Ship of Fools

Amazon.com An all-star drama in the grandest of Hollywood traditions, Ship of Fools is now a glossy, Oscar®-nominated relic from a bygone era, when actors were valued more than special effects. "Prestige" is the keyword in describing this high-toned Stanley Kramer production, and the passage of time brings the pros and cons of Kramer's filmmaking into stark relief. In adapting Katherine Anne Porter's acclaimed novel set aboard a German liner sailing from Mexico to Germany, Kramer and screenwriter Abby Mann (who shifted the story from 1931 to 1933) attempted to display the oncoming horror of Nazi Germany in microcosm, as represented by the ship's colorful variety of passengers, including maritally combative artists (George Segal, Elizabeth Ashley); a has-been baseball star (Lee Marvin); a pair of illicit lovers (Oskar Werner, Simone Signoret); a despondent divorcée (Vivien Leigh, shockingly garish in her final film); and several others who play symbolic roles with varying degrees of obviousness. Porter's potent themes are somewhat deflated by Kramer's pompous, heavy-handed approach, but powerful acting remains. Having lost what relevance it had in 1965, Ship of Fools is still fascinating as a showcase for well-drawn characters (including an observant dwarf, played by the late, great Michael Dunn) whose inner lives and outward interactions reflect a turbulent world irrevocably headed for war. --Jeff Shannon Product Description SHIP OF FOOLS is set on a German ocean liner, during the Nazi regime of the 1930's. In the high-class section are several well-to-do people, while below deck are a horde of sugar field workers returning to Spain after a season of work in Cuba. The ship is a hot bed of disillusionment, prejudice and delusions of grandeur.
ASIN: B0000DGKI8
VSKU: LFV.B0000DGKI8.VG
Condition: Very Good
Author/Artist:Vivien Leigh|Jose Ferrer|Simone Signoret|Lee Marvin|Elizabeth Ashley|Jose Greco|Charles Korvin|Oskar Werner|Michael Dunn|Stanley Kramer|Stanley Kramer Productions|George Segal
Binding: Dvd
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: DVD Very Good - Case is in great condition. Comes with all artwork. Disc quality is near perfect. Guarantee in working condition. If applicable: Digital copy or ultraviolet codes may be expired or not included.