The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (1988 TV Movie) User Reviews

Complements Feature Film Nicely

[WildBill-15 · 8/10 · 29 July 2006]

I cannot improve on some of the fine comments by other users, so let me instead argue why this play for TV complements the film and the novel. (I refer to the 1954 feature film as the film and this 1988 teleplay as the play.) The play has virtues and the film has virtues and the virtues of each deepen the novel. If asked to choose, I refuse to do so. The novel plus the film plus this play make the story richer.

Eric Bogosian's defense attorney sustains guilt and ambivalence throughout the play, while Jose Ferrer's defender is a sardonic commentator until he shocks the victory party by explaining the moral of the story. Bogosian's Greenwald is darker and far less stentorian; Ferrer's polished drunk is more eloquent and less rowdy. A little eloquence and a little rawness together make for a cinematic cocktail that brings out the taste of the novel.

Jeff Daniels' defendant is far less motivated than was Van Johnson's in the film because the film dramatizes the events leading to the courtmartial while the play covers the courtmartial and the party only. Still, Daniels conveys a defendant who, once again, must decide whether an authority (his lawyer) knows what he is doing or is erratic and unreliable. Van Johnson's defendant is more about deciding what to do then learning after his acquittal that he did the wrong thing.

Each "author" of the Caine mutiny is a plausible bad guy who lends slightly different emphases to instigators who escape blame for what they goad others into doing.

Bogart's Queeg is far better at hiding his weirdness and flaws, which accentuates Wouk's lesson that Queeg, with truly loyal subordinates, might not have melted down. Davis's Queeg raises the intriguing possibility that an officer might be flat-out nutty in a way difficult for psychiatrists to detect but easy for an attorney to expose. I find Bogart's subtler characterization more interesting, but Brad Davis is terrific.

I agree that the caricature of the psychiatrist is hokey. I never thought that I should write that Whit Bissell was a superior performer, but that's the case.

Finally, the play has no hokey romance cluttering up the narrative. That makes the play better for me but perhaps less varied for others.

Made for television but as fine as any of Altman's big screen films.

[MOscarbradley · 8/10 · 13 July 2014]

Filmed theatre and made for television, yet as brilliant as any of Robert Altman's feature films, (and more brilliant than some), "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial", as its title attests, deals only with the trial that makes up the last part of Herman Wouk's novel "The Caine Mutiny" and is based on the Broadway play rather than the 1954 film version with which it will undoubtedly be compared. Of course, Dmytryk's film has already become legendary thanks almost entirely to Humphrey Bogart's brilliant turn as Captain Queeg, here played by Brad Davis and he's this films weakest link. What made Bogart's performance great was that his Queeg was a multi-faceted character whereas Davis comes across as a certifiable loon from the get-go. On the other hand, everyone else is just fine; Jeff Daniels as the lieutenant charged with mutiny, Eric Bogosian as his defending lawyer, Michael Murphy as the presiding officer at the court martial, Peter Gallagher as the judge advocate prosecuting the case and Altman's roving camera and use of sound ensures this is as cinematic as anything he did.

An Interesting Variant on the story

[theowinthrop · 8/10 · 23 October 2005]

The television movie version of THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL is a nice production by Robert Altman. It lacks the briny spirit of the film - so much of which was shot on ships or at sea (including a typhoon sequence). But it is taught and claustrophobic for most of the story - it being set in the Court-Martial room (a bit of the end of the play is at the post-trial acquittal party). The results is a different telling of the story, and one relying on the audience's own evaluation of the truth or lies of the different witnesses. While it still ends in the revelation of Queeg's (Brad Davis's) behavior on the stand, there is more that comes out.

I've mentioned this when reviewing the movie. Queeg is first taken down a peg by Greenwald (Eric Bogosian) not on issues of fitness of command, but on his honesty. It turns out that Queeg (like other commanders of the naval ships) were allowed a certain level of tax free purchases from Hawaii to the mainland of various luxury items, such as alcohol. Queeg had overused this right - actually exceeded the legal limit, and was chastised for this by the Pearl Harbor command. Queeg denies this happened, but Greenwald explains that he can ask for an hour's delay to get the necessary officers to come and testify if necessary. So Queeg suddenly "remembers" there was some kind of chastisement. It is the first misstep the Captain makes in his testimony.

Greenwald also faces secret hostility (not shown in the film, by the way) as a Jewish officer. There is an undercurrent working against Greenwald and his clients in the anti-Semitism of the Navy brass, especially the prosecutor. At the end of the trial, aware that Greenwald has destroyed what should have been an open-and-shut case of mutiny, the prosecutor actually reveals his anti-Semitic feelings about the "tricks" used by Greenwald.

