Approved | 30min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, TV Series | Episode aired 12 May 1959
During World War II a German U-boat is apparently haunted by a loud banging which only occurs when it is submerged. Eventually the noise so frightens the captain and crew that they bring the submarine to the surface and surrender. It would appear to be haunted by the ghost of a worker who died on board during its construction.
Director: John Newland
Writers: Merwin Gerard, Lawrence B. Marcus
Stars: John Newland, Werner Klemperer, Eric Feldary
During World War II a German U-boat is apparently haunted by a loud banging which only occurs when it is submerged. Eventually the noise so frightens the captain and crew that they bring the submarine to the surface and surrender. It would appear to be haunted by the ghost of a worker who died on board during its construction.
Director: John Newland
Writers: Merwin Gerard, Lawrence B. Marcus
Stars: John Newland, Werner Klemperer, Eric Feldary
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00The amazing drama you're about to see is a matter of human record. You may believe it or not, but the real people who lived this story, they believe it. They know. They took that one step beyond.
00:30This is one of the storerooms of a salvage company in Connecticut. It may seem a most unlikely place to begin the incredible saga of German U-boat 147, but there's a reason for my being here. A fantastic reason, which I'll explain later.
00:48Actually, the story began some years ago, and a long way from Connecticut. It was early spring 1945, and Hitler's Third Reich was dying. 147 was one of the last U-boats to survive. Now it waited off the coast of northern Germany to begin its final voyage.
01:12General! Heil Hitler! Heil Hitler. Be careful with those briefcases. An honor to have you aboard, sir. I shouldn't be on board. I should be with the Fuhrer, fighting until the end. Put them in my cabin. May I show you to your quarters? The captain is generous.
01:33My orders from the Admiralty are quite specific. So long as you are aboard this boat, you are in command, Herr Barton. My orders are not so specific. We must somehow, somehow keep this dream alive.
01:47Captain, enemy aircraft!
02:06That's secure!
02:08Drive to 40 meters!
02:1040 meters, Captain!
02:12That's rather hard. Steady. One to all.
02:17What will it take?
02:19We'll be underwater in 30 seconds.
02:42Oh my God!
02:44What is it?
02:45Captain, talk!
02:47Surface at once!
02:49Surface at once, Captain!
02:51What are you doing?
02:53I'm going up after him.
02:55You can't. The plane will kill us all.
02:57One of my men is drowning up there.
02:59You cannot surface. I will not allow it. That is an order!
03:08Resume driving position to 40 meters.
03:1140 meters, Captain!
03:1540 meters, Captain!
03:3340 meters, even keel, Captain!
03:40Air stations, this is the captain. Check all personnel and report.
03:46Oh, I have never been on a U-boat. Is smoking permitted?
03:51No, Herr Bartman.
03:53No?
03:55No, there is battery gas aboard. It might explode.
03:57What a bore.
03:59What a beautiful cigarette case.
04:01Yes, it is, isn't it?
04:03The inscription on the inside might interest you.
04:09The Fuhrer.
04:11It was given to me at Nuremberg in 1938.
04:15A million voices singing the Horst Wessel song.
04:19The torches turning their faces red.
04:22Those were days, my boy.
04:34Engine room reporting, Captain. All hands at station.
04:39Aft torpedo room. All hands at station.
04:42Waiting room at station.
04:47Forward torpedo room. All hands at station, Captain.
04:51That leaves only the control room.
04:54Captain, you must understand that the life of every German is as dear to me as it is to you.
04:59But on this voyage, my dear Captain, you are carrying something more precious than life.
05:03And that is?
05:05You are carrying the last hope of the Third Reich.
05:08All that is left of Germany are a few U-boats such as this one moving under the sea
05:13with a half a dozen leaders like myself.
05:16This is not vanity. This is a historical fact.
05:20When did you see the Fuhrer last?
05:22I do not want to talk about that.
05:25He has become an old man.
05:28His vitality all gone.
05:31His whole body trembles.
