1952 British film by Vernon Sewell
Ghost Ship is a 1952 British second feature[1] thriller film directed by Vernon Sewell and starring Dermot Walsh and Hazel Court. It was written by Vernon Sewell and Philip Thornton.[2] This was one of four attempts by Vernon Sewell to adapt and film the Pierre Mills and Celia de Vilyars Grand Guignol stage play L'Angoisse.[3]
The 2002 film of the same title is completely unrelated and not considered a remake.[4]
Plot
Guy and Margret, a newly-wed couple, meet a broker in the hopes of buying the steam yacht Cyclops to fix it up as a floating home. Before they make the purchase the Yard Manager tells them about the ship's previous owners. He explains that after the war the yacht was bought by Professor Martineau, an atomic scientist who installed a number of gadgets including automatic gyro steering. Martineau, his wife, and their engineer and friend Peter, set sail on a pleasant day for Deauville, however they never arrived. After being unable to contact the Cyclops an enquiry assumed they struck a mine and were lost at sea. A month later three fishermen discover the Cyclops devoid of crew and off course. Another enquiry is held and discovers that the ship must have been abandoned at least three days, the machinery and equipment was in perfect working order, no attempt had been made to contact another ship, and that one of the lifebuoys was missing, however they are unsure if the automatic steering was engaged. A body is found washed up on the beach, however Martineau's housekeeper explains it cannot be him as it doesn't have the burn scar Martineau received on his arm as a student. The enquiry concludes assuming two of those onboard must have drowned trying to save the third.
The Yard Manager tells Guy and Margret that the Cyclops has since changed hands many times but has never found a long-term owner. He also tells them that he believes the ship is haunted as he had mysteriously smelt cigar smoke, however Guy believes the Yard master is reluctant to sell as he uses the ship for smuggling. Guy and Margret buy the Cyclops after being told that it is in great shape and working perfectly and move it to a dry dock for overhaul and repainting. Unable to find a local deckhand, Guy reluctantly hires Mansel, who also doesn't believe the yacht is haunted and has been rather poorly looking after the Cyclops for years. Guy and Margret host a house-warming party onboard to celebrate their first successful trip out on the Cyclops, where a guest tells Guy he smells a Havana cigar despite none being present. That night the engineer hired to run the boat quits after claiming that his wife has become ill, however later the Yard Manager tells Guy that he doesn't believe the engineer had a wife at all and that a rumour is spreading that he left after seeing a ghost.
Guy hires a new engineer but Margret complains that he smokes cigars in their quarters as she can smell the smoke. When Guy goes to confront the engineer he quits, claiming to have seen a ghost on board as well. Margret receives a call from the bridge but hears only breathing, and discovers that Guy is only next door and Mansel has the evening off. When Guy and Margret investigate they find the bridge empty, however Margret smells cigar smoke again and faints. A worried Margret begins to believe something supernatural is happening, however Guy still believes someone is trying to trick them into abandoning the Cyclops. Later, while working in the engine room, Guy sees a man smoking a cigar who disappears when Guy challenges him. Debating whether to sell the Cyclops or not, Margret contacts the Institute for Investigation of Psychic Phenomena (IIPP) to hire a paranormal investigator.
Dr. Fawcett arrives and feels a strong psychic influence onboard the Cyclops after also smelling cigar smoke, although Guy still remains sceptical. Dr. Fawcett invites his medium Mrs. Manley onboard to host a séance where she contacts the spirits onboard. The group discover that Martineau's wife and Peter were having an affair and planned to kill Martineau and push him overboard. As Mrs. Martineau and Peter make their plan however, Martineau is able to hear them after breaking the phone on the bridge. Martineau confronts his wife and Peter and shoots them before hiding their bodies in a disused water tank under the floor boards, taking some money, changing the ship's course, and jumping overboard with one of the lifebuoys. Guy and Dr Fawcett find the water tank to confirm the story but before they can call the police, Mansel commits suicide on deck. After seeing a burn scar on Mansel's arm Guy realises that he is Professor Martineau. Dr Fawcett tells a still doubtful Guy that with Martineau dead the haunting should stop. Happy, Guy and Margret set sail on the Cyclops again.
Production
The film received partial funding from Anglo-Amalgamated. It starred the real life husband and wife team of Dermot Walsh and Hazel Court. Most filming took place in Merton Park Studios with exteriors shot on the director's own yacht, Gelert, in the English Channel.[5][6]
There are some limited shots of Shoreham Harbour canal, Southwick Town Hall, and Lady Bee Marina.[7]
Critical reception
TV Guide called the film a "talky but fairly atmospheric effort ... hampered by its low budget."[8]
Writing in British Sound Films, David Quinlan described the film as an "eerie dose of maritime mystery"[9]
Leslie Halliwell called it a "mildly unusual second feature"[10]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "Buying a vessel that's haunted, even at a bargain price, is asking for trouble, as the young couple played by Dermot Walsh and Hazel Court find out in this waterlogged British B-feature. After they discover that the previous owner killed his spouse and her lover on board, they're on their way to laying the ship's ghost. Vernon Sewell, who was able to combine film-making with a love of the sea, probably had more fun than the audience."[11]
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