The Mystery of the Mary Celeste (partially lost British print of Bela Lugosi horror film; 1935)

The film's poster

Status: Partially Lost

The Mystery of the Mary Celeste is a 1935 British horror-mystery film starring Bela Lugosi, Shirley Grey & Arthur Margetson and directed by Dension Clift in his last directorial role. It's notable as Hammer Film Productions' first horror film. Hammer would later go on to make several classic horror films from the 1950s to the 70s. The film is based on the story of the Mary Celeste, a Canadian ship that was discovered undisturbed yet deserted in the Atlantic Ocean on December 4th, 1872. Her crew also disappeared mysteriously and were never found or heard of again.

Plot

Captain Briggs and Captain Morehead share a close friendship. However, their bond is tested when they both fall in love with Sarah Briggs. Despite Morehead's jealousy, Sarah chooses to marry Briggs, even if it means the end of their friendship. As they prepare to set sail, Briggs finds himself short on the crew and asks Morehead for forgiveness and assistance. Morehead agrees, but instead of sending help, he sends a man named Volkerk Grot to sabotage the ship. Briggs also recruits other men, including Anton Lorenzen, a sailor who's on the verge of a breakdown.

Once the voyage begins, the crew discovers that there is a murderer among them, targeting and eliminating the members one by one. In the midst of the chaos, Sarah is almost assaulted, but Lorenzen intervenes and saves her by killing the attacker. However, he is deeply affected by the act of taking a life and is overwhelmed with guilt.

Eventually, everyone except for 1st mate Bilson, Lorenzen, and another crewmember named Ponta Katz, either dies or disappears. The remaining trio suspects that one of them is the killer. Katz realizes that Lorenzen is too gentle to be the murderer and chases after Bilson. In a confrontation, Bilson shoots Katz and revels in his victory, believing himself to be the new captain of the ship.

Lorenzen, consumed by anger, reveals to Bilson that he was shanghaied on the same ship six years ago and that he orchestrated the murders as a means of revenge. He then shoots Bilson and throws him overboard. However, in his frenzy, Lorenzen is struck on the head by the boom and in his madness, jumps off the ship in search of Bilson.

The film ends with Morehead handing his payment to Grot, commenting "I am thinking of Briggs and her, dead!".

Production

This was Bela Lugosi's first film in Britain, being shot in between the American "The Raven" & "The Invisible Ray". It was also one of Hammer's 4 total films made during the 1930s. . It's also the first time veteran assistant director Tilly Day, received an on-screen credit for her work on the film, despite having worked in film for 18 years at that point. She described her experience working on the film in a interview:

"In those days you’d work seven days a week if necessary, and no extra pay! One Sunday, after shooting, we had a great picnic on the Thames. Most of the cast were there, including co-stars Arthur Margetson, Shirley Grey and Jim Wills (Art Director J. Elder Wills). Now, Jim was terribly in love with Shirley, and had brought a huge wicker basket with food and champagne for them to share on his little boat on the river. Then he saw another boat pass him by on the Thames, and Shirley was on it with Arthur Margetson! He was absolutely furious and, screaming at the top of his voice, flung his basket into the Thames! We all felt sorry for him. Shirley and Arthur got married, eventually; his fourth and her third marriage."

Preservation Status

Today, only a print of the 1936 American release, "The Phantom Ship", which omits the original opening & end of the film & clocks in at 62 minutes is known to survive. The original British release, which was around 80 minutes, is now considered lost.

Gallery

The Phantom Ship (1936) - The lone surviving version of the film.