THE SHIP THAT DIED OF SHAME

UK, 1955,91 minutes, Black and white.
Richard Attenborough, George Baker, Bill Owen, Virginia Mc Kenna, Roland Culver, Bernard Lee, Ralph Truman.
Directed by Michael Relph and Basil Dearden.

The Ship That Died Of Shame is based on a story by Nicholas Monsarrat (The Cruel Sea, The Story of Esther Costello). It is, at first, a tribute to British men and women in the war effort. However, its focus is on the difficulties of the servicemen settling down after the war and their becoming involved in smuggling rings.

The film focuses on the ship, Gunboat 1087, who becomes a character in the story. George Baker is the serious hero. However, Richard Attenborough as the villain and Bill Owen as the loyal mate give strength to the characterisations. Roland Culver is a sinister villain. Bernard Lee is the serious Customs officer. John Longden (who appeared in Australian films in the '30s including The Silence of Dean Maitland) is the detective.

The film has the atmosphere of post-war Britain, has some good action sequences at sea. It was produced and directed by the team of Michael Relph and Basil Dearden who made many films over a period of 20 years including Dead of Night, The Blue Lamp, Victim, Sapphire, Khartoum.

1. An interesting thriller about post-war Britain? A film focusing on the ship and its soul and its clash with its human crew?

2. Black and white photography? War sequences? Action at sea? Black and white photography, light and shadow for the world of criminals? Action sequences and pace? Musical score?

3. The title and the focus on 1087? Its action in the war? The loyalty of the men? The rediscovery of the boat after the war? Its being cleaned up? Its being put to use for smuggling? The rebellion of the boat? Its breaking down? Its confrontation with Hoskins? Its dying - and its crash after saving Bill?

4. The focus on Bill Randell? His work on the boat? His marriage to Helen, the happiness with her? The grief at her death in the air raid? His committing himself to the boat? After the war, in the bar, Hoskins and his proposals? His doubts? His decision to work with Hoskins? Finding Birdie again? Their cargos? The suspicions of the Customs officer and his visiting the ship? Hoskins and the link with Fordyce? Bill and Birdie rebelling? The difficulties with the ship? The voyage with the murderer? The effect on Bill? The confrontation with Hoskins and Fordyce? Their being forced to see? The deaths? The clash between Hoskins and Bill? The engines failing? Bill thrown clear and the death of the ship? Richard Attenborough as Hoskins - during the war, 21C, his assistance to Bill? His easy attitudes? His approaching Bill after the war, smooth talk? Setting up the boat again? Redoing it? His power over Bill? Over Birdie? The smuggling? The clash with the Customs officer? The link with Fordyce and the gang? Gangster difficulties? The death of the Customs officer? The death of Fordyce? The clash with Bill and his death? A persuasive portrait of the petty gangster of the period?

5. Birdie and his work on the boat? Loyalties? Attitude towards the smuggling? Clash with Hoskins? Loyalty to Bill? His being wounded?

6. The authorities: the Customs officer, his work, suspicions, alertness? The visit to the ship? His memories? The confrontation with Fordyce? His death? The various Customs officers and detectives and their attack on the smuggling?

7. Fordyce and his connections, his money deals, the smuggling of the murderer? The difficulties and dangers?

8. The life on the English Channel. the tradition of the smugglers? Attitudes towards crime? Towards authority? The shrewdness and elusiveness of the smugglers?

9. The thriller style? Enhanced by the story of the ship with soul?