During World War II, Paramount Pictures produced this 50-minute narrative educational film “The Story of D.E. 733” exclusively for the U.S. Navy. Also known as “Ship of Shame”, the film aimed to address the prevalence of venereal diseases, the danger these STDs presented to the war effort, and prevention strategies. It stars Keefe Brasselle and features Eddie Hall, William Hall, Vivien Oakland, and Rory Mallinson.
Please be aware that the film contains graphic scenes of genitalia and discusses using condoms for protection.
Summary: This motion picture reinforces the message that contracting VD is not only a personal tragedy but could also affect the war effort. The information is presented as a narrative, rather than in the usual lecture form, in the hopes that sailors could identify with the characters and learn from their mistakes.
Most of the movie consists of a flashback narrated by the ship’s commanding officer. In this section, he focuses on the consequences of the sailors contracting these venereal diseases. Many of the sailors fall ill, and the healthy crew members have no replacement, forcing them to pull multiple shifts in their absence. This culminates in a torpedo hitting the ship.
(00:07) The sailors keep watch.
(00:35) Many sailors go to the doctor, and each is diagnosed with an STD.
(02:50) The doctor asks them why they didn’t use protection.
(03:58) The healthy crew needs to pull multiple shifts because so many sailors are on sick leave due to STDs.
(06:39) The young sailor, “Chicken,” realizes he is infected but can’t imagine how he contracted it from such a nice girl.
(08:10) In the night, he wakes the doctor to seek help.
(09:11) The doctor says through the Health Department’s contact tracing program, the girl will be advised to seek medical care.
(09:59) A woman from the Health Department tells Margaret she was exposed.
(10:43) She cries and explains that she had been engaged to a guy, but they broke off the engagement over a year ago.
(11:23) The doctor explains a woman can be a carrier and not know it.
(12:25) He uses a diagram of female anatomy to explain how syphilis goes unnoticed.
(13:51) The doctor says he will cure her and maintain her fertility because it was quickly diagnosed thanks to contact tracing.
(14:49) The men on sick leave due to their STDs talk with each other.
(15:52) The doctor tells a sailor the importance of early treatment for syphilis.
(16:32) Another sailor is diagnosed with syphilis.
(17:37) A different sailor insists he doesn’t have syphilis, despite being sick.
(18:49) A Japanese submarine approaches.
(18:49) The sailor is tired as he keeps watch, his replacement on sick leave.
(19:13) The lieutenant is chastised by his captain for the prevalence of venereal diseases.
(20:05) The commanding officer is responsible for preventing STDs.
(20:40) The captain explains that sailors are lonely for women; that is why “ship” is linguistically female.
(21:04) An alarm sounds.
(21:08) Men rush out of their bunks.
(21:23) The sailors prepare for battle.
(21:45) Even the sick sailors.
(22:20) A torpedo is spotted.
(22:27) A sick sailor struggles to fulfill his duties.
(22:37) This leads to the torpedo striking the submarine.
(23:09) Another sailor with an STD is unable to fight.
(23:32) The narrator explains there was an “enemy” aboard the ship – venereal disease.
(23:59) The healthy sailors did their job and struck the Japanese.
(24:30) “Didn’t you guys get out of the way [of the torpedo]?” asks a Navy man at the shore.
(24:40) “Yes, we could have gotten out of the way, for we knew, we all knew,” says the lieutenant.
(24:49) “Our injuries came not from battle, not really.”
(25:07) Lt. McGregor finishes telling the story to his commanding officer.
(25:13) The commanding officer acknowledges the shared responsibility for the prevalence of venereal diseases.
(25:42) This frequent problem for the Navy must be addressed.
(25:53) Paramount Pictures, Inc., 1945.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
