Torture Ship (1939)

A mad scientist performs experiments on "the criminal mind" on captured criminals on board his private ship.

Director:

Victor Halperin

Writer:

Jack London (story)

Stars:

Lyle Talbot, Irving Pichel, Julie Bishop

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lyle Talbot	...	Lt. Bob Bennett
Irving Pichel	...	Dr. Herbert Stander
Julie Bishop	...	Joan Martel (as Jacqueline Wells)
Sheila Bromley	...	Poison Mary Slavish
Anthony Averill	...	Dirk - Stander's Aide
Russell Hopton	...	Harry 'The Carver' Bogard
Julian Madison	...	Paul - Stander's Aide
Eddie Holden	...	Ole Olson
Wheeler Oakman	...	John Ritter
Stanley Blystone	...	Capt. Mike Briggs
Leander De Cordova	...	Ezra Matthews (as Leander de Cordova)
Demetrius Alexis	...	Steve Murano (as Dmitri Alexis)
Skelton Knaggs	...	Jesse Bixel
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carleton Young	...	Reporter (unconfirmed)

Storyline

A mad scientist performs experiments on "the criminal mind" on captured criminals on board his private ship.

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Plot Keywords:

ship | mad scientist | escaped convict | evil man | captain | 

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

To karavi tou martyriou

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sigmund Neufeld Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min 63 min (DVD) 62 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
First reporter: Doctor, is it true that through your experiments in endocrine glands you can cure crime?
Second reporter: What about this crime cure?
Dr. Herbert Stander: Boys, after the grand jury's decision, I'll have a statement to make. If making a criminal mind is normal... than I'll be indicted.

User Reviews

A Great Cast Makes This Watchable

A well known doctor is indicted for his experiments toward curing the criminal mind. Needing to continue his work and hoping that success will clear him, he buys a boat, loads it with several high profile criminals hoping to escape the law and heads out to sea. At least that's the plan, but things start to go wrong and things are revealed to be not what they seemed at first.

This is an okay little thriller that seems more than a bit too talky, even as the action picks up and the crooks try to take over the ship and the captain and crew have to fight to take it back. Lest you think that reveals too much, you obviously haven't watched this, as things go left, right and every which way during its fleeting one hour running time.

The cast is a B-movie lovers dream that includes Lyle Talbot, Irving Pichel and group of character actors that seems to have been pulled from every movie made within five years of this one. Their interaction is what keeps this movie afloat even as the film begins to sink into low level nonsense.

If you're looking for a forgettable time killer or just like watching veteran actors making mountains out of mole hills then by all means give it a shot. Just don't expect high art and you won't be disappointed.