I must have seen this film fifty times, the first time on TV 55 years when I was a small boy, in fact I am watching it now. At that time I had ambitions to join the Navy, thankfully my father and music helped me change my mind. My father had been in the Royal Navy during WW2 on ships like the Compass Rose and he said this was a realistic portrayal of what it had been like on those Atlantic and Russian convoys.When Hollywood was making films where John Wayne and the like singlehandedly won the war, this was a refreshing change. I read somewhere that had this been an American made film (thankfully none were crow-bared into it) Jack Hawkins and Donald Sinden would have been Oscar nominated, something I whole heartedly would have applauded.Naval war films were and still are a rarity, this is the best. It's the same age as I am and I can say it has aged better than me. If you haven't seen it, see it.

Producer: Leslie Norman. A Michael Balcon Production, presented by J. Arthur Rank. Ealing Studios. U.K. release through General Film Distributors: 25 April 1953. U.S. release through Universal- International: August 1953. New York opening at the Fine Arts: 10 August 1953. Australian release through British Empire Films: 26 December 1953. Sydney opening at the State. 11,359 feet. 126 minutes.SYNOPSIS: The story takes place during the Battle of the Atlantic and is primarily concerned with the fortunes of a corvette and her crew as they fight "the cruel sea which man has made even more cruel." (Available on an excellent Optimum DVD).NOTES: Prestigious Hollywood award nomination for Eric Ambler for Best Screenplay, losing to Daniel Taradash's adaptation of "From Here To Eternity". Second to "Road to Bali" as the most popular film released in Great Britain in 1953.COMMENT: Moving, poignant slice of Britain at war, skilfully adapted from the once super-popular novel by Nicholas Monsarrat. The direction is appropriately low-key, yet making expansive use of the movie's vast production values. Of the performances, Jack Hawkins shines as the skipper/narrator, whilst newcomer Donald Sinden lends more than adequate support. Sir Stanley Baker is wonderfully effective as a loudmouth number-two, Denholm Elliott appears suitably colorless as the glamorous Moira Lister's "clot of a husband", Liam Redmond almost walks away with the film as the chief engineer, and Virgina McKenna manages to make a lasting impression in what amounts to a "guest spot" as a Wren in Operations.Superlatively photographed and set, with just a few obvious stock shots letting the side down, "The Cruel Sea" is not only a movie of which its makers can be justly proud, but an engrossing drama of real people caught up in war-time horror.OTHER VIEWS: A notable production. The re-creation of wartime life aboard the corvette is convincingly built up, and the main action highlights are skilfully shot and tautly edited... One is grateful for a film that does not attempt to depict war as anything but a tragic and bloody experience. — Monthly Film Bulletin.

I read the book when I was very young. It was a Book-of-the-Month Club selection and my mother was a member. I was very interested in learning all about WWII and wasn't sure it was OK to read fiction to improve my knowledge. I don't know when I first saw the film. There were only two first-run theaters in my hometown in the early 1950's. But I eventually saw the film and 40 years later purchased the DVD.Now I probably watch the film twice a year. I watched not so long ago with a friend when my wife was out for the evening. He became completely engrossed. I think he teared up in the scene where Erickson says "There are some men in the water just there." At the end, all my friend said was, "Well!" There are any number of superb reviews here. So this is added only as a heartfelt "Yes!"

There's a lovely detail in this film that seems to have been largely overlooked. When the Compass Rose is sunk, we see a rating pulling a fellow crew member onto a life-raft with the words, "Alright mate, I've gotcha". Later in the film the same words are used a survivor of a recently-sunk U Boat is hauled on board the Compass Rose's successor. This is the kind of detail that makes The Cruel Sea such an exceptional book and film. It also deals with the issue of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD}, formerly known as shell-shock, well before the syndrome had achieved an acronym. The film adaptation of Nicholas Monsarrat's novel must surely be considered one of the more faithful transitions from book to screen.