DEATH SHIP

UK/Canada, 1980, 91 minutes, Colour.
George Kennedy, Sally Ann Howes, Richard Crenna, Nick Mancuso, Kate Reid, Saul Rubinek.
Directed by Alvin Rakoff.

A rather bizarre horror story. It has overtones of the 19th century story of the ship 'Marie Celeste'. However, this is a German prisoners' ship still afloat and claiming victims for vengeance. The ship has a life of its own and takes control of its destiny, colliding with passenger ships, absorbing the crew for the running of the ship and then disposing of them. All kinds of horror devices and editing are used.

The film is in dubious taste in its presentation of the background of Nazi atrocities and the fate of German prisoners. The film has strong stunts, co-ordinated by Australian Grant Page, and an eerie atmosphere. The film generally has the courage of its convictions to go as far as it can with its promises.

George Kennedy is at home in the role of the captain. Singer/actress Sally Ann Howes has a rare film appearance as Richard Crenna’s wife. The film is a British- Canadian co-production filmed generally in the United States and the Gulf of Mexico.

1. The appeal of horror films, their nightmare qualities, dreams used in the film? Fears and dreams, the purging of fears when nightmares are faced? The relish with which the film presented its horror? The macabre tone and details?

2. The film as a Canadian- British co-production, the British cast, the Canadian production values? The international style? American locations and cast?

3. The importance of the special effects and stars? The ship itself and its collisions, presenting the ship an having a life of its own, the working of the engines, anchor, etc.? The ship’s control and exercise of violence? Shocks, scares? The bizarre deaths? The bizarre aspects of the Nazi prison ship? The skeletons of the prisoners, etc.? The films of the Nazi past as well as the old musicals? An atmosphere of terror and horror? Suggestion and shock tactics? The musical score and its contribution?

4. The plausibility of the plot? The basic promises and the screenplay taking them as far as they would go? The abandoned ship wandering the seas? Its devouring ships and people? The atmosphere of World War II and the ship transcending time? Fascism and Germany of the past and its visual presentation in the films, the sound track? Fascism in the present? A nightmare horror warning? The fate of the prisoners? The vengeance needed for the deaths of so many during World War II?

5. The atmosphere of the cruise ship? Captain Ashland and his sternness, his lack of hospitality to the passengers? His jealousy of Captain Marshall? The reaction of the crew? His final voyage? The place he had on the ship and his retirement, the contrast with Captain Marshall and his wife and children? The genial family? Nick and Lori and their shipboard liaison? Jackie and his attempts to entertain people on the final night? The atmosphere of the party? Sylvia and her old-fashioned style? The introduction of each of the characters, their interaction? The voyage and the atmosphere? The continued menace of the ship stalking? The build-up to the destruction of the ship and the small group of survivors?

6. Captain Ashland and his ambitions, inability to handle people, jealousy? These aspects of his personality being taken over by the ship? His wanting to be in charge? His turning into a German officer? The suggested supernatural powers especially in his knowledge, the running of the ship. his language? The visible effects of his transformation? His hostility towards people, suspicions, the children? The clashes with Marshall? The German war films? The power of the ship taking him over, the wheel and its control? His cruelty and pursuit of the passengers? His being devoured by
the engine?

7. The contrast with Marshall and his wife and children? The background of their story, their terror on the ship. the pursuit, dangers? Their help of one another? The traps, the fears and their survival? Last minute escapes? Audience identification with them? Seeing the ugliness through their experience?

8. Nick and his place on the ship, survival. coping. heroism, the ugliness of his death amongst the skeletons? The liaison with Lori, her concern for the others, the blood shower?

9. Sylvia and her pleasantness, wanting to help, eating the sweets, overcome by the plague?

10. Jackie and his being irritating on the ship, surviving, the ship taking possession of him and drowning him?

11. The film's title, the atmosphere of death, the power of the ship? The camera work to suggest the ship's personality? The ship's plotting, sailing, anchor, crashing, devouring? Its preparing to devour another ship at the end of the film?

12. Audience response to the Nazi background, the films of Hitler, the incessant noise, the atmosphere of death and torture, the refrigerator, the skeletons, the drowned people? Audience response to this and the taste of the visual presentation of it?

11. The ship starting again? The value of audiences watching horror films? The themes, the manner? Ability to watch nightmares?