SLAVE SHIP (1937)

Slave Ship is a 1937 American historical adventure film directed by Tay Garnett and starring Warner Baxter, Wallace Beery and Elizabeth Allan. The supporting cast features Mickey Rooney, George Sanders, Jane Darwell, and Joseph Schildkraut. It is one of very few films out of the forty-eight that Beery made during the sound era for which he did not receive top billing.

PLOT
When the film begins, you see a heavy-handed scene where it's meant to illustrate that the ship in the picture is cursed. After the deaths of many of its crew due to illnesses and accidents, the ship is sold very cheaply. The new mission of this merchant ship is to illegally transport slaves to America--something banned both by the British and United Stares for most of the 19th century. Captain Lovett (Warner Baxter) and his crew are out to illegally transport more Africans to a life of slavery. The Captain seems to hate this life...but he does it and is responsible for much wickedness. As for his crew, his First Mate (Wallce Beery) seems to adore the life!

Following this trip, the Captain meets a decent lady and falls in love. He decides to give up the life and go straight--transporting normal commercial goods instead of slavery. However, after order his First Mate to fire the old crew and hire all new non-slavers, he is tricked...and soon after the ship with him and his bride leaves port, he finds he is no longer in charge of the ship and the Mate intends for them to return to Africa for more slaves! At the risk of his life and that of his bride, the Captain fights his men and tries to do the right thing. But it's just him and an inexperienced woman against an entire crew! What are their chances?
CAST
Warner Baxter as Jim Lovett
Wallace Beery as Jack Thompson
Elizabeth Allan as Nancy Marlowe
Mickey Rooney as Swifty
George Sanders as Lefty
Jane Darwell as Mrs. Marlowe
Joseph Schildkraut as Danelo
Miles Mander as Corey
Arthur Hohl as Grimes
Douglas Scott as Young Boy at Launching
Minna Gombell as Mabel
Billy Bevan as Atkins
Francis Ford as Scraps
Jane Jones as Ma Belcher
J. Farrell MacDonald as Proprietor
J. P. McGowan as Helmsman
DeWitt Jennings as Snodgrass
Paul Hurst as Drunk
Dorothy Christy as Blonde
Charles B. Middleton as Slave Dealer
Dewey Robinson as Bartender
Holmes Herbert as Commander
Edwin Maxwell as Auctioneer
Herbert Heywood as Old Man at Launching
Winter Hall as Minister
Marilyn Knowlden as Christener at Launching
Arthur Aylesworth as Stranger