The other major change is at the conclusion. In the film, a drunken Greenwald (Jose Ferrer) confronts Lt. Tom Keefer (Fred MacMurray) at the celebration party as the real manipulator of the Caine Mutiny, who kept himself clean at the expense of Maryk and Keith), and after tossing a drink into his face and saying if he wants to make anything of it to come outside. Greenwald also tells off the crew officers present that they failed to give Queeg the support he asked for at one point - that Queeg for all his flaws was defending the country while they were nice and safe. The stunned men leave the party one by one, leaving a disgraced Keefer all alone.

In the play, Greenwald does show up, and does tell off Keefer and the crew's officers, but all the officers (except Keefer, who is disgraced), are already drunk, and they don't listen to what Greenwald is saying. Not even Maryk and Keith (Jeff Daniels and Daniel Jenkins) - who are too busy celebrating to care. It is an interesting difference from the movie's conclusion. Nice production, with a different style and angle to the story.

Altman at his best

[Walt-42 · 30 January 2002]

Robert Altman's simple and brilliant reprise of the celebrated fictional naval trial succeeds both as a series of character studies, and, more effectively than the Bogart film, as a rebuke of the sprawling anti-military novels (such as the Naked and the Dead) that followed World War II. Unlike the 1954 movie, this version is based on Herman Wouk's stage play and focuses exclusively on the trial itself. As events focus on the progression of witnesses in the temporary courtroom (it's a converted gym), each man is scrutinized under a microscope which reveals strengths, weaknesses, hypocrisy and anguish.

Facing the thankless task of following in Bogart's wake, Brad Davis gives an edgy performance as Qeeg, a ticky personality that slowly melts and becomes unglued in the witness chair. Eric Bogosian is just as watchable as Lt Greenwald, the razor-sharp defense lawyer who is torn as the issues of the trial tear into his own changing moral attitudes about the war. A cynical intellectual when he entered the Marines as a flyer, Greenwald now sees the pragmatic need for a structured military to defeat the evils of fascism (particularly as a Jewish American). To win the trial, he must destroy the life of a career officer and he's sick about it.

Jeff Daniels, Peter Gallagher and the rest of the cast are all top drawer. The 1988 TV Movie version is also able to briefly touch on issues of anti-Semitism and homosexuality that were expunged in the 50s big-screen version. The Caine Mutiny Court Martial offers that all-too-rare treat of allowing Hollywood stars to get into some meaty characters and performances which are normally reserved for the stage. Offered with Altman's trademark overlapping dialogue, it's great drama, an under-appreciated gem, and is well worth 100 minutes of your time.

Queeg wasn't fit to stand alongside Skipper Jonas Grumby

[helpless_dancer · 7/10 · 25 June 2002]

Excellent dramatic rendition of the final segment of Wouk's great novel. All the players made this picture come off looking like a real court marshall. Davis' portrayal of the oddball Queeg showed a man with a skewed personality and totally obsessed with an authority complex. Finally, Bogosian's Barney Greenwald's rant at the celebration party was the high point of the film. Courtroom enthusiasts should go for this one.

faithfully prosaic

[meabrams · 6/10 · 24 January 2006]

Overall, this is an entertaining, if not instructive, rendition of what Wouk got onto paper. It's well worth watching for everyone who loved Wouk's novel. The richness of what he wrote has led us to the world of private imagination, and films can seldom satisfy the complexity here. The problem seems to be miscasting in several directions. One is expecting a little more gray and perhaps a bit more subtlety in Davis's performance of the paranoid Queeg; this constant rolling of steel balls is probably overdone. That is to say, perhaps, there is only one Bogart, but there is a certain plausibility missing here. Bogosian makes a capable Greenwald, but once more, there is no solid grounding here of a wounded flier -- and so we also have a puny Keifer and a Maryk without the hue of seamanship. The callow Willie, however, fits the bill, as does Ken Michels as Dr. Bird, the smug psychiatrist. That, we found entertaining. We agree with the first reviewer that the director stepped on some lines with background noise, and we'll never understand why Greenwald had to fight to be heard at the party. In addition, everyone seems about the same age in this movie, like a fraternity costume party. Wouk's work has much to tell us about our own times. We'd like to see someone do this again, with a deeper commitment than what Robert Altman has provided.

Good drama, but with one fatal flaw

[policy134 · 7/10 · 31 August 2012]

This is a very good restaging of the more famous movie The Caine Mutiny. As it is set almost entirely at the court martial room, things tend to get a little overly dramatic at times.

Here is the fatal flaw. Never mind that it is rather annoying to have overlapping dialogue playing through the less important verbal exchanges (it is!), but the last testimony with Queeg in the chair, suffers from the all too familiar, but nevertheless quite obvious flaw of having a character, who practically blows the whole mystery of how a story is going to end. I am talking about the Michael Murphy character who gets reaction shots to practically everyones testimony. Why does he have to look so disturbed? There is no way in hell that you can't guess what is going to happen, even if you didn't see the 1954 film or read the novel. He looks way too concerned, even schocked at hearing the last testimony of Queeg. How can the court not acquit Maryk after you seen those concerned looks?

