Rating: 
Summary: DVD VERSION NOT IN WIDESCREEN
Review: I don't understand why this movie is not available in widescreen. The movie won an Oscar for Best Cinematography, and at this stage of the DVD game, there's no excuse for a major studio not to release a major movie in its correct theatrical aspect ratio. Not only is this DVD scarce of extras, it's pathetic that the film's visuals are marred by the square/TV format, which is a violation of what DVDs are all about--the good ones: to preserve the integrity of the original film as best possible. This looks like a cleaned up version of the VHS release.Of course, certain movies prior to 1953 (and a few thereafter) were shot in the 1:33 or "full screen" format, but Ship of Fools was released in 1965 at the height of the widescreen spectacles. I don't know if producer/director Stanley Kramer shot the film in the old aspect ratio, but it seems highly unlikely. The DVD reduces this movie to a TV soap opera and not a cinematic experience. I've been waiting for this movie, but Columbia Tri Star has disappointed this collector, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Most of the positive reviews on this page are based on the VHS. Come on, we're in the 21st century. If we're going to pay top dollar for these movies on D-V-D, give us what we expect from D-V-Ds, i.e., a film in its correct aspect ratio. If this were not the only version of the film available on DVD, I'd return it. Is the studio planning to release a "special edition" in widescreen in the future? Who knows? Ship of Fools was an Oscar candidate for Best Picture. I think it's absolutely disrespectful on the part of any studio to release an important film "modified to fit your screen." It's cheap and embarrasing and not in the best interest of the modern viewers. Why not present the film in both full frame AND widescreen? At least that shows some respect for the audience's intelligence. After all, we are not a society of cinema illiterates. If the film was NOT shot in widescreen, then I sincerely apologize for my opinions, because the movie itself is excellent! I hope someone who knows more about it than I do will clarify this.
Rating: 
Summary: A Voyage Not To Be Missed
Review: It's a cliche to say it, but it's true - they don't make movies like this anymore. Ship of Fools is an intelligent film populated by a variety of beautifully drawn characters portrayed by a cast of actors who know the subtle art of making their interior feelings exterior. Abby Mann's splendid script is based on a book by Katherine Anne Porter and makes some of the usual concessions of adaptations - the hunchback in the book becomes a dwarf in the film, for instance. But the themes and passions remain intact - and the characters and their emotions are as involving now as they were when the film was first released back in the sixties. Often called a kind of floating Grand Hotel, the ship of the title is a second rate tub taking its crew and disparate collection of passengers from Mexico to Germany in the uncertain days of the mid-1930's. The impending doom of World War II and the Holocaust loom large for everybody to see, but the mostly self-centered characters remain oblivious to all the omens. Tension and passion are always in the air, but the superb dialogue leaves much of it in the subtext. Of course, any all-star enterprise will succeed or fail on the strength of its performances and Ship of Fools provides more than a single film's worth of acting greatness. Vivien Leigh, at the end of her rollercoaster career, richly deserves her top billing. Her aging coquette may have hints of both Scarlett O'Hara and Blanche Dubois, but she makes her character here equally memorable. Lee Marvin, as a washed-up baseball player, also proves that he could really act when he wanted to. And Jose Ferrer is gloriously over the top as the German businessman eager to embrace Nazi ideals. German actor Heinz Ruehmann is quietly effective and touching as a permanently cheerful Jew ("There are a million Jews in Germany," he says at one point. "What are they going to do - kill us all?"). Michael Dunn as the narrating dwarf maintains a nice air of cynicism. Even the famous flamenco dancer Jose Greco is outstanding in a surprisingly unflattering role. Best of all, however, are Oskar Werner as the ship's disillusioned doctor and Simone Signoret as a drug-addicted political prisoner on her way to an uncertain future. These two - Werner in particular - bring screen acting to new heights and, in their scenes together, make the audience genuinely care for them. I never cease to be thrilled by Werner's performance. On the minus side are George Segal and Elizabeth Ashley - two actors who we all know are capable of being much better. Their cardboard characters and trite dialogue seem to belong to another film. Possibly this pair of bohemians were supposed to appeal to the younger members of the audience. Compared to the rest of the cast, they are an embarrassment and a certain impatience sets in whenever they are on the screen. The film's views and messages may now seem a bit obvious but they are presented with such superlative craftsmanship that you easily forgive a bit of occasional creakiness. There are many wonderful moments to compensate. Such as when Signoret asks Werner if he is happy. Werner smiles slightly, shrugs and replies: "Who is happy?" with such a wealth of world weariness and resignation that he seems to have crammed an entire life (and acting master class) into those few words. Great films, someone once said, are made up of memorable moments. Ship of Fools has more than its fair share of them.
