☰
Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Ship of Fools

Play trailer Poster for Ship of Fools Released Jul 29, 1965 2h 29m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
63% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
When an eclectic group of passengers boards a cruise ship bound for prewar Germany, they form a microcosm of 1930s society. One passenger, a mysterious countess (Simone Signoret), is headed for a German prison camp. The charming Dr. Schumann (Oskar Werner) harbors a debilitating heart condition. Then there's American divorcée Mary Treadwell (Vivien Leigh), who vainly attempts to outrun time itself. During their weeks at sea, the group forges bonds and rivalries, and unearths secrets.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Ship of Fools

Critics Reviews

View More (24)
William J. Nazzaro Arizona Republic For the most part, despite several extremely fine performances from a large and mostly able cast, it is mainly superficial, pretentious, and obvious. Mar 30, 2022 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Director-producer Stanley Kramer and scenarist Abby Mann have distilled the essence of Katherine Anne Porter's bulky novel in a film that appeals to the intellect and the emotions. Nov 7, 2007 Full Review Tom Milne Time Out Don't look now, but as you might expect with message-mad Kramer at the helm of this adaptation of Katherine Anne Porter's novel, there's a heavy allegory aboard. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Diana Tuova Spotlight on Film Ship of Fools is distinguished by its unusual presentation, incredible cast, and the acting of Simone Signoret and Oskar Werner. Rated: 4/5 Aug 9, 2024 Full Review Elizabeth Hardwick Vogue Each scene in Ship of Fools is interesting enough. What one misses most is a sense of history, that devastation of the thirties and forties toward which the ship of fools and its cargo are steaming. Jun 20, 2023 Full Review Cameron Meier MeierMovies.com In the end, I agreed less with the film’s detractors and more with The New York Times’ Bosley Crowther, who called it a “powerful, ironic film [with a] wealth of reflection upon the human condition.” Rated: 2.75/5 Sep 5, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More (69)
Xian C. Fantastic period piece calling out the prejudice and frailty of this ship of fools. It’s resonates today. Some criticize its length but it’s about a month at sea. Such a voyage could become interminable and the film portrays that. Watch this film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/29/25 Full Review Luis M. D This over ambitious – even pretentious – movie has three main problems. First, it is way too long with nearly 150 minutes time. Second, it is dispersed and unfocused – with too many storylines that are constantly cut and take us some time to familiarize with. And third, some of the stories are ridiculous and intranscendental, which makes the movie boring. If you have the patience you will hear some critical social commentary and enjoy some humor, but I found the whole project unconvincing. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 06/08/24 Full Review nick s Moves very slowly. Great acting but rather inconsequential. I think if you're in the right mood you'll enjoy the social parlay. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/17/24 Full Review CodyZamboni Well intentioned but plodding tale of various passengers and crew members, sailing from Mexico to Germany in 1933. Movie details their regrets, prejudices, naivette of the changing German government, failed relationships, none of which are very compelling. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/29/23 Full Review Thomas O Extremely boring. Nothing but meaningless dialog. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 10/12/22 Full Review georgan g A ship of stars shows the folly of people, whether in their personal lives, relationships, &/or xenophobia. Well acted & written. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Ship of Fools

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

Stanley Kramer

Director

Vivien Leigh

Mary Treadwell

Simone Signoret

La Condesa

Oskar Werner

Dr. Schumann

José Ferrer

Rieber

Lee Marvin

Tenny

More Like This

View All
Darling 73% 70% Darling Watchlist Of Human Bondage 50% 55% Of Human Bondage Watchlist A Patch of Blue 89% 91% A Patch of Blue Watchlist The Pawnbroker 88% 87% The Pawnbroker Watchlist Lilith 86% 62% Lilith Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Ship of Fools

Ship of Fools (1965) Ship of Fools (1965) Ship of Fools (1965) Ship of Fools (1965) Ship of Fools (1965) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When an eclectic group of passengers boards a cruise ship bound for prewar Germany, they form a microcosm of 1930s society. One passenger, a mysterious countess (Simone Signoret), is headed for a German prison camp. The charming Dr. Schumann (Oskar Werner) harbors a debilitating heart condition. Then there's American divorcée Mary Treadwell (Vivien Leigh), who vainly attempts to outrun time itself. During their weeks at sea, the group forges bonds and rivalries, and unearths secrets.
Director
Stanley Kramer
Producer
Stanley Kramer
Screenwriter
Abby Mann
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Stanley Kramer Productions
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 29, 1965, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 25, 2010
Runtime
2h 29m
Most Popular at Home Now