The Ship That Died of Shame

The Ship That Died of Shame released in the United States as PT Raiders is a black-and-white 1955 Ealing Studios crime film starring George Baker, Richard Attenborough and Bill Owen.

It is based on a story written by Nicholas Monsarrat (better known as the author of The Cruel Sea). It was originally published in Lilliput magazine in 1952. It was later published in a collection of short stories (The Ship That Died of Shame and other stories, 1959, ISBN 0330104993).

Plot

The 1087 is a British Royal Navy motor gun boat that faithfully sees its crew through the worst that World War II can throw at them. After the end of the war, George Hoskins (Richard Attenborough) convinces former skipper Bill Randall (George Baker) and Birdie (Bill Owen) to buy their beloved boat and use it for some harmless, minor smuggling of black market items like wine. But they find themselves transporting ever more sinister cargoes; counterfeit currency and weapons. Though their craft had been utterly reliable and never let them down in wartime, it begins to break down frequently, as if ashamed of its current use. The crew revolt when they are used in the escape of a child murderer and (probable) paedophile.

Cast

• Richard Attenborough as George Hoskins
• George Baker as Bill Randall
• Bill Owen as Birdie
• Virginia McKenna as Helen Randall
• Roland Culver as Major Fordyce
• Bernard Lee as Customs Officer Brewster
• Ralph Truman as Sir Richard
• John Chandos as Raines
• Harold Goodwin as Customs officer

External links

• The Ship That Died of Shame at the Internet Movie Database