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Catalog/Drama/The Cruel Sea
The Cruel Sea poster
A
Excellent
MASTER SCORE 84.3 / 100
1953·Drama / War / History·2h 6m

THE CRUEL SEA

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

Above the Line
Charles Frend·DirectorEric Ambler·ScreenplayGordon Dines·Director of PhotographyPeter Tanner·Editor
Cast
Jack Hawkins·EricsonDonald Sinden·LockhartDenholm Elliott·MorellJohn Stratton·FerrabyStanley Baker·BennettLiam Redmond·WattsMeredith Edwards·Yeoman WellsBruce Seton·TallowJohn Warner·BakerBarry Letts·Raikes
Full Crew
(5 credits)
Directing· 1
Charles Frend·Director
Writing· 1
Eric Ambler·Screenplay
Camera· 1
Gordon Dines·Director of Photography
Editing· 1
Peter Tanner·Editor
Production· 1
Leslie Norman·Producer
By the Numbers
84.3
OF 100
Master Score
7.4
OF 10
IMDb
100%
CRITICS
Rotten Tomatoes
—
Worldwide Gross
0
1 NOMS
Oscar Wins
Where to Watch

THE AVAILABILITY MAP

The canonical record of where this film lives across the streaming map.

Provider Index In Progress

Streaming, rental, and purchase availability for this title is being ingested from the TMDB watch-providers feed and will appear here once the next catalog refresh runs. Until then, the canonical source links below remain the fastest route.

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Poster DNA

THE VISUAL DECONSTRUCTION

A bespoke vision agent's reading of the design language behind The Cruel Sea's key art.

Dominant Palette
3 colors
#B0D0D0
#FFFFFF
#000000
Mood
Somber, Dramatic
Composition
Layered
Era
1950s
Visual Style
Graphic Design

“A vintage movie poster for 'The Cruel Sea' depicts a man in a naval officer's cap looking towards the right, with his face in profile. Behind him, two ships are”

dramawar
Key Elements
Naval Officer's CapYellow EmblemLarge ShipSinking ShipDebris
Atmosphere
Cold
Color Mood
Cool
Setting
Ocean
Design Score
7/10
More Like This

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

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Keep Going

THREE WAYS DEEPER

Auteur
AUT
MORE BY CHARLES FREND

Every catalog entry where Charles Frend is credited as director.

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GEN
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Era
DEC
MORE FROM THE 1950S

The best films of the 1950s, ranked across every available metric.

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