The Ghost Ship (Mark Robson, 1943)

Never having met in person, Captain Will Stone of the S.S. Altair hires Tom Merriam as the freighter's new Third Officer based solely on his qualifications, Merriam in turn honored to accept what is his first appointment fresh out of school. Merriam welcomes the opportunity to learn from a man he admires from what little he can see of the Captain, who has very particular views about his role of authority in relation to the crew, including the subordinate officers. That admiration by Merriam turns to disgust and fear for himself, the other officers and crew as he believes the Captain's views extend to he being God over everyone else aboard and that the crew in particular are a bunch of unmotivated men who will listen to him solely because he is Captain, that fear more founded when he believes a death aboard ship is pure unadulterated murder orchestrated by the Captain of someone he didn't like. A standoff of sorts occurs as the Captain becomes well aware of Merriam's feelings as Merriam tries to convince others, including those he considers friends but who are subordinates of the Captain, that the Captain is crazy. Merriam has to do so before the Captain kills again, Merriam the most likely next target if he is to be believed.