The Mystery of the Mary Celeste a.k.a. The Phantom Ship [US title], 1935.
Directed by Denison Clift.
Starring Bela Lugosi, Shirley Grey, Arthur Margetson, Clifford McLaglen, Herbert Cameron and Gunner Moir.
The second film to be produced by Hammer Productions Ltd., The Mystery of the Mary Celeste is a fictionalised account of the doomed merchant ship that was discovered abandoned off the coast of Portugal in 1872. Providing an early cinematic take on the 'ghost ship' narrative, the film stars Hollywood horror icon Bela Lugosi as a member of the ill-fated crew who come to realise that a psychopath is picking them off one at a time.
Originally running at 80 minutes for its UK release, around 18 minutes were removed from the American version (which now appears to be the only remaining cut available) in an effort to increase the mysterious nature of the crew's disappearance, along with a name change to The Phantom Ship. Meanwhile Hammer would make a further three films before entering liquidation in 1937. They would reemerge the following year under the moniker Hammer Film Productions and go on to enjoy its greatest success with the 'Hammer Horror' revolution of the 1950s and 60s.
Embed courtesy of Internet Archive.
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