Ship of Fools

Starring:Vivien Leigh, Simone Signoret, JosÃ© Ferrer, Lee Marvin, Oskar Werner, Elizabeth Ashley, George Segal, JosÃ© Greco, Michael Dunn, Charles Korvin, Heinz RÃ¼hmann, Lilia Skala, Barbara Luna, Christiane Schmidtmer, Alf Kjellin, Werner Klemperer, John Wengraf, Olga Fabian, Gila Golan, Oscar Beregi Jr.
Director: Stanley Kramer
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

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An all-star drama in the grandest of Hollywood traditions, Ship of Fools is now a glossy, Oscar®-nominated relic from a bygone era, when actors were valued more than special effects. "Prestige" is the keyword in describing this high-toned Stanley Kramer production, and the passage of time brings the pros and cons of Kramer's filmmaking into stark relief. In adapting Katherine Anne Porter's acclaimed novel set aboard a German liner sailing from Mexico to Germany, Kramer and screenwriter Abby Mann (who shifted the story from 1931 to 1933) attempted to display the oncoming horror of Nazi Germany in microcosm, as represented by the ship's colorful variety of passengers, including maritally combative artists (George Segal, Elizabeth Ashley); a has-been baseball star (Lee Marvin); a pair of illicit lovers (Oskar Werner, Simone Signoret); a despondent divorcée (Vivien Leigh, shockingly garish in her final film); and several others who play symbolic roles with varying degrees of obviousness. Porter's potent themes are somewhat deflated by Kramer's pompous, heavy-handed approach, but powerful acting remains. Having lost what relevance it had in 1965, Ship of Fools is still fascinating as a showcase for well-drawn characters (including an observant dwarf, played by the late, great Michael Dunn) whose inner lives and outward interactions reflect a turbulent world irrevocably headed for war. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Good Social Satire.......2007-03-28

Stanley Kramer's production and adaptation of Katherine Anne Porter's social satire with a screenplay by Abby Mann depicting the beauty and horrors of the human being on the set of a cruise liner leaving Mexico to Germany in 1933. Although the screenplay and script are somewhat bare compared to the novel, the acting of its brilliant cast alone makes this a memorable film.

The film is an existantialist satire of human existance depicted as a cruiseliner, its crew, and its passengers luxuriously traveling to oblivion. Values are purely relative to the characters and situations who ardently advocate their points of view as if they were absolutes. Young lovers portrayed by George Segal and Elizabeth Ashley; an alcoholic baseball player played by Lee Marvin who condemns Germany's anti-semitism but spews out his own racist philosophy as to Mexicans and blacks; the stoic ship's doctor (Oskar Werner) who confides his nihilism and sense of desperation with a Spanish noble woman (Simone Signoret); a selfish and aging divorcée(Vivien Leigh); a Jewish business man who insists on being more German than his racist patriots and refuses to believe in the horrors to come; etc. Perhaps one of the most enchanting characters is the philosophical dwarf played by Micheal Dunn who acts as the narrator of the story. He, along with the doctor, are the few characters to admit the absurdity and pointlessness of their exsistence. The difference between them is that the doctor languishes over that reality whereas the dwarf seeks to content himself with what he has and makes the best of it.

Although the script is somewhat formulaic and doesn't explore the full depth of the novel and characters, the actors make this film worth seeing as they put all of their best talents in carrying the plot and theme of the story. A great film to own or rent.

Ship of Fools.......2007-03-25

These older movies are like fine wine...just get better with age. And compared to the crap that Hollywood has put out in recent years, this flick is getting better with age. Lee Marvin is always great, and don't forget the aging Vivien Leigh, (aka Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind), both put on a marvelous performance.

Not too many movies were made in reference to Nazi germany of 1935 thru 1939 and this is surely one of the best. Do not miss watching the actors and actresses in this one; you will be glad you saw it!!

"Ship of Fools" fulfills romantic and comic expectations.......2007-01-28

With a terrific cast, "Ship" provides the viewer with a rare assortment of human dilemmas. The romance between La Contessa and the ship doctor is the best of all. Werner and Signoret bring warmth and world-weary acceptance to their brief affair. Lee Marvin and Michael Dunn provide comedic contrast in their individual disabilities and perspectives. Jose Grecco's dance troupe provides true dancing entertainment, and cynacism at the same time. Jose Ferrar offers a truly terrifying and funny portrait of the Nazi era to come. George Segal and Elizabeth Ashley are just annoying. Vivian Leigh's performance alone is enough to overlook Ashley and Segal. Very well worth a look.

Ship of Fools.......2007-01-25

Dated certainly, but not tired, this film is most watchable, with some very fine performances from the stellar cast. At times self-important, ponderous even, it nevertheless sets the stage for the Second World War, with relevant social commentary well illustrated by all the different characters travelling from Mexico to Germany in the 1930's. It also provides a good idea of what sea travel was like before cruising took over!

A Microcosm.......2007-01-09

Though dated by the photography, the story and the acting stand up well. There's no action and that can be considered a relief by some. The recreation of an era with it attitudes and prejudices is difficult but it helps put more recent Holocaust films in perspective. How would I have liked to have behaved? How would I have behaved?

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