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 recounts how the ship’s downfall wasn’t the enemy at sea but an enemy onboard: sexually transmitted infections. He describes how his reluctance to address this issue before the sailors’ liberty at port led to a large contingent of the men contracting gonorrhea and syphilis. The crew ignored the doctor’s warning to abstain or use condoms. Instead, when they landed at port, the men immediately sought women’s company and later swapped stories of their time on land.
(00:21) Navy servicemen prepare to dock the boat.
(00:40) Two men have broken arms.
(01:40) The commanding officer of destroyer escort 733, Lt. McGregor, talks with his superior officer.
(02:20) He says there are no structural issues with the ship, even though it failed to evade an oncoming torpedo.
(02:33) The captain says the issue wasn’t the ship nor the crew but perhaps himself.
(03:11) He was homesick, particularly for an American girl.
(03:44) He opens a stud book with the number of a girl named “Betty.”
(04:44) Enlisted men relax onboard.
(05:45) They play cards and talk about women.
(06:31) They discuss ways to pick up women during their liberty periods on dry land.
(06:39) “Careful, you can pick up something else, too,” warns one sailor.
(06:45) One sailor shows pills he claims prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
(07:24) The medic makes a reference to the high number of sailors with “clap.”
(07:50) The sailors discuss the difference between gonorrhea and the common cold.
(08:01) One sailor asks the doctor how to prevent STDs.
(08:22) They discuss the men’s “scores” from their last stop at port.
(08:39) The doctor emphasizes that abstinence is the best strategy, and the second-best is using a condom.
(10:02) Two officers talk about the prevalence of STDs at the port where the ship is about to land.
(12:50) McGregor lectures the crew about venereal disease.
(14:27) They ignore him, but two decide to get condoms from the medic.
(16:08) They socialize with women.
(17:07) A young sailor prepares to have intercourse but gets nervous and leaves.
(18:08) He ends up at a bar next to a young woman who tries to pick him up.
(21:39) At the roller rink, this sailor meets a pretty American girl named “Margaret.”
(23:06) They fall in love.
(24:08) Back onboard, the sailors compare stories of the women they met.
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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
