In early 1933, a German cruise ship leaves port in Mexico, picks up Spanish workers from Cuba and makes its way across the Atlantic back to Germany. On board are passengers who form a microcosm across society.
An interesting ensemble collection of characters with some outstanding performances in this Abby Mann adaptation of Katherine Anne Porter's best selling novel. Yes, the film can be a little heavy handed at times, especially in its presentation of some characters, but the performances shine through. Lee Marvin and Vivien Leigh spar well, with Ms. Leigh in her final screen performance. Heinz Ruhmann is also superb, as are Simone Signoret and Oskar Werner, while Jose Ferrer is at his arrogant best as a racist Nazi supporter. All of this is well directed by Stanley Kramer. Diminutive actor Michael Dunn won an Academy Award as the dwarf, Carl Glocken.
An interesting ensemble collection of characters with some outstanding performances in this Abby Mann adaptation of Katherine Anne Porter's best selling novel. Yes, the film can be a little heavy handed at times, especially in its presentation of some characters, but the performances shine through. Lee Marvin and Vivien Leigh spar well, with Ms. Leigh in her final screen performance. Heinz Ruhmann is also superb, as are Simone Signoret and Oskar Werner, while Jose Ferrer is at his arrogant best as a racist Nazi supporter. All of this is well directed by Stanley Kramer. Diminutive actor Michael Dunn won an Academy Award as the dwarf, Carl Glocken.