Mutiny on the Bounty (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
1935's 'Mutiny of the Bounty' (directed by Frank Lloyd) is a big, black-&-white MGM epic which chronicles an 18th c. fictionalized adventure tale of a real life naval case. This film is an extremely high achievement that, despite it being made 88 yrs. ago, is still greatly admired today. The plot tells of the 1787 journey of the H.M.S. Bounty from Portsmouth to Tahiti to acquire breadfruit plants as cheap food for the West Indies slaves. The ship's sadistic, rapacious commander, William Bligh (Charles Laughton), is disliked by his crew for his inhuman form of discipline & his severe, unyielding attitude - even to shipmates already dead. On the flip side of that, his 1st officer, Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable), is an aristocratic, well-respected leader.
The relationship btwn. Bligh & Christian becomes increasingly wayward during the 2 yr. arduous journey. It lets up somewhat while the ship is anchored off Tahiti: Christian spends his time ashore; even marrying one of the native women, Mamiti (Mamo). Once they get underway, however, the conflict btwn. insanely cruel Bligh & ethical Christian detonates, resulting in the titular mutiny. Bligh & those few who are loyal to him are set adrift {with minimal supplies} in a lifeboat while The Bounty sets sail back towards Tahiti. Incredibly, Bligh survives the arduous 3,500 mile journey to Timor. Hell bent on exacting revenge, he inexplicably targets Roger Byam (Franchot Tone), a sailor who had tried to STOP the mutiny. Bligh returns to the West Pacific aboard the H.M.S. Pandora on an expedition charged with locating The Bounty ... and bringing the mutineers back to merry 'ole England for court-martial. Drama ensues.
Wowza. This film offers quite the rousing adventure set on the high seas. The production values, like the performances, are of the highest standard. 'Mutiny on the Bounty' also tackles a very universal theme: when it is permissible to overthrow authority when it oversteps the bounds of reason & decency? This film's storytelling thrives, too, because it contains a clear hero & an equally evident villain. There have been other versions of this story: a silent 1916 film; the troubled, if spectacular 1962 version starring Marlon Brando, Trevor Howard & Richard Harris; and a Mel Gibson 1984 version titled The Bounty, which represents the most historically accurate account of events; giving Bligh & Christian shades of gray to their characters.
Charles Laughton is simply magnificent as the humorless, twisted, evil monster that is Capt. Bligh. Ther than his seaman skills, there is NOTHING good about this man. His classic 'love to hate him' performance deserved to win Best Actor at the Academy Awards; a failure from the voting body due the 2 other leading men from this movie (Gable, Tone) also making the Best Actor list. This likely led to the Academy creating the Best "Supporting" categories for 1936 & beyond. Clark Gable is dynamic as Christian; the charismatic, engaging, 'justified in his actions' voice of reason. And Franchot Tone {ahem, Mr. Joan Crawford, at the time}, is excellent as the humane aristocrat, Roger Byam. Everyone in the cast acquits themselves extremely well.
Charles Laughton - a homosexual, however married to Frankenstein's bride, Elsa Lanchester - apparently locked horns with Clark Gable; a man's man who may have been a bit of a homophobe. But interestingly enough, if anything, their personal discord leapt off the screen in the film; enhancing the yin & yang of their onscreen characters & buoying the film's already impressive box office. If I have any complaints, I'd say that the film is quite long & contains a few dead spots, or stuffiness. But that is also the nature of most films made back then. 'Mutiny on the Bounty' is just a gripping piece of cinema. It is often grim, harrowing, horror-filled, yet brimming with themes of desperate courage & the tyrants vs. the righteous man. Great film.
The relationship btwn. Bligh & Christian becomes increasingly wayward during the 2 yr. arduous journey. It lets up somewhat while the ship is anchored off Tahiti: Christian spends his time ashore; even marrying one of the native women, Mamiti (Mamo). Once they get underway, however, the conflict btwn. insanely cruel Bligh & ethical Christian detonates, resulting in the titular mutiny. Bligh & those few who are loyal to him are set adrift {with minimal supplies} in a lifeboat while The Bounty sets sail back towards Tahiti. Incredibly, Bligh survives the arduous 3,500 mile journey to Timor. Hell bent on exacting revenge, he inexplicably targets Roger Byam (Franchot Tone), a sailor who had tried to STOP the mutiny. Bligh returns to the West Pacific aboard the H.M.S. Pandora on an expedition charged with locating The Bounty ... and bringing the mutineers back to merry 'ole England for court-martial. Drama ensues.
Wowza. This film offers quite the rousing adventure set on the high seas. The production values, like the performances, are of the highest standard. 'Mutiny on the Bounty' also tackles a very universal theme: when it is permissible to overthrow authority when it oversteps the bounds of reason & decency? This film's storytelling thrives, too, because it contains a clear hero & an equally evident villain. There have been other versions of this story: a silent 1916 film; the troubled, if spectacular 1962 version starring Marlon Brando, Trevor Howard & Richard Harris; and a Mel Gibson 1984 version titled The Bounty, which represents the most historically accurate account of events; giving Bligh & Christian shades of gray to their characters.
Charles Laughton is simply magnificent as the humorless, twisted, evil monster that is Capt. Bligh. Ther than his seaman skills, there is NOTHING good about this man. His classic 'love to hate him' performance deserved to win Best Actor at the Academy Awards; a failure from the voting body due the 2 other leading men from this movie (Gable, Tone) also making the Best Actor list. This likely led to the Academy creating the Best "Supporting" categories for 1936 & beyond. Clark Gable is dynamic as Christian; the charismatic, engaging, 'justified in his actions' voice of reason. And Franchot Tone {ahem, Mr. Joan Crawford, at the time}, is excellent as the humane aristocrat, Roger Byam. Everyone in the cast acquits themselves extremely well.
Charles Laughton - a homosexual, however married to Frankenstein's bride, Elsa Lanchester - apparently locked horns with Clark Gable; a man's man who may have been a bit of a homophobe. But interestingly enough, if anything, their personal discord leapt off the screen in the film; enhancing the yin & yang of their onscreen characters & buoying the film's already impressive box office. If I have any complaints, I'd say that the film is quite long & contains a few dead spots, or stuffiness. But that is also the nature of most films made back then. 'Mutiny on the Bounty' is just a gripping piece of cinema. It is often grim, harrowing, horror-filled, yet brimming with themes of desperate courage & the tyrants vs. the righteous man. Great film.