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Billy Budd (1962) 7.7
Billy is an innocent, naive seaman in the British Navy in 1797. When the ship's sadistic master-at-arms is murdered, Billy is accused and tried. Director:Peter Ustinov |
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Title: Billy Budd (1962)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Robert Ryan | ... |
John Claggart - Master of Arms
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| Peter Ustinov | ... |
Edwin Fairfax Vere - Post Captain Royal Navy
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| Melvyn Douglas | ... |
The Dansker - Sailmaker
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Paul Rogers | ... |
Philip Seymour - First Lieutenant
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| John Neville | ... |
Julian Radcliffe - Second Lieutenant
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| David McCallum | ... |
Steven Wyatt - Gunnery Officer
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Ronald Lewis | ... |
Enoch Jenkins - Maintopman
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Lee Montague | ... |
Squeak - Assistant to Mr. Claggart
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Thomas Heathcote | ... |
Alan Payne - Maintopman
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| Ray McAnally | ... |
William O'Daniel - Maintopman
(as Ray McAnnally)
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| Robert Brown | ... |
Arnold Talbot - Maintopman
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| John Meillon | ... |
Neil Kincaid - Maintopman
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Cyril Luckham | ... |
Alfred Hallam - Captain of Marines
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Niall MacGinnis | ... |
Nathaniel Graveling - Ship's Master, Rights of Man
(as Niall McGinnis)
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Victor Brooks | ... |
Amos Leonard - First Mate, Rights of Man
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
H.M.S. Avenger is headed into battle against the French fleet during the Napoleonic Wars, and the dark shadow of two recent mutinies in the English fleet concern Captain Vere. He relies on his cruel and often sadistic Master-at-Arms John Claggert to maintain what he believes to be tenuous order and discipline aboard the ship. When a new seaman, Billy Budd, is pressed into service from a passing merchantman, his innocent, happy-go-lucky attitude quickly endears him to both his messmates as well as the ship's officers. However, his charismatic naivete seems to bother Claggert, whose perverse depravity makes him resent Billy's good-natured purity, especially after the teenager's promotion to fore-top captain. The mean-spirited Claggert unfairly plots to put him on report and ultimately perjures himself when he accuses Billy of conspiring to mutiny. Written by Gabe Taverney (duke1029@aol.com)
Taglines:
The Men!.. The Mutiny!...The Might!... Of Herman Melville's Classic Adventure of the High Seas! See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
12 November 1962 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Die Verdammten der Meere See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Billy Budd: I think so, sir.
Master At Arms Claggert: Why did Jenkins die?
Billy Budd: You did not wish his death.
Master At Arms Claggert: No, I did not.
Billy Budd: You didn't even hate him. I think that sometimes you hate yourself. I was thinking, sir, the nights are lonely. Perhaps I could talk with you between watches when you've nothing else to do.
Master At Arms Claggert: Lonely. What do you know of loneliness?
Billy Budd: Them's alone that want to be.
Master At Arms Claggert: Nights are long. Conversation helps pass the time.
Billy Budd: Can I talk to you again, then? It would mean a ...
[...]
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Melville had been writing poetry for 30 years when he returned to fiction with "Billy Budd" in late 1888. Still unfinished when he died in 1891. it was forgotten. Melville's biographer accidentally stumbled upon it when going through a trunk of the writer's papers in his granddaughter's New Jersey home in 1919. Melville's widow worked to help complete it, and it was finally published in 1924. Over the years other unsatisfactory versions were published, but it wasn't until Melville's original notes were found that the definitive version was ultimately published in 1962. Ironically Ustinov's film version was released the same year. See more »Quotes
Master At Arms Claggert: Tell me in all ignorance do you dare understand me, then?Billy Budd: I think so, sir.
Master At Arms Claggert: Why did Jenkins die?
Billy Budd: You did not wish his death.
Master At Arms Claggert: No, I did not.
Billy Budd: You didn't even hate him. I think that sometimes you hate yourself. I was thinking, sir, the nights are lonely. Perhaps I could talk with you between watches when you've nothing else to do.
Master At Arms Claggert: Lonely. What do you know of loneliness?
Billy Budd: Them's alone that want to be.
Master At Arms Claggert: Nights are long. Conversation helps pass the time.
Billy Budd: Can I talk to you again, then? It would mean a ...
[...]
See more »
This film which was made at the now legendary, Allied Artists Studios (cough cough) is nothing short of a Masterpiece. Filmed totally on board a reconstructed Man O'War, it features Oscar level performances by Peter Ustinov, Terrance Stamp, Melvin Douglas and the performance of a lifetime by Robert Ryan (as Klaggart, the very human manifestation of evil). If one accepts this movie as a biblical allegory, then it could not end any other way. This is not your typical Hollywood fare, it is filled with intelligent performances, and good direction under difficult conditions. And it's in glorious black and white.