The Cruel Sea (1953)

Denholm Elliott: Morell

Quotes 

• Watts : [repairing the engine]  Come to see the fun, sir? It won't be long now.

  Morell : Fine, chief, but the captain's a little worried about the noise. Could you do anything to... tone it down a bit?

  Watts : Pretty well finished now, sir. We're just flabbin' up the nuts. Could you hear the hammerin' up top?

  Morell : Hear it? There were U-boats popping up from miles around complaining about the racket.

• Morell : If anyone else makes a noise, I'll have his guts for a necktie.

• Lockhart : [at the mess table]  Getting rattled, John?

  Morell : Well, whatever we do, these damn U-boats seem to get through the screen every time. We lost almost half our convoy and an escort and are almost two days from Gibralter.

  [he gags with disgust;] 

  Morell : It's an odd thing to think if nothing else happens, this is probably the worst convoy in the history of sea warfare.

  Lockhart : [trying to be comforting]  Something to tell your grandchildren.

  Morell : Yes, indeed, in fact, if you can guarantee I will have grandchildren, I shall recover my spirits immediately.

  Baker : But how can he guarantee you'll have grandchildren?

  Morell : [angrily]  Well, if they're as stupid as you are, I hope I don't have any!

  Baker : [taken aback at the outburst]  Oh, I say...

  Baker : [he eats without further response] 

• Morell : Whether this war is long or short, it's going to seem long, don't you think?

• Morell : Most Moving. I imagine there's nothing we can do to help him.

  Lt. Cmdr. Ericson : What are you all grinning at?

  Lockhart : Sorry, sir. I was thinking of something.

  Morell : It hardly does you credit, at a time like this. If the First Lieutenant is in pain, I should not have thought you would be able to laugh at anything else.