Guide Note

Adapted from the Lothar-Günther Buchheim novel of the same name, the 1981 German film Das Boot follows the story of the crew of the U-96 submarine during World War II.

Fast Facts

1. Director: Wolfgang Petersen
2. Distributor: Bavaria Film
3. Starring: Jürgen Prochnow and Herbert Grönemeyer
4. Release Date: September 17, 1981
5. Running Time: 150 Min (original version)
6. Budget: Roughly $14 million (in 1981 dollars)

While the book and film are fictional, Buchheim was a war correspondent who voyaged briefly aboard the real U-96, during the Battle of the Atlantic. The captain of that vessel and the first officer of U-219 also served as consultants for the film. Das Boot launched the careers of Petersen and actor Jürgen Prochnow, who played the captain of the ill-fated vessel. At the time of its release, it was reportedly the most expensive film in the history of German filmmaking.

The film, directed by Wolfgang Petersen, is exceptional in that it takes place almost exclusively inside the submarine, and relies extensively on interior shots, which creates an authentic sense of cramped paranoia.