Dad's Movies: "The Ghost Ship"

 Up today:  The Ghost Ship (1943)

This is an interesting entry in the 1940s Val Lewton series of horror movies though it isn't really a horror show. I'd call it more of a psychological thriller, a term that possibly didn't exist in the 1940s or at least not in the way we'd think of them. 

Really, this is about a mad sea captain and the relationships he has, particularly with his new third officer. There is an easy read of repressed homosexuality in this story though the film works on more levels than that which makes it far more interesting. 

Richard Dix, who was nearing the end of his career as an action movie star, is really good in this and from what I can tell, plays a very different character than he had before. The performance is pretty subtle and menacing. It's so tempting in these kinds of movies for these characters to be played over the top: not here. The guy playing the third officer, Russell Wade, does the job but comes off as pretty stiff. There are some good character actors playing the crewmen, like the calypso singer Sir Lancelot (whom I recently saw in "To Have And Have Not" and "Brute Force"). The guy who plays the deaf crewman (don't fuck with this guy!) is great as well. 

The other interesting part of this film is that due to a lawsuit, it was withdrawn from circulation for almost 50 years just after it was released so it appearing is very cool. Someone remembered it. Oh, and the title is pretty deceptive as it's not really a movie about a haunted ship. Sad.

I'm pretty sure Dad had a copy of this as it was part of a set that included the film "Bedlam" which he liked (another Lewton horror movie). As always, I wish I could talk to him about this one.

Songs I Didn't Skip (Part 30)

30? That's a LOT of sequels!


"Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" by The Smiths (1987)

A great, if depressing song about shitty people and booze. I love the guitar sound on this track.

"Rider in the Rain" by Randy Newman (1977)

If this sounds kind of like an Eagles song, it's because Frey/Henley are singing on it.

"Mhórag 's na Horo Gheallaidh" by Clannad (1993)

Before Enya became the voice that launched a thousand cruise ships, she was in this Irish vocal group.

"Sara Smile" by Hall & Oates (1975)

Even a "casual fan" like me can respect this 70s classic.

"Sibella" by Richard Thompson (1998)

Another bitter flavored love song...I think.

"La La La" by The Bird and the Bee" (2007)

This duo's songs really sound great with fun studio-produced music and I love the sound of Inara George's voice.

"San Tropez" by Pink Floyd (1971)

This is a bit goofy. If I'd heard this without knowing anything about it, I'd likely never guess it was a Pink Floyd track.

"Even Better Than the Real Thing" by U2 (1992)

Another good, basic U2 pop song. I tend to appreciate this band more when it's just a single catchy track like this which allows me to ignore their self-important image.

"One Bourbon, One Scotch, and One Beer" by John Lee Hooker (1966)

This song really gets to the point: your lover leaves you and you go to the bar to get pissed with the booze combo pack.

"IGY" by Donald Fagen (1982)

What kind of nerd writes a song about the International Geophysical Year? Oh yeah, the co-founder of Steely Dan. This, like much of the rest of Fagen's first solo LP (it's old so I am calling it an LP!) has a lot of the Dan style with a touch less of the biting sarcasm. The sound of the album has always been a bit flat to me. I used to chalk this up to it being recorded on early digital equipment but I think it's just the way Fagen and co. wanted it. It's a good song, even if the early 80s synths and "synth blues harp" are a bit much.

"Can't Get Enough" by Bad Company (1974)

This song just screams, "BAR BAND".

"Dream Operator" by Talking Heads (1986)

From one of the band's later and lesser albums. The album itself is uneven but this track and a couple of others are really great. It might be the only Talking Heads song done as a waltz.

"The Big Money" by Rush (1985)

There's Geddy singing about our society again.

"Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers (2006)

Hey look, it's a song that references Minnesota AND the Badlands (though I gather they're talking about North Dakota but I'll take it).

"Easy Does It" by Supertramp (1975)

A short but sweet opening to one of the band's lesser-known albums.

"Dear Prudence (Esher demo version) by The Beatles (1968)

Hearing a song like this in its early, stripped down form, is usually interesting and in this case make me appreciate how much the rest of the band added to the album track. The song feels pretty empty without Paul's bass lines.

"Rose of Cimarron" by Emmylou Harris (1981)

Harris has such a distinctive voice that cuts through this very retro Western song.

"Run Through the Jungle" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)

I'm sure there's a Big Lebowski line I should be quoting but the one thing I will say is that I always assumed this song was about Vietnam: apparently it's about gun control.

"Smokin'" by Boston (1976)

Gee Wally, I don't think they're talking about cigarettes! This rocks pretty well for what was mostly one guy recording everything but the vocals in his basement. He does play a mean Hammond B3.

"Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra (1977)

One of the best of Jeff Lynne's musical creations. It's an epic. The strings were conducted by Louis Clark, who went on to get his fame with the Hooked On Classics albums. The universe is truly just.