Voyage of the Damned (1976)

VHS CASE/SIDE

Length of film: 155 Minutes (Extended Edition: 182 Minutes)

Rated: AA

Genre: Drama, War

Director: Stuart Rosenberg

Starring: Faye Dunaway, Max Von Sydow, Oskar Werner, Malcolm McDowell, Orson Welles, James Mason, Lee Grant, Katharine Ross

IMDB Rank: 6.4/10

Part 1 Time:  103 Minutes (Extended Edition: N/A Minutes)

Part 2 Time:  52 Minutes (Extended Edition: N/A Minutes)

***Suggested break if viewing in DVD format is at the start of chapter 17, approximately 104 minutes into the film.

Where does the first part end? Captain Schroeder (Max Von Sydow) looks down at a picture of his family following his conversation with Robert Hoffman (Günter Meisner).

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “It has been a most successful exercise. Good day Captain.” Robert Hoffman concludes his conversation explaining the real reason behind not allowing the Jewish passengers to disembark in Cuba.

First line of dialogue on the second part: In the opening scene of part two there is no dialogue, as it shows the crowds forming within the harbour surrounding the MS St Louis. Dialogue begins in the following scene between Dr. Juan Remos (James Mason) and Dr. Erich Strauss (Victor Spinetti). “I can’t tell you how many phone calls I’ve had from colleagues and ministers imploring me to agree to this meeting, all due, I believe to a friend of yours.”

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Jarring, with Robert Hoffman’s explanation into the purpose of letting 937 Jewish people leave Germany aboard the MS St Louis shows not only the deception of the Nazis, but also the propaganda they hope to spread throughout the world against the Jewish people. With Cuba not allowing entry of the Jewish passengers will other countries intervene?

Which part is better? Part two is slightly better as stress and desperation begin to overtake the MS St Louis causing its passengers to make rash decisions. Captain Schroeder continues to show his leadership as he does everything in his power to not return the ship to Hamburg, Germany.

Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Nominated- Lee Grant), Best Writing- Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Nominated), Best Music- Original Score (Nominated)