Review of Ship of Fools

On the acting level, this is mixed, but mostly good. The main idea seems to be: everyone has a major flaw, a secret, or at least some sort of personal vulnerability. It's part of the human condition. These flaws range from mere shyness about one's appearance to an annihilating sense of superiority. The latter is embodies by Jose Ferrer, as a spokesman for recently elected Nazi party in Germany, where the ship is destined to end its journey. While blustering and obnoxious, Ferrer's is one of the more effective performances. The worst--at at least, the most annoying--come from George Segal and Elizabeth Ashley, whose tormented relationship is apparently doomed by an inability to accept one another as they are (despite a lot of histrionic shouting, in too many scenes that only make the film seem longer). The most pleasing performances come from Vivien Leigh, Michael Dunn, Alf Kjellin, Heinz Rühmann, and Werner Klemperer and Charles Korvin. There's is some overblown hysteria among a few minor players, but the cast is largely quite solid. Best of all, and the main reason for watching, are the scenes between Simone Signorety and Oscar Werner, both of whom won Best Supporting Acting Academy Awards for their work here. Signoret is no surprise--she was never less than superb in just about everything she did. Werner was never better, as a broken man facing poor health and life-altering personal choices.

The period (early to mid-1930s) is felt only in the dialog, referencing political events in Germany. In general, the film seems very much of its own time, particularly in the costumes for women, which only reflect the film's own decade. The film misses greatness ( A floating GRAND HOTEL, this is not), but patient viewers may find it worthy of a look.