Shadow Divers -- The Movie

[jva]

Yep, the Abyss is awesome... and even better, the documentary about the whole project (50 min) on the director's cut dvd; with clips and interviews, training in the specially designed helmets and a lot of really good stuff.

Otherwise it's hard to think of any dive movies... the Big Blue, Leviathan... does anyone come up with more?

If you liked the Abyss and Leviathan, you should probably also see DeepStar Six (the other deep sea living/diving related movie released in '89). I have to admit I didn't see it; :11: have't been able to get my hands on it.. Yet..

The thing about Leviathan that bugged me was that (at least to me) most of the 'under water' scenes did not seem to be taken underwater. But it could be me. (Don't mention the story..)

As for the movie this thread is about (sorry for the brief hijacking).. I will see it, but I don't expect too much either..

 

[chuck e]

I already have the movie, well, actually its a two-hour documentary that was produced by the history channel that followed the book to the T. It includes footage that Chatterton shot while diving on and in the sub. It is a really good show.

Do you mean "Hitler's Lost Sub" ? It was a Nova special and is available from www.pbs.org. BTW "Shadow Divers" is out in audio book form and includes a recent interview by Robert Kerson with Ritchie and John. When asked if they still dive the sub, John does not, but Ritchie does do an annual dive but just scouts the debris field for things they might have missed. He also stays in contact with families of the crew. One other thing that floored me was Ritchie first learned of John's war record when he read the book! It was also my pleasure to hear John speak at a NJ Historical Shipwreck Divers symposium last year. He brought along outtakes from Deepsea Detectives that were quite hilarious and showed what a special relationship he has with the crew, Ritchie, and the late Michael Norwood. The man is a living legend.

 

[Wijbrandus]

This sub dive is my personal Mount Everest. Someday, I'll be skilled enough to make that dive, touch the hull, and visit a piece of history so few other people have ever seen.

::sighs:: Patience is a virtue...

 

[mossym]

Do you mean "Hitler's Lost Sub" ? It was a Nova special and is available from www.pbs.org.

for those that haven't seen it, the nova special is excellent...well worth a purchase if you're a history lover..

 

[Wijbrandus]

I actually just ordered it this morning from Amazon.

 

[Scot M]

"Hitler's Lost Sub" is also available from Netflix.

 

[pilot fish]

Read the book and loved it. Easy and interesting read. Chatterton's quest was remarkable. How he got into those small spaces, that deep, virtually alone, is beyond my belief. I met him at Beneath the Sea a few months ago and told him, " man, you are what diving is all about." He said, "thanks a lot," Kohler, who was standing next to him said, "hmmmmmm, yeah?" I said, you too. They both smiled. I was a thrill to shake their hands.

A lot of respect is being paid to he crew of that sub and that kind of puts me off. These are the same men that were shooting and sinking ships with women and children on them, lurking in the deep, wolf packs, sinking convoys, troops ships and just about anything that was in their scope. I'm just not feeling that bad for them. I realize it was war but we didn't start it and too many innocent ships were sunk by them. Just my feelings.

 

[mossym]

A lot of respect is being paid to he crew of that sub and that kind of puts me off. These are the same men that were shooting and sinking ships with women and children on them, lurking in the deep, wolf packs, sinking convoys, troops ships and just about anything that was in their scope. I'm just not feeling that bad for them. I realize it was war but we didn't start it and too many innocent ships were sunk by them. Just my feelings.

this is a grave though...and must be respected, which, after reading the book, i think the guys did..

 

[pilot fish]

this is a grave though...and must be respected, which, after reading the book, i think the guys did..

You are absolutely right, Mossy, and I would do the same. To do otherwise would be shameful. I would respect the graves in Truk as well. I just don't see their job, the German sub crew, as noble, or them as fair warriors.

 

[GrierHPharmD]

I know what you mean about having mixed feelings with regard to WWII axis wrecks. I mean, the U-Boats off of NC were ordered there to kill noncombatants. I have a little trouble getting too concerned about their remains, though I don't believe in intentionally desecrating any human remains, either above or below the surface.

Shadow Divers spends a lot of time on this issue, and Richie Kohler's website does even more, presenting detailed information gleaned from his exhaustive research into the lives of the crew of the U-869. http://richiekohler.com/

It's an interesting issue. I guess the humanity that it takes to respect an enemy's war grave is part of the humanity that our troops were fighting for in that war. The same impulses that allow us to show our respect for the German war dead is part of what was missing in their ideology, an ideology that allowed them to treat outsiders as less than human, with the obvious consequences. In a way, to show their remains respect is a wonderful symbol of our victory over that ideology.

-G