The Decks Ran Red

The Decks Ran Red (also called Infamy) is a 1958 MGM American seagoing suspense drama film based on the book Infamy at Sea, and directed by Andrew L. Stone. The feature starred James Mason, Dorothy Dandridge, Broderick Crawford, and Stuart Whitman.

The Decks Ran Red
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAndrew L. Stone
Written byAndrew L. Stone
Produced byAndrew L. Stone
Virginia L. Stone
StarringJames Mason
Dorothy Dandridge
Broderick Crawford
Stuart Whitman
CinematographyMeredith M. Nicholson
Edited byVirginia L. Stone
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • October 10, 1958 (1958-10-10) (U.S.)
Running time
84 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$593,000[1]
Box office$800,000[1]
Dorothy Dandridge

The film received generally poor reviews, but received wide viewership for Dorothy Dandridge's role. Filming took place in southern California aboard the Chios, Greece-registered SS Igor (originally the Philip C. Shera), a World War II Liberty Ship owned by the Los and Pezas shipowning families.

Plot

When the captain of the merchant vessel S.S. Berwind dies, Ed Rummill (James Mason) is offered the job. He accepts, even as he is warned of recent problems aboard the ship, now moored at New Zealand. Those problems involve two of the ship's crew members, Henry Scott (Broderick Crawford) and Leroy Martin (Stuart Whitman). The two have hatched an elaborate plot that includes a million-dollar payoff. They intend to anger the crew into mutiny, killing the officers (and eventually the rest of the crew) to make it appear they abandoned a sinking ship, thus leaving Scott in possession of a vessel which, according to maritime law, can be sold off for salvage value.

While still in port, the company's cook, along with two other seamen, have had enough of the Berwind and decide to jump ship. In order to replace them, Captain Rummill authorizes the hiring of a Maori cook (Joel Fluellen) and his young wife (Dorothy Dandridge) to work in the ship's galley as replacements. This turns out to be the new skipper's first mistake. The cook's wife is, to cite Rummill himself, "exotically beautiful." Scott decides to use the woman as a catalyst to stir up more animosity among the crew.

After the ship has sailed, however, the crew refuse to join Scott and Leroy's mutiny. Disappointed, the two retrieve a rifle and handgun they have smuggled aboard. They proceed to shoot 4 of their co-workers and secure the engine room for themselves. In a short time, Rummill and the officers realize no one in the engine room can be contacted. It also becomes apparent that the engine is slowing, due to the ship taking on water as part of Scott's plan to make it appear the crew abandoned a sinking ship. The captain orders that the crew not be informed of this. That way, they won't go for the lifeboats and risk being sniped at by the two muntineers. Meanwhile, a frustrated Scott uses his rifle to pick off additional crew members, starting with the ship's bridge and working his way down. Thus, will Ed Rummill's first command turn out to be his last? Or can he organize the officers and men, largely unarmed, to regain control of the vessel?

Cast

Reception

According to MGM records the film earned $365,000 in the US and Canada and $435,000 elsewhere resulting in a loss of $273,000.[1]

References
  1. The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
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