05:32Imagine those wonderful eyes, dead.
05:37I wept.
05:39I admit it, I wept.
05:42Captain!
05:44All hands at stations in control room.
05:47Are you certain?
05:49Certain, Captain.
05:51No one missing.
05:53How can that be?
05:55Could it have been the bullets from the plane?
05:57Possibly some seal he'd caught on the cables when we crash-dived, Captain.
06:00I suppose it's possible.
06:02Well, then we're upset about nothing.
06:05All is well.
06:07That is a good omen.
06:09I feel rather tired.
06:11Will someone take me to my cabin, please?
06:14Friedo!
06:16Yes, Captain!
06:18Show Herr Bachmann to my quarters.
06:20Yes, Captain.
06:31What is it?
06:42Check every valve, bolt and fitting on this boat.
06:51Nothing.
06:53Absolutely nothing.
06:56Keep looking.
07:01I checked the engine room,
07:03the aft torpedo room
07:05and the forward torpedo room.
07:07Everything is working perfectly.
07:09Oh, I found a loose sprocket on one of the ventilator fans,
07:12but that could not have caused the noise.
07:14Well, let's hope we are through with the sound.
07:18What's that?
07:20A little party.
07:22I gave the men permission.
07:24But they'll wake Herr Bachmann.
07:26The poor man finally fell asleep.
07:28I'll tell him to stop.
07:30Didn't you hear me?
07:32I gave them permission.
08:01Bravo!
08:03No, no, no, don't get up for me.
08:05I'm not a worship of dignity like the good captain.
08:09Some of my best memories
08:11are of being with young people at party meetings.
08:14They were like my own boys.
08:16Well now, whose birthday is it?
08:19My wife's, sir.
08:21Your wife's?
08:23How charming.
08:25Did they wake you up, Herr Bachmann?
08:27No, it's all right. The sound has stopped.
08:28Yes, it's more pleasant to be awake now.
08:31Go to my cabin.
08:33You will find a bottle of cognac there.
08:35Bring it here at once.
08:37Your wife, huh?
08:39Well, how old is she?
08:41She's just 21, I hope.
08:43You hope?
08:45She's been reported missing.
08:49Oh, come now, come now.
08:51Let's cheer up.
08:53I may have to send a message to Herr Goebbels
08:55saying that we have discovered a defeatist among us.
08:56Herr Goebbels will say,
08:58shoot him right away.
09:00Herr Bachmann.
09:02Ah, thank you.
09:04Cognac, huh?
09:06It's better than beer, isn't it?
09:08Here we go.
09:10A little cognac for you.
09:12A little cognac for you.
09:14All right, here, my boy.
09:26What kind of stupidity is this?
09:28There must be some way of finding out
09:30where this is coming from.
09:32We've checked everything inside the hull.
09:34Every piece of machinery is working perfectly.
09:36Then why is there this pounding?
09:38When we surface to recharge batteries,
09:40we'll check the superstructure.
09:42Maybe it's up there.
09:44And when will that be?
09:46I don't know.
09:48I don't know.
09:50I don't know.
09:52I don't know.
09:54I don't know.
09:56When it's possible.
09:58Oh, it's bad enough to be sealed up in this coffin,
10:00choking on the smell of oil and men,
10:02but to endure this idiotic...
10:05No, no, no!
10:08It's coming from here, yes,
10:10but there is nothing wrong.
10:12It's tight as a drum.
10:14Captain, I want to ask you a question.
10:16Well?
10:18Is it possible that one of the men in your crew
10:20is doing this deliberately?
10:22Deliberately? Why should anyone...
10:24Oh, come now.
10:26I don't understand.
10:28To shatter my nerves, of course.
10:30To make it impossible for me to carry out my mission.
10:32That's ridiculous.
10:34I do not think so.
10:36Even if anyone wanted to, how could they?
10:38What do I know about you?
10:40I would make a very satisfactory victim for the trick.
10:44Is there no way to stop this pounding?
10:46Will this pounding ever cease?
