The Captain's Table (1959) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Captain Albert Ebbs
(played by John Gregson) — protagonist
A veteran South Star cargo-ship captain who is temporarily given command of the ocean liner SS Queen Adelaide. Although an excellent seaman, he struggles with the ship's social duties, including hosti...
Chief Officer Shawe-Wilson
(played by Donald Sinden) — supporting
The Queen Adelaide's chief officer and a member of Captain Ebbs's shipboard team. By the end of the voyage, he becomes engaged to a young heiress. The synopsis does not identify the heiress by name or...
Chief Purser Herbert Prittlewell
(played by Richard Wattis) — supporting
The Queen Adelaide's chief purser, who leads officers and crew involved in dishonest practices aboard the ship. The scheme is exposed on the final night of the voyage, when purported champagne is reve...
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Captain Albert Ebbs → Chief Purser Herbert Prittlewell
(Professional Rival) — The chief purser orchestrates the crew's corruption scheme against Ebbs's authority.
Story Dynamics
Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.
Captain Albert Ebbs → Chief Officer Shawe-Wilson
(Alliance Partner) — The chief officer's personal success parallels Ebbs's positive resolution.
Story Analysis
A seasoned cargo captain struggles with liner society and concealed crew fraud before reaching a fortunate resolution.
Plot Progression
A Reluctant Promotion
— Captain Albert Ebbs moves from a lifetime on cargo ships to temporary command of an ocean liner. The new position immediately introduces unfamiliar social responsibilities.
Life Above Deck
— The captain struggles with dinners, parties, contests, dancing, romantic attention, and marriage requests. A blustering ex-army major adds another source of pressure.
Secrets Among The Crew
— Captain Albert Ebbs discovers that officers and crew are involved in dishonest dealings. The chief purser is identified as the leader of the scheme.
Cider Beneath Champagne
— On the final night, the substitution of cider for champagne exposes the crew's profit-making fraud. The captain faces the consequences as the voyage reaches Sydney.
A Fortunate Arrival
— Sydney police arrest the larcenous officers. The captain becomes engaged to an attractive widow, while the chief officer becomes engaged to a young heiress.
