Is Greyhound Based on a True Story? Ending Explained and Plot
by Abinaya
Updated May 05, 2023
Greyhound
In 2020, Aaron Schneider directed the American war film Greyhound, which features Tom Hanks in the lead role. Hanks not only acted in the film but also wrote the screenplay. The movie is based on the novel The Good Shepherd by C. S. Forester, published in 1955, and also features Stephen Graham, Rob Morgan, and Elisabeth Shue.
The plot revolves around a US Navy commander who is assigned to lead a multinational escort destroyer group of four in defending an Allied convoy of 37 ships from German U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic in early 1942, just after the US entered World War II. Greyhound was originally set to release in the US on June 12, 2020, under the banner of Sony Pictures Releasing.
However, due to the pandemic, the release was canceled after being indefinitely postponed. Eventually, the film's distribution rights were purchased by Apple TV+, which released it digitally on July 10, 2020. The movie garnered favorable reviews from critics, who commended its action sequences and efficient use of 90-minute runtime. The film was nominated for Best Sound at the 93rd Academy Awards.
Is Greyhound Based on a True Story?
"Greyhound" is not directly based on a true story. The movie is instead based on a 1955 novel called "The Good Shepherd" by C. S. Forester. The Tom Hanks movie is not directly based on a true story, despite its roots in World War II history. Instead, it is adapted from C. S. Forester's 1955 novel The Good Shepherd, which is a work of fiction heavily researched to take place in the middle of World War II during the Battle of the Atlantic in 1942.
In the film, Tom Hanks plays Naval Commander Ernest Krause (named George Krause in the book), who has finally been given command of the USS Keeling, a destroyer nicknamed "Greyhound," after years of being a career officer. Krause leads a multi-national group of four escort ships to protect a convoy of merchant ships that are being hunted by German U-boats. Over the course of five days in the Atlantic, without air cover for the 37-ship convoy, aided by two British destroyers and a Canadian corvette, Krause must evade and fight the enemy submarines while battling his own self-doubt.
Greyhound Movie Cast
Tom Hanks
Commander Krause
Stephen Graham
Charlie Cole
Rob Morgan
George Cleveland
Elisabeth Shue
Evelyn
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo
Lopez
Karl Glusman
Dicky
Tom Brittney
Oli
Jake Ventimiglia
Harry
Matt Helm
Nathan
Joseph Poliquin
Baby
Devin Druid
Wallace
Maximilian Osinski
Pigeon
Grayson Russell
Signalman #1
Ian James Corlett
Admiral
Cast
Character
Greyhound Movie Plot
Greyhound is a war film set in February 1942, in which a convoy of 37 Allied merchant and troop ships, known as HX-25, is on its way to Liverpool. During this voyage, the convoy enters the "Black Pit," which is a Mid-Atlantic gap, leaving them vulnerable to enemy attacks for five days as they are out of range of protective air cover. The convoy is escorted by four ships, including the USS Keeling (DD-548), a Fletcher-class destroyer with the radio call sign "Greyhound."
The captain of Greyhound is Commander Ernest Krause of the United States Navy, who is in charge of the escort ships. Despite his seniority and naval education, this is Krause's first wartime command. The other escort ships are the British Tribal-class destroyer HMS James F80, call sign "Harry," the Polish Grom-class destroyer ORP Viktor H34, call sign "Eagle," and the Canadian Flower-class corvette, HMCS Dodge K136, call sign "Dicky."
While in the middle of their journey, Greyhound detects a German transmission and spots a surfaced U-boat heading towards the convoy. The ship takes action and sinks the sub with a full pattern of depth charges, which elicits a jubilant response from the crew. The film received positive reviews from critics, and it was initially set to be released in theaters in June 2020 by Sony Pictures Releasing. However, due to the pandemic, the release was canceled, and the distribution rights were sold to Apple TV+.
Greyhound returns to assist a Greek merchant ship under attack by a U-boat bearing a grey wolf emblem. Greyhound then receives reports of a wolfpack of six U-boats lurking just out of firing range, waiting for nightfall. That night, the U-boat with the grey wolf emblem sinks an oil tanker and escapes by using an underwater decoy device, while Krause chooses to rescue survivors before going to the aid of other ships.
A crew member of the U-boat taunts the convoy and its escorts via radio transmission, as the wolfpack commences attack that night, sinking three merchant ships. Greyhound, with only six depth charges left, combines forces with Dicky to sink one of the U-boats. Greyhound is hit and suffers casualties, and Eagle is badly damaged and sinks.
Krause breaks radio silence and sends a distress signal to the Admiralty. After battling two U-boats, Greyhound sinks "Grey Wolf" with a full broadside, and air support arrives to sink the other U-boat. The relief escorts arrive, and Greyhound and the other two destroyers are due for repair and refitting. Krause receives congratulations for sinking four U-boats, and the convoy celebrates Greyhound's crew before Krause finally retires to his cabin to sleep.
Greyhound Ending Explained
The hostile U-boats begin circling Greyhound as soon as it enters the Black Pit. They soon have their first meeting with the enemy, and thanks to the captain's rapid decision-making and perceptiveness, they escape uninjured. However, not long after, a larger problem emerges. It turns out that what they saw was only the tip of the iceberg, and the German U-boats, dubbed the "wolf pack," have surrounded them.
The U-boats continue to sift above and below the water, and only one chink in their armor is needed to bring down the entire envoy. Krause faces multiple challenges as he tries to ensure the safety of the merchant ships while dealing with his own mistakes, the pressure from his crew, and the psychological attacks from the Germans who intercept their signals.
Despite their taunts and the loss of three ships, Krause perseveres and manages to save Greyhound from multiple attacks by the U-boats, including a moment when three torpedoes are aimed at his ship. Finally, with the arrival of air support, they cross the Pit and the danger subsides. Although Krause asks to continue, the command tells him to rest, and he finally retires to his quarters for a well-deserved sleep after being awake for more than 48 hours.
Is Greyhound Based on a True Story - FAQs
While the film is based on a novel, it is inspired by true events that occurred during World War II, when Allied convoys were routinely assaulted by German U-boats in the North Atlantic.
The majority of the film was shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the surrounding environs, with some parts shot in Los Angeles.
The film stars Tom Hanks as Commander Ernest Krause, with Stephen Graham, Rob Morgan, and Elisabeth Shue playing supporting roles.
Aaron Schneider, noted for his work on "Get Low" and "Two Soldiers," directed the film.
Although the film did not receive any major honours, it was nominated for Outstanding Sound Editing at the 2021 Cinema Audio Society Awards.