The Cruel Sea (1953) | |
| Director(s) | Charles Frend |
| Producer(s) | Michael Balcon (executive uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Drama, War |
| Top Topics | World War II |
Featured Cast:
The Cruel Sea Overview:
The Cruel Sea (1953) was a Drama - War Film directed by Charles Frend and produced by Michael Balcon.
Academy Awards 1953 --- Ceremony Number 26 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Writing | Eric Ambler | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
THE CRUEL SEA On Blu-ray From Kino
By Dan Day, Jr. on May 4, 2025 From The Hitless Wonder Movie BlogTHE CRUEL SEA is a 1953 WWII film from England's famed Ealing Studios, based on a novel by Nicholas Monsarrat, with a screenplay by Eric Ambler and direction by Charles Frend. The movie details the wartime experiences of one Captain Ericson (Jack Hawkins). Ericson was a merchant ship captain before ... Read full article
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Quotes from
Bennett:
Snorkers! Good-oh!
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]
Watts: [repairing the engine] Come to see the fun, sir? It won't be long now.
Morell: Fine, chief, but the captain's a little worried about the noise. Could you do anything to... tone it down a bit?
Watts: Pretty well finished now, sir. We're just flabbin' up the nuts. Could you hear the hammerin' up top?
Morell: Hear it? There were U-boats popping up from miles around complaining about the racket.
read more quotes from The Cruel Sea...
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]
Watts: [repairing the engine] Come to see the fun, sir? It won't be long now.
Morell: Fine, chief, but the captain's a little worried about the noise. Could you do anything to... tone it down a bit?
Watts: Pretty well finished now, sir. We're just flabbin' up the nuts. Could you hear the hammerin' up top?
Morell: Hear it? There were U-boats popping up from miles around complaining about the racket.
read more quotes from The Cruel Sea...
Facts about
The film debut of Alec McCowen
When the film was made in 1952, no Flower Class corvettes remained in Royal Navy service. The ship used was therefore the Greek corvette Kriezis, brought to Britain for scrapping. She was already scrapped by the time the film premiered.
The Compass Rose was played by ex-HMS Coreopsis. She was given the number K49 in the film which was the number of HMS Crocus (sometimes wrongly thought to have been used in the film). The real number of the Coreopsis was K32.
read more facts about The Cruel Sea...
When the film was made in 1952, no Flower Class corvettes remained in Royal Navy service. The ship used was therefore the Greek corvette Kriezis, brought to Britain for scrapping. She was already scrapped by the time the film premiered.
The Compass Rose was played by ex-HMS Coreopsis. She was given the number K49 in the film which was the number of HMS Crocus (sometimes wrongly thought to have been used in the film). The real number of the Coreopsis was K32.
read more facts about The Cruel Sea...




















