The Captain of a ferry boat between the restricted British colony in Gibraltar and Spanish Morocco has a woman of differing appeal and temperament in each port.
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Title: The Captain's Paradise (1953)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Alec Guinness | ... | Captain Henry St. James | |
| Peter Bull | ... | Kalikan Officer | |
 |
Charles Goldner | ... | Ricco |
| Miles Malleson | ... | Lawrence St. James | |
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Claudia Grey | ... | Susan Daley |
|
|
Ann Heffernan | ... | Daphne Bligh |
|
|
Arthur Gomez | ... | Chief Steward |
| Ferdy Mayne | ... | The Sheikh | |
|
|
George Benson | ... | Mr. Salmon |
|
|
Joss Ambler | ... | Professor Ebbart |
|
|
Victor Fairley | ... | 1st Customs Official |
| Michael Balfour | ... | 2nd Customs Official | |
|
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Robert Adair | ... | 3rd Customs Official |
| Sebastian Cabot | ... | Ali | |
|
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Bill Fraser | ... | Absalom |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
Mediterranean ferryboat Captain Henry St. James has things well organized, a loving and very English wife Maud in Gibraltar, and the loving, if rather more hot-blooded Mistress, Nita in Tangiers. A perfect life. As long as neither woman decides to follow him to the other port. Written by Jeremy Perkins {J-26}
Taglines:
A Model Husband... in Gibraltar! A Gay, Dashing Lover... in North Africa! See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
28 September 1953 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Paradise See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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Chief Officer Ricco: [Overhearing] You said something about a key, captain...
Capt. Henry St. James: I was merely quoting, Ricco, an old proverb.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Was mentioned in a plot for the television series Car 54, Where Are You? (1961) (1961). See more »Goofs
The shots of the ship at night are obviously of a model, as can be seen by the movement of the sea at the bow. See more »Quotes
Capt. Henry St. James: [On the bridge, musing out loud to no one in particular] 'He that would enter paradise must have a golden key.'Chief Officer Ricco: [Overhearing] You said something about a key, captain...
Capt. Henry St. James: I was merely quoting, Ricco, an old proverb.
See more »
Alternate Versions
Some prints of "The Captain's Paradise" run 77 minutes. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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News today of the recent death of Yvonnne De Carlo brings this movie back into my mind. I saw it during a period of my life when I had for several years had few opportunities to go to the movies. I had been a student priest in Rome and movie houses were off limits for us. Away on summer holidays in 1953, I caught up with the movie at a cinema in Vienna that was showing English language movies for the benefit of the English military personnel, part of the post World War II occupation force in the Austrian capital. I was allowed to sneak in.
But quite apart from the fact that it was a welcome interlude in a period of drought in my movie watching life, the movie remains in my memory as one of the cleverest comedies I have seen. Not side splitting, it is true. But excellent English wit. And the final scene is unforgettable.
The movies is entitled "The captain's paradise" Reading the IMDb user's comments, I see they correctly note two reasons why the ship captain's life style was a paradise. His homely English wife in Gibraltar and his party going Spanish wife in North Africa. But there was a third element that none of them seem to note as a factor in the captain's happy situation. At sea, at meal times women are rigidly excluded from the captain's table. Those seated with the captain are diplomats, explorers, scientists and suchlike. All of them males. The third paradise element in the captain's life is the enjoyment of male company and conversation at meals. This link with the film's title needs to be remembered. No wonder the script received an Oscar nomination.
There is one aspect of the movie on which I would like another viewer to enlighten me. How did Yvonne De Carlo come to be in this very English movie ? Today after hearing word of her death I looked in IMDb at her listed appearances. From being Moses' wife in Ten Commandments to being the mother in The Munsters, pretty well every role seems to be in a United States production. How did she find her place in a Ealing comedy? But at least it was a most welcome appearance and I am glad she hopped the Atlantic for this one.