GHOST SHIP

Newly-weds Margaret (Hazel Court, DR BLOOD'S COFFIN) and Guy (Dermot Walsh, THE FLESH AND THE FIENDS) visit a Southern English dock, answering a newspaper advertisement for a yacht.

The dock manager (Joss Ambler, THE HARRASSED HERO) tries to push a newer yacht onto them, but they insist it is the one they saw advertised that they wish to view. At this point, the manager asks the couple if they are journalists. Guy advises he is in the timber trade.

The dock manager is initially reluctant to let the couple view their intended yacht, but eventually gets a port hand to show them round the run-down vessel. Margaret and Guy are impressed with the size of the yacht, and both agree that with a little work they have it looking great again.

They return the manager's office to confirm their interest in the yacht, but feel compelled to ask him why he appears to be putting them off buying it. He proceeds to tell them of how the boat - named the Cyclops - was previously owned by an atomic scientist, and that three years ago it made the headlines when a crew of three disappeared on it, the yacht being found empty one month later.

The manager's story is illustrated through flashback footage of the three sailors on their mysteriously doomed voyage. The manager concludes his tale by professing that many believe the yacht to be haunted. He himself, he explains, believes this - despite not having seen a ghost on board. Although he insists he has smelt one, or rather the ghost's distinctive cigar smoke ...

Guy in particular scoffs at such stories and puts an offer in to buy the yacht anyway, he and Margaret later putting the boat's bad reputation down to a probable history of smuggling in the past.

Once their surveyor, Mr Leech (Meadows White, FIEND WITHOUT A FACE), has given his seal of approval, the couple buy the yacht and begin renovations.

Finally, the Cyclops is ready to sail. The couple issue invites to friends for a cocktail party on the yacht's maiden sail.

The party seems to be going swimmingly (sorry): sunny weather, people getting affably drunk, toffs appreciating Guy's latest expensive folly, and so on. But when one guest remarks to Guy that he smelt cigar smoke below deck, despite the fact that none of the guests on board smoke cigars, even Guy looks a little concerned.

Initially, Guy brushes this comment aside, but the smell of cigar smoke is just the first in a succession of bizarre events that slowly escalate both during the party, and afterwards ...

GHOST SHIP was released in 1952, so it's not surprising to report that this is a terribly tame, old-fashioned thriller with quaint notions on what may be scary.

The machine gun-delivery of much of the dialogue is very indicative of the acting style of the period this film was made in, and ages the movie considerably. It also provides some unintentional humour along the way.

The script is risible, in the best B-movie tradition, and the central characters - Guy and Margaret - are difficult to like, their coolness and upper class superiority hardly eliciting sympathy.

But the script at least sticks to the central story and wastes no time with unnecessary sub-plots or overuse of exposition, instead racing along to tell it's dated but endearing ghost story in an impressive 71 minutes.

Any horror film shot in black-and-white is always going to have atmosphere, and GHOST SHIP succeeds too - once we're actually on the boat. Vernon Sewell's (CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR) direction is static and pedestrian, much like he was shooting a made-for-TV pot-boiler, but at least serves the no-frills screenplay well in keeping to the basics, and pushing the story along at speed.

Given that GHOST SHIP is 55 years old, it stands as a point of minor interest with its nice black-and-white photography, tight script, tame thrills and unintentional comedy.

Optimum's disc is pretty basic.

The film is presented in 1.33:1 (as close to it's original 1.37:1 ratio as we're likely to get), and looks very good for it's age. It's a nice sharp transfer with good image contrasts of light and shade. Minor grain is evident, but overall this is a remarkably clean presentation.

The English mono audio track is just as good, with no hiss or drop-outs to report of.

Static menus include a scene selection menu allowing access to the main feature via 12 chapters.

There's no extras, although a nice feature is the inclusion of the film's original BBFC theatrical "A rating" certificate at the movie's beginning.

One for the curious.

Review by Stu Willis