10:51Get the medical officer.
10:53Yes, what for?
10:54What for?
10:56A sedative, perhaps, Sir Bartman.
10:59I do not need a sedative.
11:02I want the records of every man sent to my cabin.
11:07All the records of Captain Admiralty in Berlin.
11:10Oh, that's most unfortunate.
11:12It might have been interesting
11:14to look into the captain's records also.
11:24Let's go.
11:55The pounding's in my cabin!
11:57Right outside the wall!
11:59Surface at once and find out what it is!
12:01We can't. It would be too dangerous.
12:03Surface at once!
12:08Surface at once!
12:10Surface at once, Captain!
12:25Surface at once!
12:38Everything still all right?
12:40No signs of anything so far, Captain.
12:42Keep a sharp watch.
12:44Yes, Captain.
12:55Nothing.
13:11Radio message, Captain.
13:16Where was this picked up?
13:18Shortwave, from London.
13:25Here, Bartman.
13:27We haven't found the trouble yet,
13:29but I assure you...
13:30Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
13:32We will stay up here until we do find it.
13:38I didn't know that fresh air could taste so sweet.
13:55For me?
14:03It is a lie.
14:05I doubt it, Herr Bartman.
14:07Who gave you this?
14:09The radio man, of course.
14:11It is another deliberate attempt to harass me.
14:13Herr Bartman, I assure you...
14:15Who is this radio man? What is his background?
14:17Lieutenant Friedel is in charge of personnel.
14:19I found him reliable.
14:20Admiral Dönitz announced today
14:22that Adolf Hitler died
14:24during the night of April 30th.
14:27A Reuters dispatch reports
14:29that Hitler killed himself.
14:33It's a lie.
14:35It's a lie.
14:37It's a lie.
14:40It's a filthy lie!
14:42The Fuhrer would never do anything like that!
14:44No, sir.
14:46I do not believe in the reliability of your radio man.
14:48But, Herr Bartman, I was...
14:50Why do you insist on defending him?
14:52I am not defending him!
14:54It's a lie! It's a filthy lie!
15:02Why are we fighting among ourselves?
15:06We are all that is left.
15:12Captain, I wish to speak to the men.
15:21Attention!
15:23This is the captain.
15:25Attention!
15:29This is Bartman.
15:31I bring you terrible news, my comrades.
15:34The Fuhrer is dead.
15:37He died like a hero,
15:39leading his troops into battle.
15:42We are Germany now!
15:44We are Germany now!
15:46We are Germany now!
15:48We are Germany now!
15:50We must be worthy of the Fuhrer's courage.
16:00Captain.
16:08Attention!
16:10This is the captain.
16:12Everybody to dive stations!
16:14What are you doing?
16:16A boat is approaching from the south.
16:18We haven't found out about the pounding!
16:20The ship is 10 miles away!
16:22No! No!
16:42The propeller noises are stronger now.
16:46One, two, five revolutions.
16:50Sounds like a destroyer.
16:52How close?
16:54Between 3,000 and 4,000 meters.
17:01Lieutenant Schneider.
17:03This is the captain.
17:05What is our depth?
17:0790 meters.
17:09An enemy destroyer is approaching.
17:11We will be under depth charge attack
17:13in approximately four minutes.
17:15You are to begin procedures for silent routine.
17:18Yes, captain.
17:21This is Lieutenant Schneider.
17:23All electrical equipment except battery for lights
17:26will be shut off.
17:28Shoes are to be removed.
17:30There will be no unnecessary talking.
17:32And what do we do if the pounding starts again?
17:35Power room will turn off motors.
17:37Chief engineer will disconnect ventilating system.
17:41That is all.
17:43We are ready.
17:45We are ready.
17:47We are ready.
17:49We are ready.
18:14Give him further information.
18:162500 meters.
18:18Still closing.
18:22Propeller one, two, five revolutions.
18:32If that is the only sound you make, we will be all right, Captain.
18:36How close?
