Ship of Fools (1965)

Stanley Kramer made some really great films in the 50s and 60s, but this ain't one of 'em. The film suffers from an over-pretentious egotism about existential angst and finding meaning in a meaningless existence—really tired fair, especially when it is not done well. The really tired, dated subplot is that of David (George Segal) and Jenny (Elizabeth Ashley). Their silly conversations about gender roles, self expression, and "belonging together" get really old very fast. The thread dealing with Lowenthal, Glocken, and Rieber is the most relevant, entertaining, and thought provoking. Lowenthal is the most telling role of the film. A truly tragic figure who has no idea of the enormity of his delusions about being a German Jew in 1933.But the whole thing is a mess when all is said and done. The thread about Wilhelm and La Condesa is really a waste, since I can't imagine leaving my dog for the mega-frumpy Simone Signoret, never mind a wife and two sons. Oskar Werner is very genuine, but Signoret is her usual over-rated, tedious self. The two performances just don't mesh, and the result does not ring true.Tenny (Lee Marvin) really is an ape, as Mrs. Treadwell observes. A truly ugly American in the most stereotypical sense. The thread dealing with the wheelchair preacher, his nephew, and the flamenco whore seemed really worthless to me, just a cheap shot by Kramer at religion and morality. But the acting really is brilliant all around, I must admit. Leigh is especially poignant as Mrs. Treadwell, probably the meatiest role in this film. She is thoroughly reprehensible, and without sympathetic appeal. And yet….. we pity her even if she won't pity herself.

Even though I enjoyed watching the film that tackled "taboo" topics for a 1965 movie, it was annoying to see the clothing and hairstyles, especially in the younger cast members, not reflecting how people dressed in 1933. As was typical in 1960s films--the make-up and hairstyles looked so 60s--when there were supposed to be "period pieces." ("Funny Girl" is a case in point.) That being said, the performances were great! Vivien Leigh sort of did her Blanche DuBois character and she did look older than 46 as did Simone Signoret for 42 (ages both characters were portraying).Has anyone else picked up on these "cosmetic" details? It sort of ruins if for me when the details are not correct. And I supposed if the film were in color, it'd really show up how un-1933 it would have looked!

"Ship Of Fools" (1965) movie is better than K. A. Porter's book, and possibly the best ensemble top actors movie ever made.The movie got two Academy Awards....one for best cinematography, and the other for best art direction. Both deserved."Ship Of Fools" (1965) also deserved (but did not get, sadly) multiple "Best Actor" and Best Actress" awards ["Best Supporting Actor/ Actress awards, also].High quality, in-depth acting of true talent and accomplishment have seldom ever reached the levels achieved in this movie, done repeatedly, again and again and again, from start to finish.The movie contained at least half a dozen (possibly more) Academy Award winner best actor performances.....at least three best actor academy award winners performed (incredibily) in this movie (Lee Marvin, Vivien Leigh, and Jose Ferrer), and others (some who may have gotten academy awards I overlooked) were also wonderful in all ways (Simone Signoret, Oscar Werner, Michael Dunn, Elizabeth Ashley, George Segal, Gila Golan, Jose Greco, and Barbara Luna....who sang the famous "Dites Moi" song in South Pacific on the Broadway stage when she was a little girl in 1949!).The titles at the start of movie are incredible, and deserve to be ranked with the best of all movie titles ever presented (someday, a special award for movie titles will be established....if this has not already been done, it is certainly an unmet need.....movie titles are important, are an art unto themselves, and a major asset to movies when done well.........see the titles for Bullitt 1968 and North By Northwest 1959 as only two examples of "the best of the best movie titles...the "Ship Of Fools" 1965 movie titles are part of the "the best of the best.") The Abby Mann written screenplay is really an original screenplay with an original story, by far better than the best selling Katherine Anne Porter novel also titled "Ship Of Fools" .... not at all the same as the book....better! Stanley Kramer's direction is wonderful.Original music by Ernest Gold in the movie includes a German language song performed very well by Jose Ferrer. The title of the song is "Heute abend geh'n wir bummein auf der Reeperbahn," and it is a true "gemutlicheit" German language song, indeed, even if it was written in the USA for a Hollywood, English language movie.This movie is a true gem, and deserves to be ranked as one of the best movies of all times.All movie actors (I am one) should see this movie....it's a chance to see "the best of the best" one after the other after the other after the other.Acting just doesn't get better than is the case in "Ship Of Fools" (1965).-------------- Written by Tex Allen, SAG Actor Email Tex Allen at [email protected] Visit WWW.IMDb.Me/TexAllen for movie credits and biography information.

Stanley Kramer's adaptation of Katherine Porter's novel is epic is scope, but not at the expense of character development. In fact, this is Kramer's least bloated film. Viewing a pre-WWII world in microcosm on board a liner traveling from Mexico to Bremerhaven, SHIP OF FOOLS is at various times bleak and lighthearted, but always compelling. Kramer and scriptwriter Abby Mann take Porter's hefty tome and pare it down to an ironic bare-bones masterpiece. Oskar Werner and Simone Signoret head the cast as the ship's less than enthused doctor and a down on her luck contessa. They're both excellent, with Werner epitomizes the disengaged German seemingly unconcerned about the growing tide of horror in his homeland. Signoret has never been as touching or earthy. They're ably supported by a terrific cast: George Segal and Elizabeth Ashley as hot-headed American artists, Lee Marvin as a blustery pro ballplayer, Jose Ferrer as Werner's Jew-hating doppelganger. Vivian Leigh is the ship's lost soul and Michael Dunn is a the Greek chorus, commenting wryly on the boatload of fools. Featuring great art direction, excellent B&W cinematography by Ernest Laszlo and some of Kramer's finest direction. Lilia Skala and Jose Greco are in it too.