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Quiz about Classic War Movies  The Cruel Sea
Quiz about Classic War Movies  The Cruel Sea

Classic War Movies - "The Cruel Sea" Quiz


Submariners the world over know that there are only two types of sea-going vessels, and they are submarines and targets! "The Cruel Sea" is the story of these two protagonists, set in the North Atlantic in WW2. ACTION STATIONS!

A multiple-choice quiz by skyvet. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
skyvet
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
317,023
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
207
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. The novel on which the film was based was written by which author, well known for his stories of seafaring men? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. In the film, Jack Hawkins played the role of Lieutenant Commander George Ericson, the Commanding Officer of the warship featured in the movie. What was the name of the ship? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The First Lieutenant (second in command) was the thoroughly unpleasant Lieutenant Bennett, brilliantly portrayed by Stanley Baker. What had been his civilian occupation prior to joining the wartime navy? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Lieutenant Bennett had a particular liking for which traditional naval meal ingredient, and ordered it to be served on a regular basis, much to the dismay of fellow members of the wardroom? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In a dramatic scene in the film, Ericson made positive contact with a German U-boat which had just attacked and sunk a merchantman in the convoy. Initially, why didn't he attack it? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Back in harbour, Bennett was forced to leave the ship suffering from an ulcer, and was replaced by Lockhart (Donald Sinden). Lockhart formed a romantic liaison with WRNS Officer Julie Hallam (Virginia McKenna) who worked in Headquarters. Which department did she work for? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. German U-boats most frequently operated in groups, co-ordinating attacks on convoys as depicted in "The Cruel Sea", when, whilst formed as a convoy, the merchant ships were attacked during the hours of darkness. What name was given to these groups, as well as being mentioned in the film? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. When Ericson and Lockhart met for a drink in a London hotel, Lockhart was first to arrive. When Ericson arrived, what drink did Lockhart say that he'd ordered for Ericson? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In recognition of the success with his previous ship, Ericson was promoted and assigned a new ship, and asked Lockhart to join him as the First Lieutenant, which he agreed to do out of loyalty, although he really wanted a command of his own. Which ship did they take over? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The film "The Cruel Sea" was made in black and white, and released in 1953. Which studio can proudly boast of having created this classic piece of cinema? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The novel on which the film was based was written by which author, well known for his stories of seafaring men?

Answer: Nicholas Monsarrat

Although a pacifist, Monsarrat joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve during the second world war, and achieved the rank of Commander. He finished the war as Commanding Officer of a Frigate assigned to convoy escort duties, no doubt the source of his inspiration for the book.
2. In the film, Jack Hawkins played the role of Lieutenant Commander George Ericson, the Commanding Officer of the warship featured in the movie. What was the name of the ship?

Answer: HMS Compass Rose

HMS Compass Rose was a flower class Corvette, purposely built for convoy escort duties in an anti-submarine role. In real life, a compass rose is a printed card that floats inside a compass, and shows in which direction the ship's head is pointing. Nowadays, most compasses have digital readouts.
3. The First Lieutenant (second in command) was the thoroughly unpleasant Lieutenant Bennett, brilliantly portrayed by Stanley Baker. What had been his civilian occupation prior to joining the wartime navy?

Answer: Car salesman

Two new young Sub-Lieutenants (Ferraby and Lockhart) had joined the ship, and were discussing the First Lieutenant over dinner in the wardroom. Ferraby, the meeker of the two, had been impressed by Bennett's "experience" only to be told by the more streetwise Lockhart that Bennett's "experience" amounted to once crewing a yacht with friends in the Solent, and that he had in fact been a car salesman in civilian life!
4. Lieutenant Bennett had a particular liking for which traditional naval meal ingredient, and ordered it to be served on a regular basis, much to the dismay of fellow members of the wardroom?

Answer: Snorkers

"Snorkers" are naval slang for tinned sausages that come complete with their own fat ready for cooking. When Bennett saw them being served by the Steward, he would exclaim, "Snorkers! Good-oh!"
5. In a dramatic scene in the film, Ericson made positive contact with a German U-boat which had just attacked and sunk a merchantman in the convoy. Initially, why didn't he attack it?

Answer: There were survivors in the water above the U-boat's position.

Faced with an impossible dilemma, Ericson finally decided that the survivors in the water had to be sacrificed in order to attack and hopefully sink the U-boat. A man on one of the gun positions shouted "murderer" at Ericson after the attack that killed the men in the water, which deeply affected him afterwards.
6. Back in harbour, Bennett was forced to leave the ship suffering from an ulcer, and was replaced by Lockhart (Donald Sinden). Lockhart formed a romantic liaison with WRNS Officer Julie Hallam (Virginia McKenna) who worked in Headquarters. Which department did she work for?

Answer: Communications

With her relationship with Lockhart deepening, she wrangled her way into the Operations room in order to see the progress of a patrol that Lockhart was on. Whilst there, she learned that his ship had been torpedoed and was sinking. The acronyn WRNS represents the Women's Royal Naval Service.
7. German U-boats most frequently operated in groups, co-ordinating attacks on convoys as depicted in "The Cruel Sea", when, whilst formed as a convoy, the merchant ships were attacked during the hours of darkness. What name was given to these groups, as well as being mentioned in the film?

Answer: Wolf packs

A typical procedure was for German U-boats to "shadow" a convoy on the surface during daylight hours, and then submerge at night to launch their attack. In real life, it is estimated that more than 700 German U-boats were lost during the second world war, many of them whilst operating in the Atlantic.

The invention and use of "Asdic" (later called Sonar) by the Royal Navy served to increase their chances of success against the U-boats.
8. When Ericson and Lockhart met for a drink in a London hotel, Lockhart was first to arrive. When Ericson arrived, what drink did Lockhart say that he'd ordered for Ericson?

Answer: Pink Gin

Lockhart noticed that the water in the jug that the waiter brought to their table was dusty, and asked for it to be changed. the elderly waiter complied, muttering, "It's the war you know," which amused Ericson and Lockhart after all the hardships they had experienced together.
9. In recognition of the success with his previous ship, Ericson was promoted and assigned a new ship, and asked Lockhart to join him as the First Lieutenant, which he agreed to do out of loyalty, although he really wanted a command of his own. Which ship did they take over?

Answer: HMS Saltash Castle

Their new ship was a River class Frigate, a newer and more sophisticated ship than Compass Rose had been, and together, Ericson and Lockhart went on to sink one further U-boat before the war came to an end. In the film, the role of HMS Saltash Castle was portrayed by the real-life Royal Navy ship HMS Portchester Castle, which had seen action in the war, being credited with the sinking of two U-boats.
10. The film "The Cruel Sea" was made in black and white, and released in 1953. Which studio can proudly boast of having created this classic piece of cinema?

Answer: Ealing Studios

Over the years, many classic films have been made at Ealing Studios, which now also makes programmes for television. Ealing Studios claim to be the oldest film studio in the world.
Source: Author skyvet

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor jmorrow before going online.
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