Rating:
Summary: AN INSULT!!!!!!
Review: Pity! A BLATANT insult to the Memory of this milestone mid-sixties production .... SHAME! Rethink, remaster and re-issue the original MASTERPIECE. Blatant sabotage of this work.
Rating:
Summary: ' folly to be wise ......'
Review: Powerful, dramatic adaptation of Katherine Anne Porter's novel about racism and complacency among passengers travelling on a German liner in 1933. Marvelously directed by Stanley Kramer, excellent, Oscar-winning cinematography, and a powerhouse cast, especially Simone Signoret and Oskar Werner.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific, absorbing drama
Review: Powerful, dramatic adaptation of Katherine Anne Porter's novel about racism and complacency among passengers travelling on a German liner in 1933. Marvelously directed by Stanley Kramer, excellent, Oscar-winning cinematography, and a powerhouse cast, especially Simone Signoret and Oskar Werner.
Rating:
Summary: Vivien`s last film. but 1 of her best:)(:
Review: SHIP OF FOOLS is the swansong of Vivien Leigh. She was to die 2 years later of TB at the age of 53. As Mary Treadwell Vivien gives a tour de force of a performance... of a lonely middleaged woman - who drinks - and doesn`t like the age she has entered... The title says it all. You`ll c all kinds of "fools" in this film, though not homosexuals(Ok, 1 scene maybe - the doctor and the captain).... All other minoroties are represented... Vivien`s role is relatively small and is equalled in brilliance by Simone Signoret, Oskar Werner, Jose Ferrer, Lee Marvin and Alf Kjellin. It is a great film, never to be missed:-)
Rating:
Summary: ' folly to be wise ......'
Review: STILL memorable after almost 40 years, and richly nominated, this slightly butchered version of the original lavish wide-screen masterpiece is still fairly effective. ESPECIALLY Vivien Leigh - possibly condensing the essence of her tumultuous life in this vignette - the Charleston sequence leading up to her 'mirror-monologue' is s stunning piece of work! AS is the romance between Simone Signoret and the lamented Oskar Werner [they broke the mould here ~ just revisit that death scene and the grand economy]. IN ANY CASE - there's so much more to this little tale of misplaced strangers circa 1930ish on their way back to the fatherland [Germany] before 'you know who' really plunged it all into the toilet! Costume design, cinematography, score [just WHERE is that album?], direction - all superior ~ cannot be duplicated today! AND where is the original wide-screen version - with that great title sequence - slightly lost on us with this version?
Would great to have the choices....an interview or two perhaps .. and the ORIGINAL Theatrical Trailer?? Oh yes - the title? Refers to an old habit of removing the mentally impaired from dry-land and confining them shipboard - then there's also the Hieronymus Bosch painting .......
Rating: 
Summary: SHIP OF FOOLS - LAST OF VIVIEN LEIGH
Review: The performances survive in this film. Standouts are VIVIEN LEIGH, Simone Signoret, Oskar Werner and Alf Kjellin.
Rating:
Summary: Looking For Fulfillment and Purpose
Review: The setting of this tale is a ship en route from Mexico to Germany in 1933, carrying a disparate group of people, many of whom are unhappy or unfulfilled, living in a time of great political uncertainty. Oskar Werner is the ship's doctor who considers his life a failure and dull, until he meets drug-addicted Simone Signoret, on her way to political imprisonment. They are the standout performers in this film, delivering heartfelt and touching performances, sometimes just needing a knowing glance to communicate so much. Vivien Leigh is terrific as a southern divorcee, bitter about life, men, and marriage, who has some strange encounters aboard, especially with Lee Marvin, an aging ex-athlete who never achieved the glory he wanted. Jose Ferrer pulls out all the stops as an anti-Semitic Nazi sympathizer, who stirs up trouble and alienates almost everyone with his crassness and attitude. George Segal and Elizabeth Ashley star as lovers at odds with each other, but their part of the story is the least interesting. Michael Dunn as a philosophic dwarf and Heinz Ruhmann as a tolerant, kindly Jew also contribute good performances, and if you look carefully, you will also see Kaaren Verne, an actress from Warner Brothers' heyday (All Through The Night, Kings Row) in the role of an insecure girl's mother. The film is fairly long, but it moves along well, since most of the characters are so interestingly drawn and acted, and there is also a good amount of action on board as people go through various crises. Credit goes to director Stanley Kramer for balancing the storyline and ensemble cast so well, and for creating an effective atmosphere that reflects the mood and the real sense of the world at that time in history just before so much would change. It's a classy film.
Rating:
Summary: Great work
Review: This ship is carring all the characters one meets in life. Lee Marvin is great. When you watch this one, watch it closely, if you do not you will miss so much. One of my all time favorites.
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