The Cruel Sea backdrop
DRAMA . 1953 . 2h 6m . English . 6.9/10

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

Starring Jack Hawkins, Donald Sinden, Denholm Elliott
6.9/10
Rating
2h 6m
Runtime
1953
Year
Updated Feb 16, 2026
The Cruel Sea poster

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

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Cast
Jack Hawkins stars as Ericson in The Cruel Sea.
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Year context
The Cruel Sea was released 73 years ago in 1953.
Overview
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 winte...
The Cruel Sea is a Drama, History, War film with a runtime of 2h 6m.

DETAILS

Release
Status
Released
Runtime
126 min (2h 6m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
6.9/10 (78 votes)
Popularity
1

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is The Cruel Sea about?
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
How long is The Cruel Sea?
The Cruel Sea has a runtime of 126 minutes (2h 6m).
Who stars in The Cruel Sea?
The cast of The Cruel Sea includes Jack Hawkins, Donald Sinden, Denholm Elliott, John Stratton, Stanley Baker.
What is the rating of The Cruel Sea?
The Cruel Sea has a rating of 6.9 out of 10 based on 78 votes on TMDB.

GENRES (3)

Drama History War
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