Das Boot (1981)
Jürgen Prochnow: Capt.-Lt. Henrich Lehmann-Willenbrock - Der Alte
Photos
Quotes
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Lt. Werner : Captain?
Captain : I'm sorry.
Lt. Werner : You think it's hopeless now?
Captain : It's been 15 hours. He'll never do it. I'm sorry.
Lt. Werner : They made us all train for this day. "To be fearless and proud and alone. To need no one, just sacrifice. All for the Fatherland." Oh God, all just empty words. It's not the way they said it was, is it? I just want someone to be with. The only thing I feel is afraid.
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Captain : They won't catch us this time! Not this time! They haven't spotted us! No, they're all snoring in their bunks! Or, you know what? They're drinking at the bar, celebrating our sinking! Not yet, my friends. Not yet!
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[Werner takes pictures of the watch officers on the conning tower]
Captain : Take pictures of the crew returning, not putting out to sea.
Lt. Werner : Why?
Captain : They'll have grown beards by then. It would shame the Tommies to see mere boys give them Hell. Baby faces. Ones that should still suck mama's breast.
[pause]
Captain : I feel ancient around these kids, like I'm on some Children's Crusade.
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Captain : ALARM!
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Captain : Okay, men, now listen. We're going to blow out the water now and see if we can get our rear ends out of the sand. If we make it to the surface, things could still get pretty rough. Traffic's heavy up there. And we have to pray the engines start, so we can get out of this mess. The condition the boat is in, we have got to head straight for La Rochelle. If we make it... it's half a bottle of beer for each! There is one thing on our side; they won't be expecting us. Well men, all set?
The Crew : [in unison] Jawohl, Herr Kaleun!
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Johann : Captain, I wish to apologize.
Captain : You can't just apologize, Johann. You left your battle station at a critical moment. Also, you disobeyed my command.
Johann : Will I be court-martialed?
Captain : How many patrols have you done?
Johann : It's my ninth.
Captain : Why you?
Johann : It was a mistake. I didn't... It was... It... All of a sudden... As if... It won't ever happen again, sir. You can depend on it. I swear.
Captain : It's all right, Johann.
Johann : No court-martial?
Captain : [nods] Get some sleep.
[Johann exits. The Captain adds "Decision, return to La Rochelle" to the log book]
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Captain : I'm sorry.
Lt. Werner : Is it hopeless?
Captain : It's been 15 hours. He's not going to pull it off. I'm sorry.
Lt. Werner : I asked for it. 'To be heading into the inexorable... where no mother will care for us... no woman crosses our path... where only reality reigns... with cruelty and grandeur.' I was drunk with those words. Well, this is reality.
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Captain : April fool. Practice makes perfect.
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Captain : Our patrol planes! Where are they? Answer that one, Herr Goering! The British have plenty of them! Talking big is all he's good for, that fat slob.
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Captain : [looking at one of the LI's pictures] Funny. I haven't seen snow in years.
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[the Captain and Lieutenant Werner escort Thomsen out of the men's room]
Capt. Lt. Philipp Thomsen : I... really wanted to screw my brains out. But now, I am in no condition to fuck!
Captain : It's alright!
Capt. Lt. Philipp Thomsen : Sieg Heil!
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Captain : You have to have good men. Good men, all of them.
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[first lines]
Captain : Out boatswain's mate. Been on quite a bender tonight.
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[U-96 is heading towards a nearby convoy contact]
Captain : [to Werner] More than 30 freighters! Berthold better not attack now. It's best to stay close and wait until the other boats arrive. For me, there is nothing finer than a submarine... and sailboats. There are no lines more beautiful than that of a sailboat. I sailed on a three-masted schooner once. Wonderful ship. Roomy. It had holds as big as churches!
[the Captain and Werner laugh]
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[the sounds of torpedoes detonating and sinking ships has subsided]
Captain : Now it's their turn.
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Captain : Do you have a sense of romantic?
Lt. Werner : Excuse me?
Captain : There, the empty house next to the warehouse, is that for you?
Lt. Werner : Not that I would know, isn't that area out of bounds?
Captain : Oh yes.
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Captain : [entering the bar with Werner and the LI] Merkel's boys. They ship out tomorrow, too. Scared fuckers. They need sex as much as the infantry needs alcohol.
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Captain : Not bad in here, is it? No mail, no telephone. Solid wood paneling. Well-ventilated boat. Free food, too. "Rolling in clover" we are.
Der Leitende : ...Like fresh horse-droppings. They're "Rolling in clover" as well. They have no need to make a living. They're even allowed to smoke.
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Captain : Not yet, Kameraden! Not yet!
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Captain : I demand proper reports!
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Captain : Here in the middle of the sea, it's always another story. I hope you're taking notes. Maybe you can clue headquarters in.
Lt. Werner : Surely, you have more connections than me.
Captain : You think so, huh?
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Captain : [Captain looks at the birds overhead] Damn beasts!
[Discovers the watchman's yawning]
Captain : Nay Nay Nay
The Crew : Excuse me, Captain.
Captain : If you can't handle it, don't do it.
[pause]
Captain : Were you part of it? Fireboat drill?
The Crew : [hesitate] Yes, captain.
Captain : [Smile] At least you can aim.