Ship of the Dead (Das Totenschiff)
Friday, September 28, 4:00 pm
Castro Theatre
Special Screening — Mario Adorf Tribute
Based on the 1926 novel by B. Traven: After a line of mischief Philip Gale (Horst Buchholz), an American sailor, is lured into hiring on the “Yorikke”, a tramp cargo, by Lawski (Mario Adorf), a stoker from Poland. Still, the two become friends within the motley crew of losers from all nations. Gale and his new companion soon are more than disillusioned: the “Yorikke” is far from seaworthy and more of a coffin than a ship, work is close to slavery, and treatment by the officers and their subalterns is harsh and cynical. One day they make an alarming discovery in a tin of plum butter they have procured from the ship’s cargo.
West Germany, Mexico (1959), 97min. (35mm film projection)
In German with English subtitles
Director: Georg Tressler
Screenwriters: Hans Jacoby, Werner Jörg Lüddecke
Cast: Horst Buchholz, Mario Adorf, Helmut Schmid
Print Courtesy of: Goethe-Institut, Munich
Director Georg Tressler was born in Vienna in 1917. Also a film actor, he directed nearly 80 films, including the memorable classic Teenage Wolfpack. His 1966 film Der Weibsteufel competed for the Golden Bear at the 16th Berlinale. He died on January 6, 2007 in Saxony, three weeks before his 90th birthday.
