The Decks Ran Red (1958)

Starring:

• James Mason 
• Dorothy Dandridge 
• Broderick Crawford
• Stuart Whitman 
• Joel Fluellen

Storyline 
Danger and suspense sail the high seas in this nautical thriller that some commentators call uncommonly fierce for its time. James Mason portrays Capt. Edwin Rummill, eager to prove himself after being made a ship’s captain for the first time in his career. One of his earliest decisions has a troublesome impact on his freighter’s voyage from New Zealand – he allows the alluring wife of the ship’s cook to sail with the otherwise all-male crew. More tensions also take shape. Crewmembers launch a violent mutiny that will leave many men dead and survivors adrift in a lifeboat, including one who comes up with a desperate plan to reboard and retake the ship: Rummill. As the mutineer mastermind, Broderick Crawford gives a psychotic fervor to his portrayal. And Dorothy Dandridge, in a type of role then rare for an African-American actress, turns sexuality into power.

Tamango (1958)

Starring:

• Dorothy Dandridge
• Alex Cressan 
• Curd Jürgens 
• Jean Servais 

Storyline
When a revolt occurs, Dandridge as a marginalized person tries to stay uninvolved, even though she has some attraction to the revolt leader Tamango. She is not really liked by the African captives as she has "given" herself to the white captain and is, of course, a slave to the white crew members. Curt Jurgens, as a slave ship captain is obviously not the nicest person in the world, but seems to have some genuine affection for Aichie and treats her comparatively well. Aichie has suppressed bitter resentment about her slave origins and treatment by former masters, but still has hopes for a possible future with Jurgens, even after she finds out he has plans to wed a white woman and live in Holland. However, when confronted, he claims he will stay with Aichie and even make her a free woman. When the revolt begins she is forced to make a decision one where her loyalties lie; with the captain or with the slaves.