I'm a fan (in a modest way) of James Mason and Broderick Crawford, so quite enjoyed this film. Plus points were Dorothy Dandridge and the shooting of many scenes on board an actual ship (that appeared better-maintained than was suggested by Mason's critical assessment on taking command.
But the plot - and I mean both that of the film and that hatched by the two main conspirators - was far-fetched, not least the attempt to enlist an obviously-reluctant young crew member. And when Dorothy made her spectacular entrance I thought that there was almost certainly no woman like that on board for the real events.
In fact, Googling after seeing the film revealed that the only things that fact and fiction had in common were the names of the captain (who was killed in the real incident in 1905) and ship (which in reality was a schooner) and there being deaths on board. So hardly the "true story of one girl on a crime ship", as proclaimed in one publicity poster.
The IMBD cast list includes Hanna Landy as Doris Belger. In the version of the film I saw, courtesy of the free streaming service Fast32, she did not feature.
But the plot - and I mean both that of the film and that hatched by the two main conspirators - was far-fetched, not least the attempt to enlist an obviously-reluctant young crew member. And when Dorothy made her spectacular entrance I thought that there was almost certainly no woman like that on board for the real events.
In fact, Googling after seeing the film revealed that the only things that fact and fiction had in common were the names of the captain (who was killed in the real incident in 1905) and ship (which in reality was a schooner) and there being deaths on board. So hardly the "true story of one girl on a crime ship", as proclaimed in one publicity poster.
The IMBD cast list includes Hanna Landy as Doris Belger. In the version of the film I saw, courtesy of the free streaming service Fast32, she did not feature.