After a line of mischief Philip Gale, an American sailor, is lured into hiring on the "Yorikke", a tramp cargo, by Lawski, a stoker from Poland. Still, the two become friends within the motley crew of losers from all nations. Gale and his new companion soon are more than disillusioned: the "Yorikke" is far from seaworthy and more of a coffin than a ship, work is close to slavery, and treatment by the officers and their subalterns is harsh and cynical. One day they make an alarming discovery in a tin of plum butter they have procured from the ship's cargo... Written by Anonymous
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Cast
16 people
Horst Buchholz
Philip Gale, Amerikanischer Seeman
Known for
Life Is Beautiful
One, Two, Three
Mario Adorf
Lawski, Polnischer Kohlenschlepper
Known for
The Tin Drum
The Italian Connection
Helmut Schmid
Martin, Heizer auf der Yorikke
Also in
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
The Head
Alf Marholm
Kapitän der Yorikke
Also in
Die Schwarzwaldklinik
Percy Stuart
Werner Buttler
Dils, 1. Ingenieu
Also in
The Strange Countess
Stahlnetz
Elke Sommer
Mylène Loureau
Known for
A Shot in the Dark
Lisa and the Devil
Karl Lieffen
belgischer Kripobeamter
Known for
One, Two, Three
Otto - The Movie
Kurt Pratsch-Kaufmann
belgischer Polizist
Also in
Ein Mann will nach oben
Wilhelmina
Alfred Balthoff
Henri Ballard, Passfälscher
Also in
Hauptbahnhof München
Gesucht wird Mörder X
Albert Bessler
amerikan. Konsul in Rotterdam
Known for
The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse
Günter Meisner
Paul
Known for
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
In a Glass Cage
Panos Papadopulos
Popoff
Known for
For a Few Dollars More
Fedora
Georg Tressler Director · Hans Jacoby Screenplay Werner Jörg Lüddecke Screenplay
First release October 1, 1959 · Produced in Germany, Mexico · Production Producciones José Kohn, Universum Film (UFA)
Production
UFA
Production
Producciones José Kohn
Production
Universum Film (UFA)
Production
Germany · Mexico
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Das Totenschiff
Original language
German
Spoken on screen
German
Release dates
Germany · October 1, 1959
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
France
May 9, 1962 · Theatrical
January 29, 2018 · TV · (2014's restoration) Arte
January 5, 2026 · Digital · Arte•tv
January 5, 2026 · TV · Arte
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