The underlying theme of The Ship That Died of Shame was the difficulty faced by many servicemen as they returned to civilian life after the war. For its first American run the film was retitled P.T. Raiders and had almost 15 minutes cut from its running length. The original title and full running time have since been restored.
Among several fine performances, 32-year-old Richard Attenborough's role as a small-time crook won special praise. An actor from the age of 12, Attenborough made his film debut at 19 and played a variety of roles in British (and later Hollywood) movies. He began directing films in 1969 with Oh! What a Lovely War and won an Oscar as Best Director for Gandhi in 1982. Knighted in 1976, Attenborough is probably best-known to American audiences as the crazed billionaire owner of the dinosaur-filled amusement park in the Jurassic Park movies.
Producer: Michael Relph
Director: Basil Dearden, Michael Relph
Screenplay: Basil Dearden, Michael Relph, John Whiting, from the novel by Nicholas Monsarrat
Cinematography: Gordon Dines
Art Direction: Bernard Robinson
Original Music: William Alwyn
Editing: Peter Bezencenet
Principal Cast: Richard Attenborough (George Hoskins), George Baker (Bill Randall), John Chandos (Raines), Roland Culver (Fordyce), Virginia McKenna (Helen), Bernard Lee (Customs Officer), Bill Owen (Birdie), Ralph Truman (Sir Richard).
BW-91m.
by Roger Fristoe
