ghost ship ghost ship american black white psychological thriller film elements mystery horror directed starring featuring produced series low budget horror films film seen low key psychological thriller suspense drama melodrama film young merchant marine officer begins suspect ship captain mentally lives ship crew ship crew believes vessel haunted cursed mysterious deaths occur theatrical release christmas eve film box office success received mixed critical reception february sued claimed script based play submitted possible film suit ghost ship withdrawn theatrical release shown nearly years film copyright renewed entered public domain 1990s began available released dvd set film predominantly male cast argued film critics homosexual sharp contrast majority patriotic wartime films especially place primarily ship usually feature themes brotherhood respect higher ranking officers able hard working seamen plot young merchant marine officer joins crew ship bonds captain stone ship death crew member left port loses greek develops taking direction ship radio captain perform unable instead successfully removes sailor appendix feeling loyal captain spare embarrassment radio operator secrecy afterward captain self serving explanation failure crew uncredited tells captain pull port new crew captain says know captains hold shortly captain closes hatch chain locker inside crushed death chain believes obsessed authority intentionally dock fictional caribbean island appeared walked zombie production later zombies broadway attempts expose captain madness board inquiry crew speak favorably captain including greek credits captain saving life states intention leave inquiry captain admits female friend appeared walked zombie fears losing mind soon involved fight port knocked unconscious unaware left brings unconscious man aboard ship vessel departs wakes ship fears insane captain stone attempt kill fear reinforced captain referring young officer accusations says know captains hold crew finds longer lock door cabin fearing life tries steal gun ship weapons locker confronted captain stone stone try support crew rebuffed effort changes receives asking board captain stone orders lie aboard shows captain reply says captain send message company expressing concerns stone mental health leaves cabin encounters captain walk drops captain deck picked internal serve sort man greek chorus film captain stone orders send radio message corporate office advising washed overboard accuses captain murdering fight crew members intervene captain crew tie captain officer administer finn finally delivers captain read deeply alarmed officer talks crew members begin questioning captain captain stone conversation crew goes insane takes knife enters cabin kill young officer finn arrives try stop crew deck singing finn captain engage desperate struggle dark finn kills captain captain death reinstated ship returns home port cast production scored major financial success film cost brought million years saved studio financial disaster wanted quickly sequel build success producer wished fantasy comedy story ghost instead studio commenced production seventh victim horror murder mystery film announced delaying production sequel curse cat people key performers production chief want idle filming seventh victim ended favor idea working comedy suggested direct horror film set sea utilizing studio existing ship set built according longtime collaborator set gave idea film find standing set tailor script set ghost ship walked set saw tanker cooked idea ship captain scholar suggested accepted assignment amateur sailor ship captain behavior mirrored views manage ship saw plot way criticizing micro managing superiors budget films set time began claimed idea film original treatment wrote script significantly revised screenplay wrote lines dialogue assigned direct june director tune idea psychological terror finished editing journey fear distinct stylistic similarities films chose use single source lighting film order sets performances interesting sets designed utilize type lighting men agreed continue emphasis unseen implied terror art directors composer regularly worked ghost ship cast contract pictures set fee film ghost ship help fulfill contract effort provided voice leopard man starring role production performance led cast later body worked future film noir star seen modeling clothing catalog motion picture debuts movie sir known singer later influenced career appeared singing roles prior films including walked zombie atmosphere created film contrast murder songs sung board production began august details performances lighting camera angles action effects worked ahead time order film budget help achieve suspense low budget pastor served technical consultant film psychic phenomena picture final fight scene finn mad captain shot lit set suspense audience victor similar way shot similar scene cat people release lawsuit film released theaters christmas eve poster art likely painted film box office sued february claimed script based play submitted possible film suit ghost ship withdrawn theatrical release disputed claim court ruled paid authors damages attorney fees lost future booking right sell film airing television film historian says losing lawsuit deeply disturbed leaving depressed significant period time film release nearly years suit ghost ship package films sold local stations quickly withdrawn film copyright renewed entered public domain 1990s began available film released dvd set reception time initial release film mixed reception positive negative reviews new_york_times enjoyed film calling nice little package wrapped paul calls murder high seas described ghost ship conventional mystery thriller involving number deaths board ship produced customary attention atmosphere script come significant praise captain stone compared captain mutiny captain captain critics pointed stone father son relationship script father figure enraged son seeks murder modern film critics praised picture acting cinematography lighting ability scare actor uniformly praised bringing depth character role captain stone film direction cinematography lighting display depth usually seen cinema won high praise lighting design film historian written scene particular highly effective excellent set piece early film showcases directorial skill creates dynamic sense menace physical object massive giant hook hanging enormous chain inches deck hook remains tightly directed genuinely exciting scene monstrous hook forth direct path camera making wonder cinematographer kept camera head intact shooting lighting great advantage shadows fog terror half time swinging hook hidden darkness aside sway telling direction set design praised suitably direction earned suspense leaving certain actions motives vague scene dies crushed anchor chain left unclear captain stone committed murder trapping parker anchor chain locker merely shut door leaves audience unsure believe accusations captain builds atmosphere paranoia doubt critical picture success contemporary critic pointed film incorporates classic scare tactics new ways trademark scare tactic high point practically films long dark walk sound object threatening ghost ship walk transferred cabin officer pointed device gradual stalking main character murderer touch film modern critics pointed film unlike motion pictures 1940s exclusively male cast avoids man love good woman picture entirely concerned male conflict critic noted end film woman appears shadow fog possibility salvation bringing emotional closure film critics sustained arguments film lengthy coded study homosexuality similar novel focus men men problems led modern critic declare film films hollywood contemporary film programmers high opinion film film forum series horror noir screened ghost ship times walked zombie screened times cat people mere film director chose ghost ship retrospective classic films arguing film genuinely eccentric cinematic revelation ghost ship shown french cable television late 1990s introduced prime example genius presenting unseen horror
The Ghost Ship