Das Boot vs. The Tin Drum

Thought about doing a submarine poll, but instead I'll do this.

Two German films that having World War II settings based on very good novels. The Tin Drum, in particular, ranks amongst my favourite novels.

Das Boot was the first subtitled film I saw in the cinema, by the way, and it blew me away. I didn't see Tin Drum until I was in my twenties (at a time when I mostly watched non-English language films), but it also had a big effect on me.

I was hoping to include the Volker Schlöndorff directed film (he did The Tin Drum) -- EDIT for carelessness-- The Ogre, which has John Malkovich, but figured it might be a bit obscure for PA forum users generally, whereas these films had more commercial success -- Das Boot in particular outside Germany. Feel free to vote even if you only know one, but better yet, just share your opinions on it in the thread.



Edited by Logan - April 30 2017 at 18:04

I've never seen Cross of Iron, and I will rectify that. I love Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. The Wild Bunch is a classic, and I even love one that is not highly regarded, including by him, but his health was poor, The Osterman Weekend.

Das Boot is one of the most important-to-me movies I've ever watched.

I always associate it with Midnight Express strangely, since I saw both at almost the same time (probably due to soundtrack similarities from Doldinger and Moroder too).

Edited by Logan - April 30 2017 at 12:55

Logan wrote: Thought about doing a submarine poll, but instead I'll do this. Two German films that having World War II settings based on very good novels. The Tin Drum, in particular, ranks amongst my favourite novels. Das Boot was the first subtitled film I saw in the cinema, by the way, and it blew me away. I didn't see Tin Drum until I was in my twenties (at a time when I mostly watched non-English language films), but it also had a big effect on me. I was hoping to include the Volker Schlöndorff directed film (he did Das Boot) The Ogre, which has John Malkovich, but figured it might be a bit obscure for PA forum users generally, whereas these films had more commercial success -- Das Boot in particular outside Germany. Feel free to vote even if you only know one, but better yet, just share your opinions on it in the thread.

ahem. Schlöndorff directed "The Tin Drum" ("Die Blechtrommel"). "Das Boot" was directed by Wolfgang Petersen.

"The Tin Drum" actually won the Palme d'Or at the 1979 Cannes film festival and an Academy Award for best foreign language film in 1980. great movie

on a sidenote: one of the actors in "Das Boot" is Herbert Grönemeyer, who is also a well-known singer in Germany and actually appears on Peter Hammill's album "The Fall of the House of Usher" where he sings the role of the herbalist. Hammill actually also translated the lyrics for a Grönemeyer compilation album, on which he (Grönemeyer) sings in English


Edited by BaldJean - April 30 2017 at 16:13

I know, Jean, I was just careless. I saw The Tin Drum and The Ogre as a double-bill feature. Corrected, thanks.

Wow, that is a powerful trailer for Come and See, and I have not seen the film. Definitely going on my list of must see films. Thanks for bringing it up. It looks gritty and rather surreal. I could imagine myself double-billing it with Pan's Labyrinth based on that (not matter how different)

A Russian one worth noting is Ivan's Childhood And the uber-classic All Quiet On the Western Front (brilliant read too) is worth noting..

Ein Anderer

Thanks, I will watch anon. So many films, so little me. :)