Search - Ship of Fools on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Adult Situations Movie Release: 1965 DVD Release: 12/02/2003 Format: DVD - Black and White - Closed Captioned Edition: Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Japanese SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 29 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Members Wishing: 6 Genres: Drama, Psychological Drama, Ensemble Film

The first person the audience sees in Ship of Fools is dwarf Michael Dunn, who speaks to viewers directly and acts as a Greek chorus throughout the film. It begins on the deck of an ocean liner travelling from Vera Cruz to Bremerhaven. The time is the 1930s, so close and yet so far from war. The cross-section of humanity on board includes ship's doctor Oscar Werner, Spanish political activist Simone Signoret, aging coquette Vivien Leigh, hedonistic baseball player Lee Marvin, philosophical Jew Heinz Ruhmann, a smattering of pro- and anti-Hitlerites (Jose Ferrer plays the nastiest and most vocal "pro") and young lovers George Segal and Elizabeth Ashley. Yes, it's Grand Hotel at sea, a feast for stargazers and an endurance test for those who aren't comfortable with non-stop speechmaking. Despite such lines as "What can the Nazis do? Kill all six million of us?," Ship of Fools manages to stay afloat throughout its 148 minutes. Michael Dunn was nominated for an Academy Award for his interlocutory characterization; the rest of the performances range from brilliant to merely filling up the room. Other Oscars were presented to cinematographer Ernest Lazslo and to the art-direction staff. Ship of Fools was adapted by Abby Mann from the novel by Katharine Ann Porter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Vivien Leigh - Mary Treadwell
Simone Signoret - La Condesa
José Ferrer - Rieber
Lee Marvin - Bill Tenny
Oskar Werner - Dr. Schumann

Vivien Leigh made her final screen appearance in this screen adaptation of Katherine Anne Porter's novel, which has been given a streamlined presentation for its DVD release. Ship of Fools has been given a full-frame transfer to disc at the aspect ratio of 1.33:1, while the audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Stereo. The dialogue is in English with optional English subtitles included, but no multiple-language options or bonus materials appear on this edition. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide