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Ship of Fools Review:
Ship of Fools was both lauded and derided for its seriousness of purpose when initially released, and like many of director Stanley Kramer's films, it deserves both reactions. As is frequently the case, Kramer concentrates more on making a statement than he should (and, consequently, less on making a movie than he should), and his sometimes "art-y" pretensions ultimately only add to the soap opera-ish elements of the story. However, if one looks past the overly serious tone and the failed allegorical aspects of Fools, one is left with a highly enjoyable, glossy old-Hollywood style movie that is quite enjoyable, if a bit long. While much of the dialogue is artificial, that artifice seems of a piece with the style of the movie, and it does allow a number of first rate actors the chance to show off their stuff. Indeed, it is the cast -- as well as the lustrous cinematography of Ernest Laszlo and the impressive physical production -- that make Fools so enjoyable. Chief honors among a generally strong ensemble go to Simone Signoret, Oskar Werner,Vivien Leigh and Michael Dunn, each of whom clearly knows what buttons to push and doesn't hesitate to push them. Fools may not be as meaningful a film as it wants to be, but it's an engrossing and tremendously entertaining melodrama. Craig Butler, All Movie Guide