THE HELL SHIP - a story from the sea
by Hjalmar Bergman
Directed by Victor Sjöström
Cinematography by J. Julius
The first part tells the story of Jan Steen's return -
he who was the skipper of the schooner The Future.
The mother - Ida Blumenthal
And dad is sailing the blue, blue sea -
He returned to harbor last night and is travelling straight home by train.
He could be here anytime!
Daddy's coming. We will cry no more.
It couldn't be said that we met just yesterday
I guess you've forgotten all about me, now that you're a wife and a mother
Certainly not, Dick.
But I'm so happy that Jan is returning home today,
so you must understand that I'm in a hurry
You mustn't go before seeing Lill-Britt!
She might be full-rigged all the time, but she's not as grand as you
Strange winds must be blowing here since you're adrift on dry land
A headwind, of course.
I have only met headwinds since I saw Ann-Britt last.
Don't you look at Ann-Britt like that - those days are long gone!
Have a drink instead!
If you're out of a job again,
maybe you could sign on with Jan on The Future, you loiterer!
I'll speak with Jan, even today!
Thanks for the offer, but I'll only accept if things get really tight.
Let me go, Dick! You mustn't!
If only you knew how we have longed for you!
You know, me and Lill-Britt!
You should prick me with it first! Or else it means bad luck!
That's Dick! Have we never mentioned Dick to you?
It seems to me that I heard that name just recently
He's a loiterer, but you are going to help him, Jan,
and have him sign on your ship.
If only because he helped me and Ann-Britt when Pa died.
I have no use for sluggards on board - nor in my home!
Maybe I'm a sluggard, but that's all the better for you!
Or else Ann-Britt may have ended up marrying me instead!
I'm saying 'may have' - as Ann-Britt had plenty of suitors.
But maybe only one of them was a skipper with his own ship.
"Welcome"
Why did you pick me if there were plenty of suitors around, Ann-Britt?
Why wouldn't she pick a stately guy like you,
who was also the skipper of this own ship!
It's true that sailors shouldn't set foot on land.
On board he has only pleasant dreams - but at home -
Wreckage! Merely wreckage!
You know full well that I belong to you! You know that I'm all yours!
Then you shall prove it by accompanying me on my travels!
Dick's mother - Tekla Åhlander
The old dame was sheltered by Dick's cousin,
who nursed her as well as she could.
His steps are so slow - he must be unhappy
Can you guess who I ran into today, mother?
Ann-Britt and her husband!
They received me so kindly!
And they asked how you were doing, of course!
You don't have to put up an act for me, Dick.
Because I can tell if you are happy or sad
only by listening to your steps in the street.
There was no work for me to be had there.
But now I'll try here instead.
I'll talk with Roff the shipbroker tonight.
End of the first part
Shipbroker J.B. Roff, a man with a bad reputation.
You'll see that Roff has a job for me, mom!
I have a hunch that I'll bring back some good news!
That would be fine, son. One sleeps well when news is good.
I'll take any job -
even if it involves shoveling coal for the fires in Hell.
There's nothing available I'm afraid.
Come back in a year or two, and I may have something for you.
I saw that you know Roff.
Maybe you also know that he is a real bastard!
I sure do! But that's his own business.
Dick will have to accept any offer.
We owe you so much money already
not to mention all our gratitude
By the way, I think Dick should consider marrying.
Old love doesn't rust, they say.
I don't think that Dick will forget about Ann-Britt so soon.
We've had our suspicions, but haven't managed to produce any evidence yet.
The next time Roff supplies a ship,
we'll have a man on board. It will have to be a sailor, of course.
Am I going to be a spy in my old age?
The important thing is you get a job and decent salary.
Here is a list of skippers that Roff usually works with.
And then there's Jan Steen on The Future. He also takes cargo
In other words, you're saying that Jan Steen is a rogue as well?
Roff has turned better men than Jan Steen into crooks.
If you had asked me to go and give Jan Steen an honest slap in the face,
I might have done so - free of charge
Because I can't say that I love the guy like a brother.
That would be a lie
but if someone claims that Jan Steen is dishonest
he'll be the one who gets slapped!
