Ghost Ship

Ghost Ship

Year: 1952

Runtime: 75 mins

Language: English

Director: Vernon Sewell

ThrillerHorror

After being warned that a derelict vessel is cursed, a skeptical young couple purchase the rundown yacht and restore it as their floating home. Soon strange occurrences begin, including a dead man's voice, forcing them to confront the ship’s terrifying secret and the reality of its haunting.

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Timeline & Setting – Ghost Ship (1952)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Ghost Ship (1952). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Postwar era

The events unfold after a war, blending a postwar appetite for ambition with lingering suspicion. The era is suggested by the presence of experimental gadgets on the yacht, like automatic gyro steering, and by the characters’ cautious approach to technology and safety.

Location

Cyclops, Deauville, shipyard

The action centers on the steam yacht Cyclops, a vessel with a murky past that Guy and Margaret intend to renovate as their home. Much of the story unfolds aboard the Cyclops, with the shipyard where its history is recounted providing the menacing backdrop of its beginnings. The dreamed voyage to Deauville frames the tension as the couple confronts the yacht's reputation while preparing to set sail.

🏗️ Shipyard 🚢 Yacht 🌊 Coastal setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:43

Main Characters – Ghost Ship (1952)

Meet the key characters of Ghost Ship (1952), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Margaret Thornton (Hazel Court)

A newlywed couple who plans to renovate the steam yacht Cyclops as their home. As unsettling events unfold, she moves from curiosity to belief in a supernatural presence, seeking help from investigators. Her resolve shifts as she weighs skepticism against the eerie signals that plague the yacht.

🏠 Homeowner 😰 Fearful 🔎 Curious

Guy Thornton (Dermot Walsh)

Margaret’s husband, eager to acquire the Cyclops but initially skeptical of any haunting. He takes action to secure the yacht, hiring a deckhand and engineers, while trying to maintain rational control over the situation. His practical approach is challenged as strange events escalate.

🛠️ Builder 🤔 Skeptic 🧭 Adventurer

Professor Martineau (John Robinson)

The late atomic scientist who owned the Cyclops and installed advanced gadgets on board. His involvement with others in an affair and his subsequent actions drive the central mystery, and his past actions set the stage for the yacht’s deadly secrets.

🧪 Scientist 💡 Ambitious 🕵️‍♂️ Mysterious

Mrs. Martineau (Joan Carol)

Martineau’s wife who is revealed to have plotted an affair and conspired with Peter to kill Martineau. Her role highlights the theme of deceit within intimate relationships and the lengths people will go to for money or freedom.

💔 Affairs 🕵️‍♀️ Suspicious 🔒 Secrets

Peter (Hugh Latimer)

The yacht’s engineer who becomes entangled in the affair with Mrs. Martineau. He is implicated in the murder plot when confronted, and his relationship with the Martineaus exposes the crew’s fragility and the peril of hidden motives.

⚙️ Engineer 💔 Affair 🕯️ Secrets

Dr. Fawcett (Hugh Burden)

Paranormal investigator hired to assess the yacht’s psychic activity. He senses a strong presence aboard and leads the séance, bridging scientific inquiry with occult inquiry as the truth about the murders emerges.

👁️ Psychic 🔮 Investigator 🕯️ Skeptic turned believer

Mansel (Joss Ambler)

The yard’s deckhand who aides Guy with repairs and maintenance, dismissing haunting rumors at first. He is revealed to be Martineau in disguise and ultimately commits suicide, marking a dramatic twist and the culmination of the deception.

🧭 Deceptive 🗝️ Hidden identity 💔 Traumatic

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:43

Major Themes – Ghost Ship (1952)

Explore the central themes of Ghost Ship (1952), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👻 Haunting

A mysterious, possibly supernatural presence lingers aboard the Cyclops. Smelled cigar smoke and sudden apparitions heighten fear and tension for Guy and Margaret. The haunting ultimately intersects with human deceit, revealing that what seems otherworldly is rooted in murder and manipulation.

🔎 Investigation

The story threads together multiple inquiries: the Yard Manager’s hints, Dr. Fawcett’s psychic assessment, and the seance that uncovers the truth. Rational inquiry clashes with supernatural suggestion as the team traces strange signals back to the yacht’s past. The investigation reveals motive, murder, and the tangled history of the Cyclops.

🎭 Deception

The plot is driven by layers of deception: a hidden affair, a staged haunting, and a person in disguise. Mansel’s loyalty and identity are called into question as it’s revealed he is actually Martineau in disguise. The truth reframes earlier events, showing how fear can be weaponized to cover murder.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:43

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Don't stop at just watching — explore Ghost Ship in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Ghost Ship is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Ghost Ship Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Ghost Ship, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Ghost Ship Summary

Ghost Ship Timeline

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Ghost Ship Timeline

More About Ghost Ship

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