18:382,200 meters. Closing.
18:41No, wait.
18:43Veering over to new course. Approximately 228.
18:48He may be losing us. He's veering away.
19:03Well? Well?
19:054,000 meters.
19:09Still moving away.
19:12Now on course 206.
19:19He's all over the ocean. He's lost us.
19:30Where am I?
19:32Oh, I'm suffocating.
19:35I'm suffocating. I'm suffocating.
19:39I'm suffocating. I'm suffocating.
19:41I can't breathe.
19:45Get out.
19:51What is it?
19:53What is it?
19:56I can't breathe. I can't breathe.
19:59I must have air. The destroyer will pick up the pounding and come back.
20:02Indeed it will, Lieutenant.
20:04What is it? Where can it be?
20:06Air. Air. Air.
20:08Air.
20:10He's got me.
20:12He's doing the pounding.
20:14Arrest him. Arrest him.
20:16He's doing it. Can't you see?
20:20Tell him where I am. Tell him to stop the pounding.
20:23Tell him to stop the pounding.
20:25Oh, listen.
20:27I'm Bald Man. Remember?
20:29The Fuhrer, he embraced me.
20:31He said to me, he said,
20:34Oh, Milberg.
20:36Many voices.
20:38Voices. Voices.
20:40Screaming.
20:42Faces. Blood.
20:44Head.
20:46I gave him pentothal.
20:48Faces.
20:50Make him unconscious in a minute.
20:52What to say?
21:04All right.
21:09All stations.
21:12This is the Captain.
21:15This is the Captain.
21:17Rig for deep charges.
21:19Are we going to try to run for it, Captain?
21:21Run? Where can we run?
21:23We're setting docks.
21:28It stopped.
21:31He's unconscious now.
21:33Will somebody give me a hand?
21:55Dear God.
21:57Only when he's conscious.
22:01What?
22:04You hear the pounding only when he's awake.
22:07When he's asleep, it's gone.
22:09It's gone now.
22:11Don't you see?
22:13Somehow it comes from him.
22:15That could not be.
22:17It follows him from place to place.
22:19No.
22:21No, it's not possible.
22:23It's not possible.
22:26All stations.
22:31This is the Captain.
22:33Restore power.
22:35And prepare to surface.
22:38Air into forward tank.
22:40Left rudder.
22:49Now to surrender.
22:51Surrender?
22:53The war is over.
22:55Do we want to surrender?
22:57No.
22:59Do we want to die down here with her, Hartman?
23:04What?
23:06What could it have been?
23:09Wonder about it for the rest of your days.
23:12Just as I shall.
23:14Who knows?
23:16It might be good for our souls.
23:23All hands.
23:25This is the Captain.
23:27We are going to surrender.
23:31Through the courtesy of the Hornsby Salvage Company in Connecticut,
23:34I offer this wrench
23:36as one of the strangest mementos of World War II.
23:40In 1946, the Hornsby people
23:43bought U-Boat 147 for scrap.
23:46When the outside hull of the ship was cut away,
23:49this wrench was found
23:51in the hands of a skeleton.
23:54During the frenzied war effort
23:56of the German U-Boat yards,
23:58sometimes a workman died unnoticed
24:01inside the tank spaces, which then became his unmarked tomb.
24:05Now that explains the skeleton.
24:08But it doesn't explain the pounding.
24:10However, I have a theory.
24:13It's my own, of course.
24:15What about the man
24:17who held this wrench?
24:19What was he?
24:21Was he a slave laborer from the Balkans of France?
24:24Poland?
24:26Or was he a German
24:28whose hatred of the Nazis
24:30did not end with his death?
24:33What was he?
24:36In a moment, something about next week.
24:42Next week, we travel to the chateau country of France
24:45and the scene of some very dark doings indeed.
24:48The villagers still whisper about the murdered wife
24:51whose tortured image has a way of appearing
24:53on the stone wall of the lovely chateau.
24:56Try to be with us.
25:18© BF-WATCH TV 2021