The Ghost Ship (1943)

November 25, 2024 10:56 AM

Tom Merriam (Russell Wade) boards the freighter Altair in San Pedro, where he meets Capt. Will Stone (Richard Dix). During that first voyage, Tom begins to suspect that Stone is becoming unhinged, but he also learns that the crew is fiercely protective of him. When fellow sailor Louie (Lawrence Tierney) is killed in a freak accident, Merriam suspects Stone, but has no proof. As the killings continue, Tom decides to leave the ship, but the captain has other plans.

Also starring Edith Barrett, Ben Bard, Edmund Glover, Sir Lancelot.

Directed by Mark Robson. Screenplay by Donald Henderson Clarke. Story by Leo Mittler. Produced by Val Lewton for RKO Radio Pictures. Cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca. Edited by John Lockert. Music by Roy Webb.

82% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently available for digital rental in the US. JustWatch listing.

posted by DirtyOldTown (4 comments total)

Theoretically one of Val Lewton's horror features for RKO, this one plays faster and looser with his deal than ever, as the titular ghost ship doesn't have ghosts (it's once described as being "like it's haunted"; that's it) and the actual story is more of a psychological thriller about authority and fascism.

Musuraca is behind the lens and this looks great.

While Warner Archive continues to use some of the most expensive and sophisticated equipment to produce their restorations, this is a textbook example of how money won't save you if human eyes are doing quality control. The film overall looks terrific, with black black tones, sharp definition, and excellent contrast. However, little details are lost, notably in an early scene where Merriam goes to kill a moth and Stone tells him not to do it. They have a conversation about the moth, looking at it as they do so. The thing is, the digital scrubbing eliminated the moth, so there is nothing there. It's deeply weird.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:02 AM on November 25

That should say "if human eyes aren't doing quality control" above.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:14 AM on November 25 [1 favorite]

Underrated quickie with Richard Dix's odd presence (maybe well known to some as the Whistler from a series of cheapie programmers) really adding to the strangeness of the film. But yeah more about the misuse of authority and, of course being 1943, fascism.

The thing is, the digital scrubbing eliminated the moth

I'm gonna have to look at my older versions of this film to confirm it.
posted by Ashwagandha at 12:27 PM on November 25

I like to imagine his friends called him Dick. Dick Dix.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:28 PM on November 25