The Spectacular Naval Action of Greyhound

 

2020 Movie: Greyhound, The Spectacular Naval Action of World War II

Overview

The movie Greyhound is a 2020 war drama based on the 1955 novel The Good Shepherd, written by C.S. Forester. The movie stars Tom Hanks as the commander of a United States Navy destroyer, the USS Keeling, as he leads a convoy of 37 Allied ships across the North Atlantic to the United Kingdom during the early days of World War II. As they are pursued by a relentless German submarine wolf pack, the Allied convoy must battle the elements, fatigue, and their own fears in order to make it to their destination. This post will cover the following topics:

• Summary of the Movie
• Historical Context of the Movie
• Themes of the Movie
• Real-Life Inspiration for the Movie
• Reception of the Movie
• Conclusion

I. Summary of the Movie

Greyhound is a 2020 war drama film that follows the story of Commander Ernest Krause (Tom Hanks), a U.S. Navy officer in charge of a convoy of 37 Allied ships across the North Atlantic during the early days of World War II. Despite his inexperience, Krause must battle the elements, fatigue, and the enemy as he leads his convoy to the United Kingdom while being pursued by a relentless German submarine wolf pack. The movie begins with Krause taking command of the USS Keeling, a Fletcher-class destroyer, and the convoy of Allied ships that he must protect. He is warned of the danger posed by the wolf pack, and soon after, the convoy is attacked. The Allied ships must navigate their way through a deadly gauntlet of U-boats, while Krause must use every tactic and strategy at his disposal to keep the convoy safe. The convoy is bombarded with torpedoes, depth charges, and mines, while Krause and his crew battle fatigue and fear. Despite the odds, Krause succeeds in keeping the convoy safe and leads them to their destination. The movie ends with Krause being awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery and leadership.

II. Historical Context of the Movie

Greyhound is based on the real-life events of the Battle of the Atlantic, a prolonged naval campaign that was fought between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers from 1939 to 1945. The goal of the Allied Powers was to protect their merchant ships and supply convoys from the relentless attacks of the German U-boats. The Battle of the Atlantic was a decisive campaign, as the Allies relied heavily on their merchant ships to transport vital supplies and reinforcements to Britain. The German U-boats posed a major threat to these convoys, as they were able to sneak up on them undetected and sink them with torpedoes. The Battle of the Atlantic was a long and brutal campaign, with both sides suffering heavy losses. The Allies slowly gained the upper hand and were eventually able to break the back of the German U-boat threat.

III. Themes of the Movie

Greyhound is a powerful and emotional war drama, and throughout the movie, several themes are explored. The most prominent theme of the movie is courage, as Commander Krause and his crew must face their fears and push forward in the face of overwhelming odds. The movie also explores themes of leadership and responsibility, as Krause must make difficult decisions in order to keep the convoy safe. The movie also explores themes of loyalty and camaraderie, as the crew of the USS Keeling must rely on each other in order to survive. Finally, the movie also explores themes of loss and sacrifice, as the crew of the USS Keeling must face the harsh realities of war.

IV. Real-Life Inspiration for the Movie

The movie Greyhound is based on the 1955 novel The Good Shepherd, written by C.S. Forester. The novel was inspired by the real-life events of the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II, and is based on the experiences of Commander Ernest Krause, who served as the commander of a U.S. Navy destroyer. Krause was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery and leadership during the Battle of the Atlantic. He was also the first commander of the USS Keeling, the destroyer that is featured in the movie.

V. Reception of the Movie

Greyhound has been generally well-received by critics, who praised the movie for its realistic portrayal of the Battle of the Atlantic and its exploration of themes of courage, leadership, loyalty, and sacrifice. The movie has also been a financial success, grossing over $60 million worldwide. It was also the most-watched movie on Apple TV+ in 2020, with over 30 million viewers.

VI. Conclusion

Greyhound is a riveting war drama that follows the story of Commander Ernest Krause and his crew as they battle the elements, fatigue, and the enemy in order to protect a convoy of Allied ships across the North Atlantic during the early days of World War II. The movie is based on the real-life events of the Battle of the Atlantic, and is a powerful exploration of themes of courage, leadership, loyalty, and sacrifice. The movie has been well-received by critics and viewers alike, and has become one of the most successful movies of 2020.