Ship of the Dead (1959)
"Das Totenschiff" (original title)

After a line of mischief Philip Gale, an American sailor, is lured into hiring on the "Yorikke", a tramp cargo, by Lawski, a stoker from Poland. Still, the two become friends within the ... See full summary »

Director:

Georg Tressler

Writers:

Hans Jacoby, Werner Jörg Lüddecke,

Stars:

Horst Buchholz, Mario Adorf, Helmut Schmid

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Horst Buchholz	...	Philip Gale, Amerikanischer Seeman
Mario Adorf	...	Lawski, Polnischer Kohlenschlepper
Helmut Schmid	...	Martin, Heizer auf der Yorikke
Alf Marholm	...	Kapitän der Yorikke
Werner Buttler	...	Dils, 1. Ingenieu
Dieter von Keil	...	Statter, 1. Offizier
Panos Papadopulos	...	Popoff, Bulgarischer Dockarbeiter
Edgar O. Faiss	...	Bootsmann auf der Yorikke
Günter Meisner	...	Paul, Trimmer auf der Yorikke
Alfred Balthoff	...	Ballard
Albert Bessler	...	US-Konsul
Karl Lieffen	...	Belgischer Kripobeamter
Marielouise Nagel
Claudia Gerstäcker	...	Shaba
Elke Sommer	...	Mylene, ein Französisches Mädchen

Storyline

After a line of mischief Philip Gale, an American sailor, is lured into hiring on the "Yorikke", a tramp cargo, by Lawski, a stoker from Poland. Still, the two become friends within the motley crew of losers from all nations. Gale and his new companion soon are more than disillusioned: the "Yorikke" is far from seaworthy and more of a coffin than a ship, work is close to slavery, and treatment by the officers and their subalterns is harsh and cynical. One day they make an alarming discovery in a tin of plum butter they have procured from the ship's cargo...

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Plot Keywords:

ship | sailor | smuggling | sea | based on novel

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Genres:

Adventure

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Details

Country:

West Germany Mexico

Language:

German

Release Date:

1 October 1959 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

The Naked and the Brave

Filming Locations:

Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universum Film (UFA), Producciones José Kohn

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in King Kongs Faust (1985)

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Soundtracks

"Namenlos"
Music & Lyrics by Roland Kovac
Sung by Horst Buchholz

User Reviews

Good Tough Adventure

Based on a book by B. Traven, author of "The Treasure of Sierra Madre."

The film is well acted, vividly photographed and distinctly better than we have any right to expect.

It depicts a fugitive sailor's time on a tramp steamer, with lots of tough guys, much grubby detail, a catastrophe and an amazing final image that will stay with you long after you've forgotten the rest of the film. Very worthwhile.

When will German DVD makers get smart and put English and French subtitles on their discs? A little extra expense would give them a worldwide clientele instead of just selling to two countries.