Vintage Classic Collection Adds The Ship That Died Of Shame

Next month (29th August) would be Richard Attenborough’s centenary. Studiocanal will celebrate the landmark with the release of a newly restored version of the classic 1955 British crime drama, The Ship That Died Of Shame.

The film will be the latest Ealing Studios film to the ever-expanding Vintage Classics Collection. Set for release in Blu-ray for the first time in the UK, along with DVD and Digital formats.

Based on a short story by Nicholas Monsarrat (‘The Cruel Sea’), written, directed by Ealing stalwart Basil Dearden and starring Attenborough next to George Baker (I Claudius, DCI Wrexford in ‘Ruth Rendell Mysteries’), Bill Owen (Georgy girl, ‘Last of the Summer Wine’) and Roland Culver (To Each His Own, The Teckman Mystery), The film is a rare document of a bewildered British masculinity in the post-war years.

There isn’t a Trailer released to promote this film, here’s a clip instead…

The ‘1087’ is a British Royal Navy boat that navigates its crew through the worst that World War II can throw at them. With war over, George Hoskins (Richard Attenborough) convinces former skipper Bill Randall (George Baker) and Birdie (Bill Owen) to buy their old boat and use it for what he persuades them is some ‘harmless’ smuggling to supply the black market.

Soon, however, the crew find themselves mixed up with the corrupt Major Fordyce (Roland Culver) who leads them to transport ever-more sinister cargoes, including counterfeit currency and weapons. As the jobs become more nefarious, the once robust and reliable 1087 begins to protest and frequently breaks down, seemingly mirroring the crew’s descent into the criminal underworld…

The extras included an Interview with Author/Professor of Film Neil Sinyard, plus a behind the Scenes Stills Gallery.

The Ship That Died Of Shame will be released in the UK and Ireland on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital from 11th September.