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The Cruel Sea ()

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The World War II adventures of a British convoy escort ship and its officers.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 nominations.
  • See more »
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

42 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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Ericson
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Lockhart
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Ferraby
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Morell
John Warner ...
Baker
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Bennett
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Tallow
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Watts
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Julie Hallam
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Elaine Morell
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Doris Ferraby
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Tallow's Sister
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Yeoman Wells
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Phillips
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Tonbridge
Leo Phillips ...
Wainwright
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Signalman Rose
Fred Griffiths ...
Gracey
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Sellars
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Carslake
John Singer ...
Gray
Barry Steele ...
Broughton
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Polish Captain
Gerik Schjelderup ...
Norwegian Captain
Gaston Richer ...
French Captain
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Scott Brown
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Raikes
Kenn Kennedy ...
Allingham
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ASDIC Operator
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Admiral At Party
Anthony Snell ...
R.N. Lieutenant
Ronald Simpson ...
R.N.Captain
Don Sharp ...
Lieutenant-Commander
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The Waiter
Jack Howard ...
A Survivor
Russell Waters ...
A.R.P. Warden
Harold Jamieson ...
A.R.P. Warden
Warwick Ashton ...
Petty Officer Instructor
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Baskiville ...
Briefing Room Officer (uncredited)
Arthur Bentley ...
Radar Operator (uncredited)
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Sailor in Water (uncredited)
Jack Dearlove ...
Seaman (uncredited)
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Warden (uncredited)
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Party Guest (uncredited)
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Sonar Operator (uncredited)
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Sailor (uncredited)
Aileen Lewis ...
Lady at Party (uncredited)
Fred Machon ...
Briefing Room Officer (uncredited)
Jack Mandeville ...
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Officer (uncredited)
David Gideon Thomson ...
A.S.D.I.C. Officer (uncredited)
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Admiral Murray-Forbes (uncredited)

Directed by

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Charles Frend

Written by

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Nicholas Monsarrat ... (by)
 
Eric Ambler ... (screenplay)

Produced by

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Michael Balcon ... executive producer
Leslie Norman ... producer

Music by

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Alan Rawsthorne

Cinematography by

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Gordon Dines ... director of photography

Editing by

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Peter Tanner

Editorial Department

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Roy Baker ... second assistant editor (uncredited)
Barbara Bennett ... assembly cutter (uncredited)
Alastair McIntyre ... assistant editor (uncredited)

Casting By

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Margaret Harper Nelson ... (uncredited) (casting)

Art Direction by

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Jim Morahan

Makeup Department

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Barbara Barnard ... hairstylist
Sidney Turner ... makeup artist

Production Management

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Hal Mason ... production supervisor
L.C. Rudkin ... unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Norman Priggen ... assistant director
Peter Dixon ... second assistant director (uncredited)
Tom Pevsner ... third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

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Bert Davey ... assistant art director (uncredited)
Norman Dorme ... draughtsman (uncredited)
Andrew Low ... set dresser (uncredited)
Tony Rimmington ... junior draughtsman (uncredited)
Jack Shampan ... draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Stephen Dalby ... sound supervisor
Leo Wilkins ... recordist
Jim Clark ... assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Mary Habberfield ... dubbing editor (uncredited)
Norman King ... chief sound engineer (uncredited)
Paul Lecker ... assistant boom operator (uncredited)
Ray Palmer ... sound assistant (uncredited)
Eric Stockl ... sound assistant (uncredited)
Don Wortham ... sound assistant (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Sydney Pearson ... special effects

Visual Effects by

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Geoffrey Dickinson ... special processes

Camera and Electrical Department

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Paul Beeson ... second unit photography
Jo Jago ... second unit photography
John R.F. Stewart ... radar photography (as John R.F. Stewart A.R.P.S.)
Chic Waterson ... camera operator
Brian Elvin ... clapper loader: model unit (uncredited)
Bob Penn ... still photographer (uncredited)
Herbert Smith ... focus puller (uncredited)
Ken Westbury ... clapper loader (uncredited)
Hugh Wilson ... focus puller: second unit (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Anthony Mendleson ... wardrobe

Music Department

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Ernest Irving ... conductor: the Philharmonia Orchestra
The Philharmonia Orchestra ... music played by
Gerard Schurmann ... composer: additional music (uncredited) / orchestrator (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Jean Graham ... continuity

Additional Crew

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R.S. Abram ... technical adviser (as Commander R.S. Abram D.S.C. R.N. {Retd})
J.E. Broome ... technical adviser (as Captain J.E. Broome D.S.C. R.N. {Retd})
Paddy Girdlestone ... production secretary (uncredited)
Yvonne Homan ... publicity secretary (uncredited)
Crew believed to be complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

At the start of World War II, Cmdr. Ericson is assigned to convoy escort HMS Compass Rose with inexperienced officers and men just out of training. The winter seas make life miserable enough, but the men must also harden themselves to rescuing survivors of U-Boat attacks, while seldom able to strike back. Traumatic events afloat and ashore create a warm bond between the skipper and his first officer. Atmospheric sea footage. Written by Rod Crawford

Plot Keywords
Taglines Surging to Life on the Screen! See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • La mer cruelle (France)
  • Todesduell im Atlantik (Germany)
  • Mar cruel (Spain)
  • Marea crudă (Romania)
  • Julma meri (Finland)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 126 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Did You Know?

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Trivia Jack Hawkins wrote in his 1973 autobiography "Anything for a Quiet Life" regarding this film, "All of us in the film were sure that we were making something quite unusual, and a long way removed from the Errol Flynn-taking-Burma-single-handed syndrome. This was the period of some very indifferent American war movies, whereas 'The Cruel Sea' contained no false heroics. That is why we all felt that we were making a genuine example of the way in which a group of men went to war." See more »
Goofs Some depth charges are clearly labelled "INERT FILLED." See more »
Movie Connections Featured in Sharks and Little Fish (1957). See more »
Soundtracks The Chestnut Tree See more »
Quotes 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.
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