Das Boot: The Sound of the Submarine

LINK: Scene from Das Boot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rln5FWAFFoo&t=189

In Das Boot (Wolfgang Petersen, West Germany, 1981), the clink and clank sound effects of the submarine translate the surface of the boat: the viewer is made aware of the hardness of the boat. This is a cold, confining and, despite the numerous crew, isolating place to be. Throughout the film, the hard clanks and pops to the ship’s exterior brings the inanimate boat to life. It is no longer just a lifeless object, but something which is expressing hurt and pain through the sounds we are hearing.

The interior of the replica of a German U-Boat that was built for filming

There is also a recurring theme song played throughout Das Boot which is altered in different sections to symbolise different emotions: it is played in a major key when there is hope, and when the ship is under attack the tempo and pitch are often increased. This recurring use of the song builds up tension and is an emphatic signifier of mood, emotion and narrative trajectory. The reuse of the segment of Klaus Doldinger’s 'Das Boot' composition reflects the repetitive nature of the crew's day and emphasises the claustrophobia of U-boat life.

This is a film made in the 80s, so there is heavy use of synthesiser in the sound track. This also helps to give us a sense of the technical and robotic nature of the boat and its manual workings. 

LINK: 'Das Boot' Theme Song - Klaus Doldinger