FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

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.

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

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

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

Nicholas Monsarrat

C.S. Forester

Chay Blyth

Francis Chichester

NEXT>

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

HMS Compass Rose

HMS Lancashire Rose

HMS Yorkshire Rose

HMS Dog Rose

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

Window cleaner

Funeral director

Bus conductor

Car salesman

NEXT>

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

Baby's Heads

Snorkers

Cheesy-Hammy-Eggy

Spam Fritters

NEXT>

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

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

He was under attack from enemy aircraft.

His depth charges were not set to the right depth.

He had lowered boats to rescue survivors.

NEXT>

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

Supplies

Communications

Welfare

Operations

NEXT>

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

Attack packs

Wolf packs

Vengeance packs

Sneak packs

NEXT>

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

Pint of beer

Scotch

Brandy

Pink Gin

NEXT>

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

HMS Thames Castle

HMS Saltash Castle

HMS Severn Castle

HMS Tamar Castle

NEXT>

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

White City Studios

Denham Studios

Ealing Studios

Pinewood Studios

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.