007 8:26:59 AM PST by Borges
6 hour film?
I saw it in the theater when it came out - over here, at least, and it was no more than 2-1/2 or 3. Subtitled of course.
So that's why I remember the short version.
Like I don't yell that in bars now!!
Probably because it 4 1/2 hours long uncut!
We holler it pretty much every time we see:
a) someone drinking a beer
b) someone wearing boots
We're told it's disconcerting, but screw 'em! If they haven't experienced the glory that is Das Boot, what can they possibly know?
haven't seen it. read the book tho...
My uncle was on diesel boats in the 50's and early 60's and he said he could almost smell the boat again watching Das Boot.
He also has out a picture book about u-boat life called "The U-Boat War". Great pictures. RIP
Actually the 2 1/2 hour version was the theatrical version world wide. One of the reasons they got away with spending so much making the movie was that right off the bat it was sold twice, one theatrical and one TV mini-series. So functionally they got two budgets to make one movie, then they released the theatrical while continueing to edit the mini-series. Then eventually they split the difference and made the "directors cut" which was basically the theatrical movie plus about an hour of character development from the mini-series, to the best of my knowledge this never saw real theatrical release but you never really know what random "art houses" are have done. Now the entire mini-series version is out on DVD in America (though very difficult to find in person, on Amazon it's easy look for the one with a 293 minute running time).
Really and truly one of the most brilliant movies ever, no matter which version you watch.
I actually had someone on Free Republic say that my opinion is questionable because of my tagline!
I told him that he could say what he wants about my mother but when it comes to "Beerfest"...
Also, I included a copy of Beerfest in a package i sent to a buddy in Iraq!
You never loose the memory of the smell of diesel and amine in the air. Along with BO and lastnights midnight meal ;-)
Whoever that was is a blasphemer and shall surely be struck down by lightning, sore boils, and a plague of locusts!
Oh I agree. I told him to watch the movie and then get back to me. Have not heard back yet.
"...on Amazon it's easy, look for the one with a 293 minute running time)."
Thanks, I might just have to pick up the extended version. In the case of MASADA the mini-series was really worth the extra time over the feature length movie version.
The differences in versions of Das Boot are pretty much just character development, as you move to longer versions you get to know more characters better. Because they specifically designed it to be both the "short" movie (hard to call 2 1/2 hours short) and the long mini-series the movie wasn't really a cut job like other things that have been reduced, but the longer one is more satisfying.
The actors were actually kept inside without any sunshine for weeks and weeks. It gave them a pale oily pallor to their skin. He also kept them from sleep so they developed red eye and bags under their eyes.
Those are just two details among thousands of the details the director took the film towards realism.
That's why the film appeals to those that have served in like conditions.
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