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IMDbPro

Ship of Fools

  • 19651965
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 29m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
6.4K
YOUR RATING
Ship of Fools (1965)
Home Video Trailer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Play trailer3:32
1 Video
86 Photos
DramaRomanceWar
A varied group of passengers boarding a ship bound for pre-WWII Germany represents a microcosm of early 1930s society.A varied group of passengers boarding a ship bound for pre-WWII Germany represents a microcosm of early 1930s society.A varied group of passengers boarding a ship bound for pre-WWII Germany represents a microcosm of early 1930s society.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
6.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Stanley Kramer
  • Writers
    • Katherine Anne Porter(based on "Ship of Fools")
    • Abby Mann(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Vivien Leigh
    • Simone Signoret
    • José Ferrer
  • Director
    • Stanley Kramer
  • Writers
    • Katherine Anne Porter(based on "Ship of Fools")
    • Abby Mann(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Vivien Leigh
    • Simone Signoret
    • José Ferrer
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 85User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 5 wins & 13 nominations total

    Videos1

    Ship of Fools
    Trailer 3:32
    Watch Ship of Fools

    Photos86

    Gila Golan in Ship of Fools (1965)
    Christiane Schmidtmer in Ship of Fools (1965)
    José Ferrer in Ship of Fools (1965)
    George Segal in Ship of Fools (1965)
    Elizabeth Ashley in Ship of Fools (1965)
    Lee Marvin in Ship of Fools (1965)
    "Ship Of Fools" Vivien Leigh 1965 Columbia
    George Segal and BarBara Luna at an event for Ship of Fools (1965)
    Buddy Hackett and his wife Sherry Cohen At the "Ship of Fools" Premiere
    Vivien Leigh and Lee Marvin in Ship of Fools (1965)
    Vivien Leigh and Lee Marvin in Ship of Fools (1965)
    Vivien Leigh and Lee Marvin in Ship of Fools (1965)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Vivien Leigh
    Vivien Leigh
    • Mary Treadwell
    Simone Signoret
    Simone Signoret
    • La Condesa
    José Ferrer
    José Ferrer
    • Rieber
    • (as Jose Ferrer)
    Lee Marvin
    Lee Marvin
    • Tenny
    Oskar Werner
    Oskar Werner
    • Dr. Schumann
    Elizabeth Ashley
    Elizabeth Ashley
    • Jenny
    George Segal
    George Segal
    • David
    José Greco
    José Greco
    • Pepe
    • (as Jose Greco)
    Michael Dunn
    Michael Dunn
    • Glocken
    Charles Korvin
    Charles Korvin
    • Capt. Thiele
    Heinz Rühmann
    Heinz Rühmann
    • Lowenthal
    • (as Heinz Ruehmann)
    Lilia Skala
    Lilia Skala
    • Frau Hutten
    BarBara Luna
    BarBara Luna
    • Amparo
    Christiane Schmidtmer
    Christiane Schmidtmer
    • Lizzi
    Alf Kjellin
    Alf Kjellin
    • Freytag
    Werner Klemperer
    Werner Klemperer
    • Lt. Huebner
    John Wengraf
    John Wengraf
    • Graf
    Olga Fabian
    Olga Fabian
    • Frau Schmitt
    • Director
      • Stanley Kramer
    • Writers
      • Katherine Anne Porter(based on "Ship of Fools")
      • Abby Mann(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Vivien Leigh was subject to bouts of depression and alcoholism and was abrasive to fellow actors. There was a rocky start to her relationship with Lee Marvin, complaining about his stale alcohol breath. Eventually, the two became highly unlikely good friends.
    • Goofs
      Although set in 1933, the hairstyles and costumes are decidedly mid-1960s.
    • Quotes

      Rieber: Lowenthal, you know it is a historical fact that the Jews are the basis of our misfortunes.

      Lowenthal: Of course.

      Rieber: You agree?

      Lowenthal: Of course. The Jews and the bicycle riders.

      Rieber: The bicycle riders? Why the bicycle riders?

      Lowenthal: Why the Jews?

    • Connections
      Edited into Catalogue of Ships (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Heute abend geh'n wir bummeln auf der Reeperbahn
      Music by Ernest Gold

      Lyrics by Jack Lloyd

    User reviews85

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    A grand, glossy excursion, with a flavorful international cast keeping the weighty boat afloat.
    One of my favorite indulges over the years has been "Ship of Fools," a 1965 glossy, episodic entertainment done strictly grand scale. Based on Katherine Anne Porter's epic novel, the Oscar-nominated "Best Picture" centers on a sundry group of travelers circa 1933 who clash "Grand Hotel" style on a German ocean liner bound, via Mexico, for Germany (and impending doom it would seem) just as strong Nazi sentiment was breeding. The ship becomes a microcosm of pre-WWII life and mores, with a plethora of subplots alternately swelling and ebbing throughout - situations that alter the course of some of its passengers and crew members, for better or worse.

    From the clever opening collage of credits (don't miss this part) set to a catchy, flavorful Latin score to its fascinating all-star disembarkation at the end, it's smooth sailing for most of this trip, guided with an assured hand by the always capable Stanley ("Judgment at Nuremberg") Kramer, with certain cast members (Simone Signoret, Oskar Werner, Vivien Leigh, Lee Marvin, Michael Dunn) coming off better than others (José Ferrer, Elizabeth Ashley, George Segal).

    A number of compelling vignettes acted out by the choice, eclectic ensemble make up for the sometimes turgid melodramatics that occur on board as our "ship of fools" are forced to examine their own pride and prejudice while victimized by others. Who can forget the tormented Simone Signoret and Oskar Werner (both Oscar-nominated) as the morphine-addicted political prisoner and dutiful ship's physician who provide the film with its most poignant and tragic shipboard romance. Their clandestine encounters are exquisitely written and beautifully realized. Or Vivien Leigh's coy, aging elitist, Mary Treadwell, who delivers a brilliantly despairing monologue in front of a makeup mirror that, in turn, sets up a wildly climactic shoe-bashing scene with Lee Marvin's besotted baseballer when he viciously assaults, then profusely apologizes to the now-humiliated matron after mistaking her in the dark for a cooch dancer. Or José Greco & company's steamy, frenetic flamenco sequence during a raucous, after-hours party. Or dwarf actor Michael Dunn's sublime Greek Chorus that effectively bookends the movie (the Oscar-nominated Dunn subsequently played evil Dr. Loveless on TV's "Wild, Wild West" series). These glorious scenes and more help to balance out the less serviceable ones, particularly those involving Jose Ferrer's boisterous, irritating Nazi bigot who borders on caricature, and Elizabeth Ashley and George Segal's turbulent lovers who come off dull and forced.

    Ernest Laszlo's lustrous black-and-white cinematography was suitably Oscar awarded, while the whole look, feel and tone of the movie is decidedly old-style theatre at its best. This movie has remained one of my all-time favorite wallows.
    helpful•55
    16
    • gbrumburgh
    • Mar 8, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 1, 1965 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Das Narrenschiff
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Stanley Kramer Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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