The Cruel Sea (1953): Cast & Plot
The Cruel Sea is a 1953 war drama directed by Charles Frend, starring Jack Hawkins as Ericson, Dafydd Havard and Don Sharp. It runs 2 hours 6 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 6m (126 min)
- Director
- Charles Frend
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Ealing Studios
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Cruel Sea About?
The premise of The Cruel Sea without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
At the outbreak of World War II, Commander Ericson leads the convoy escort HMS Compass Rose with a crew of raw officers and fresh‑out‑of‑training sailors. Harsh winter seas and relentless U‑boat attacks force them to rescue survivors while rarely striking back. The hardships at sea and ashore forge a bond between the skipper and his first officer.
The Cruel Sea Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- german submarine
- ship sinking
- war at sea
- nazi u boat
- anti submarine warfare
- drowning
- naval battle
- north atlantic
- u boat
- escort
- convoy
- royal navy
+38 more Show fewer
- atlantic ocean
- ship captain
- battle of the atlantic
- world war two
- based on book
- casualties
- bombing
- naval
- asdic
- engine repair
- burning ship
- torpedoed ship
- ship's captain
- british navy
- death at sea
- explosion
- british
- friendly fire
- navy officer
- woman wears a tie
- epic war
- voice over narration
- epic drama
- documentary footage
- year 1945
- narration
- year 1944
- year 1941
- year 1942
- year 1939
- 20th century
- year 1943
- year 1940
- 1940s
- survivor
- corvette
- ship's crew
- british seaman
The Cruel Sea Cast & Characters
Jack Hawkins leads the cast as Ericson, with Dafydd Havard as Signalman Rose and Don Sharp as Lieutenant-Commander. Directed by Charles Frend; 43 actors are credited in all.
- Director Charles Frend
-
Jack Hawkins as Ericson - Dafydd Havard as Signalman Rose
- Don Sharp as Lieutenant-Commander
- Anthony Snell as R.N. Lieutenant
Also Starring in The Cruel Sea
· 39 more- Donald Sinden Lockhart
- John Stratton Ferraby
- June Thorburn Doris Ferraby
- Stanley Baker Bennett
- John Warner Baker
- Denholm Elliott Morell
- Virginia McKenna Julie Hallam
- Alec McCowen Tonbridge
- Walter Fitzgerald Warden (uncredited)
- Harold Goodwin ASDIC Operator
- George Curzon Admiral at Party
- Sam Kydd Carslake
- Laurence Hardy Sellars
- Russell Waters A.R.P. Warden
- Fred Griffiths Gracey
- Jim Brady Sailor in Water
Show all 43 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Glyn Houston Phillips
- Megs Jenkins Tallow's Sister
- Liam Redmond Watts
- Meredith Edwards Yeoman Wells
- Richard Leech Sailor (uncredited)
- Gerard Heinz Polish Captain
- Bruce Seton Tallow
- Moira Lister Elaine Morell
- Paddy Joyce Sonar Operator (uncredited)
- Alan Webb Admiral Murray-Forbes (uncredited)
- Barry Letts Raikes
- Andrew Cruickshank Scott Brown
- Herbert C. Walton The Waiter
- John Singer Gray
- Jack Howard A Survivor
- Barry Steele Broughton
- Leo Phillips Wainwright
- Warwick Ashton Petty Officer Instructor
- Ronald Simpson R.N. Captain
- Gerik Schjelderup Norwegian Captain
- Gaston Richer French Captain
- Harold Jamieson A.R.P. Warden
- Kenn Kennedy Allingham
More from Charles Frend
More films directed by Charles Frend: Cone of Silence, Barnacle Bill, The Long Arm and Lease of Life.
The Cruel Sea Plot Summary
What happens in The Cruel Sea from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Lieutenant-Commander George Ericson, played by Jack Hawkins, a British Merchant Navy officer in the Royal Naval Reserve, opens with a quiet, yet firm voice-over that frames the coming conflict and the personal costs of war.
In late 1939, as war erupts, Ericson is recalled to the Royal Navy and given command of HMS Compass Rose, a newly built Flower-class corvette destined for convoy escort Duty across the perilous North Atlantic. His sub-lieutenants, Lockhart Donald Sinden and Ferraby John Stratton, are both freshly minted and lacking sea-time, while the ship’s new first lieutenant, James Bennett Stanley Baker, is an abrasive martinet who tests the crew’s cohesion from the start.
Full summary
The whole story of The Cruel Sea, scene by scene
The Cruel Sea Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Cruel Sea.
How Well Do You Know The Cruel Sea?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays Lieutenant-Commander George Ericson?
Cars in The Cruel Sea
2 cars on screen: the 1930 Austin 12/4 Taxi and the 1936 Beardmore Paramount Ace MkV.
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1930 Austin 12/4 Taxi Background role -
1936 Beardmore Paramount Ace MkV Background role
Seen The Cruel Sea?
Movies Like The Cruel Sea
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Sink the Bismarck!, We Dive at Dawn and Convoy.
The Cruel Sea FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Cruel Sea, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Cruel Sea?
The Cruel Sea runs 2 hours 6 minutes (126 minutes).
When was The Cruel Sea released?
The Cruel Sea was released on February 24, 1953.
Who directed The Cruel Sea?
The Cruel Sea was directed by Charles Frend.
More films by Charles Frend Who is in the cast of The Cruel Sea?
The Cruel Sea stars Jack Hawkins as Ericson, Dafydd Havard as Signalman Rose and Don Sharp as Lieutenant-Commander, among 43 credited actors.
Does The Cruel Sea have a post-credit scene?
No. The Cruel Sea has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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