Phantom Ship
by Denison Clift
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Arthur Margetson, Bela Lugosi, Dennis Hoey, Edmund Willard, Shirley GreyDirector: Denison Clift
Brand: Image Entertainment
Cinematographer: Eric Cross
Cinematographer: Geoffrey Faithfull
Writer: Denison Clift
Editor: John Seabourne Sr.
Producer: Henry Passmore
Writer: Charles Larkworthy
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 62 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-05-28
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Image Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Phantom Ship
Movie Review: An incredible dramatic performance by Bela Lugosi
Summary: 5 Stars
In 1872, the Marie Celeste sailed its way (at full sail) into history when its crew vanished at sea without a trace. The Phantom Ship is a speculative motion picture offering up one solution to the mystery. Filmed in Britain in 1935 (with the original title The Mystery of the Mary Celeste), this movie eased its transition to America (in a slightly condensed form, foregoing the final scenes dealing with early inquiries into the mystery) by including one Bela Lugosi on its cast list. I have to say that Lugosi delivers a remarkable performance in the role of Anton Lorenzen, a down and out sailor with a mysterious yet obviously painful connection to the Mary Celeste. Lorenzen was shanghaied onto a ship in his youth, and the unwanted sea experience he suffered has cost him an arm, turned his hair white, and aged him prematurely. A broken man, penniless, he agrees to join a rag-tag ship's crew being thrown together at the last minute for the Mary Celeste. The ship's captain, Benjamin Briggs brings his newlywed wife on board for the voyage, his love for her having just made his best friend a bitter enemy. At first, the voyage goes smoothly; the sailors fight, sing songs, work, and complain like any normal crew. Then someone tries to attack the captain and is killed; another man dies in the midst of a hurricane; one man is killed after attacking Briggs' young wife. One by one, the entire crew is either killed or disappears. Lugosi really got to show a great deal of dramatic depth in this movie, something that was often denied him in his American films. He really looks the part of an old, broken man despite this movie being made only four years after he brought Dracula to life. Two scenes stand out from the rest. In the first one, Lugosi betrays a wealth of deep, conflicting emotions in reaction to what he has just done; no one can watch this and come away saying Lugosi was not a seriously talented dramatic actor. The second incredible scene has Lugosi soundlessly carrying the movie by himself for several emotional minutes, relying on intensely communicative facial expressions and body language to keep the viewer enthralled.
The Phantom Ship is blessed with great acting, and it makes for a captivating, albeit rather short, movie experience. The historic plot, one which most viewers may already be somewhat familiar with, serves to pull the viewer even further in to what would be a mesmerizing film in and of itself. I would call this a very special prize for Lugosi fans. This is not exactly horror as I define it, yet Lugosi easily outshines every other cast member, supplying the heart and soul that makes this movie so memorable. This is a dramatic performance that all Lugosi fans will definitely want to add to their collections.
Summary of Phantom Ship
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