So, turn down the lights, turn up the volume, and dive in. Just keep a history book nearby.
The mission goes smoothly until a real German resupply submarine arrives and torpedoes the S-33 , killing Dahlgren and trapping Tyler and a handful of survivors aboard the crippled, unfamiliar U-571 . Forced to operate enemy machinery with German labels, the remaining American sailors must navigate through hostile waters, survive depth-charge attacks from a German destroyer, and utilize the submarine's remaining torpedoes to fight their way home. Stellar Ensemble Cast
Despite the technical accuracy of the submarine mechanics, the central premise of U-571 is a complete fabrication, and it is for this reason the film is remembered perhaps more for its politics than its plot. movie u-571
Lieutenant Tyler, newly promoted and still feeling the weight of his command, gripped the periscope handles of the S-33. Below him, his crew—green, exhausted, and terrified—worked in the dim, sweat-slicked glow of the submarine’s control room. Their mission was a death sentence wrapped in a commendation: capture an Enigma cipher machine from a disabled German U-boat.
The Americanization of this historical event sparked considerable outrage in the United Kingdom upon the film’s release. The controversy reached the highest levels of British government, with Prime Minister Tony Blair publicly calling the film an "affront" to the memory of the British sailors who lost their lives in the operation. To appease critics and correct the historical record, the filmmakers added a post-script dedication in the end credits, acknowledging the real-world British achievements of HMS Bulldog , HMS Bredon , and HMS Petard , alongside later American successes like the capture of U-505 in 1944. A Technical Masterpiece of Claustrophobia So, turn down the lights, turn up the volume, and dive in
The film follows a fictional crew of American sailors aboard the aging S-33 submarine.
Financially, "U-571" was a solid success. Produced on a budget of $62 million, it grossed an impressive worldwide. Critical reception was somewhat divided but leaned positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 68% "Fresh" rating based on over 117 reviews. The critical consensus on the site reads: "While historically inaccurate, U-571 delivers a suspenseful and action-packed submarine thriller" . Roger Ebert praised it as "a gripping, well-crafted thriller" , while other critics called it "junk as history; as a mindless Saturday night action flick, its pretty good" . This split opinion perfectly encapsulates the film's dual legacy as a fun but factually dubious action movie. Forced to operate enemy machinery with German labels,
the naval codebooks before the crew can destroy them.