His step is fast - he must bring good news
one sleeps well when news is good.
The years rolled by,
and Jan Steen sailed his ship through storm and still water with good cheer.
All that he held dear was on board.
My only concern is owing the shipbroker and being unable to pay him back
J.B. ROFF & Co. Shipbroker
I heard that you were in town - and since you didn't come to me, I -
You know, Eulalia, how much I care about you -
If you'd only speak your mind, Dick. I believe that we are both
thinking the same thing - but we are both so shy
I think I'll rather do it in writing!
J.B. ROFF & Co. Shipbroker
Dear cousin,
I could never be grateful enough for what you have done.
But I'm a sailor you see, and a sailor needs to be at sea
and therefore you understand
Jan was right.
When he returned and met up with the shipbroker,
the debt proved hard to settle - for an honest man.
Maybe there is still a way to sort this out
I have a cargo for you, a fine cargo -
the only problem is that it involves some danger
Your debt will be gone and you'll get a handsome sum as well!
If the crew catches onto this, there will be a mutiny!
Not a soul will get to know what it is!
I'll take care of it!
Just arrange to sail as soon as the butter is on board,
so nobody will think of checking if it's gone bad!
And one barrel of butter after another
was reeled onto The Future during the night.
Don't worry, I have my men on guard on shore.
If they notice anything suspicious, they'll give a signal!
He broke his leg!
End of the second part
Third part
I'll bring him on land!
But I can't raise anchor without a mate!
The crew is already undermanned!
There are plenty of unemployed sailors in town.
I'll be back with a new mate in half an hour!
And the broker kept his word.
He soon returned with a new mate.
Did you find a mate?
You can check his sailor's logbook!
There's the signal. The customs are moving.
Raise anchor straight away!
THE FUTURE
The Devil himself brought you here.
I should think so, since I ended up on your ship.
You must be up to something bad
since you hired a sluggard like me as mate?
I didn't know who the broker was bringing me,
and now it's too late anyway.
But you'll have to sign up for something else in the next harbor.
Do you think that you have to chase me away from this damned ship of yours?
It would have to be for your pretty wife's sake...
But next harbor was far away and the skipper's patience was short.
I take care of manoeuvring myself here.
If you want to, you'll stay on board the whole trip,
and I assure you that everyone will be friends.
But shame on he who gives promises that he cannot keep.
Lill-Britt had given her love to Dick.
At least Jan thought so, as she had no time for him anymore.
Lill-Britt could never resist the sound of the flute.
What sort of devilry is this cargo that you have stashed away?
The butter barrels are filled with gunpowder!
We could have been blown sky high!
They are throwing the cargo overboard!
If you're concocting a mutiny, you'll have me to deal with.
Now you've revealed yourself!
You're a monster! I hate you! I hate you!
The cabin is for Lill-Britt and me.
You'll have to ask the mate where you're supposed to stay!
You can't keep me away from my child!
You should have thought of her -
before you chose between him and me!
Are you content now, you devil, now that you have killed her!
He can stay like that until he wakes up!
Fifth part
You have killed the only one on board who deserved to live.
Now we can all go to hell together.
Maybe it's time we saw to him.
only one person on board who deserves to live.
But Lill-Britt?
Wreckage... wreckage...
Jan Steen became a poor man.
The skipper of his own ship had to sign on for other people.
He saved his life and that of others during the shipwreck,
lost everything he had -
but gained more than he lost
He had been away for a long time and now he stood outside his home.
Were they wholeheartedly expecting him, or..?
I'm turning the clock forwards to make dad magically come home earlier!
Am I welcome, Ann-Britt?
Have you been able to forget what I did to you?
I would able to forget, if I didn't have you dear.
There is only one thing to do now - to remember and to forgive.
Dad is back! You come as well, Dick
Don't worry about Dick.
His leg will be fine within a year, the doctor says.
That's a shame, really, because now
it can predict the weather better than any barometer.
And he is devilishly clever with his fingers.
He has come here in the evenings and made a magnificent...
THE END
Subtitles: knappen, corvusalbus