One little side note, once again. I'll bet if this had been a real court martial, Maryk would have been found guilty, maybe not of mutiny, but of conduct unbecoming or something like that.

The Caine gets the Altman treatment

[hankhanks12345 · 8/10 · 9 October 2005]

This was an good adaptation of the Caine story. I've read the original book on which the story was based, and have seen the 1950s film version many times, but hadn't seen a stage version of this film. (Wouk wrote both the book and this play.) This version is interesting on several levels. First, unlike the original story, everything is stripped out except the courtroom scenes and the party afterward. This allows us to experience the story without having seen it first, which allows us to view the Queeg story fresh, without having seen it ourselves and formed opinions about it.

Also, Altman wisely chose actors which were very unlike (in most cases) the 1954 version of the story. The most noteworth, of course, is Queeg himself, with Davis doing a very credible job that is very different from the Bogart portrayal. (For one thing, Davis is a very different physical type than Bogart and is a lot younger.) Keefer is good too - and again, different than the 1954 version, with Fred McMurray in the role.

And, of course, this film has the usual Altman technique of using a lot of side conversations that are barely heard and added noises to make the film seem more naturalistic. As others noted, this is most evident during the party scene at the end, but it used with good effect during the rest of the movie too.

Overall a nice piece of work.

engrossing

[cherold · 7/10 · 12 August 2004]

Wouk's play is an ingenious bit of storytelling, and it's wonderful that he managed to convey so much information in such an absorbing fashion in the dry world of the courtroom. Altman strikes me as an odd choice as director of a play, since he insists as usual on periodically drowning out the dialog in background noise. The courtroom scenes that are the bulk of the movie are a good example of how distracting and artificial this technique is; it often feels like he just does these cutaways and miscellaneous chatter out of habit rather than necessity. Even Altman must recognize how distracting it is, as he jettisons this technique in Queeq's final testimony. On the other hand, the same chaotic, lost sound technique is quite effective in the final scene, where it actually makes sense and creates a sense of drunken anarchy that fits well with the scene.

Bogosian is excellent, exuding his usual caged tiger intensity to great effect. After seeing Humphrey Bogart's terrific performance it's a little difficult to accept Davis's pursed martinet, yet in the end he is probably closer to what such a character would really be like and his last scene is effective, with Davis and Altman both underplaying what in other hands could be an over-the-top scene.

Daniels is pretty forgettable, but it's a small role. All in all well worth watching.

A curate's egg...

[cmcastl · 8/10 · 10 May 2015]

We have a phrase in England, a 'curate's egg', which means, good in parts.

On the positive side, this is very much a Robert Altman film in the best sense, He displayed again here to best advantage how he can create not just one backstory but a whole world of backstories just in a converted naval gym which is serving as ad hoc courtroom for a court martial. There were the stories of the principal characters, to be sure, to be given time and attention in the script - the Caine officers, crew, judges and advocates - but what Altman did even better I think than in his other films was make each person on screen, even in the background, and I stress every person you can see either in background or foreground, appear existentially real and three dimensional. They all appear more than just either a principal actor or an extra, as we know them variously to be as members of a cast, but in Altman's subtly shifting focus on screen, in what they are shown doing, even if we can't hear what they are saying or not quite sure what they are doing, they come across as real people, mostly naval personnel, of course, with real activities and real lives taking place simultaneously with the people and events staging in the foreground. I am not sure that any other director ever has managed that as well as Altman.

Focussing on the trial itself, the script is highly literate and gives a fascinating insight into naval protocol, attitudes and tradition, and, of course, into the conflict of personalities and within personalities, of men at war, with the advantage of the extra detail that such focusing allowed, in comparison with the 1954 Edward Dmytryk original film which had to cover both the actual naval action and the court room drama. Though, I want to say here, that the Edward Dmytryk film managed to portray with admirable faithfulness and admirable economy a long book, and with first class acting and production values of its own.

On the negative side, and it is no reflection on Brad Davis, but I have seen the film with Humphrey Bogart and also the stage play in London with Charlton Heston and none of them quite manages right the moment when Captain Queeg starts slipping from a reasonable officer, if something of a martinet, into one who, it turns out, has been over-promoted, probably because of the exigencies of war, to the point where he presents clear symptoms of mental disintegration. That is maybe a weakness of the writing in what is otherwise a very fine war drama by Herman Wouk which perhaps no actor can overcome.

I do miss the drama of the actual scenes aboard ship. As I say, the original film managed to portray the gripping action of the sea drama and then with well-judged economy the trial and compressed it successfully into about the same length of time as Altman's film concentrating almost solely on the trial. Also, the final party scene is far better handled in the 1954 film with the confrontation between the defending advocate, played by Jose Ferrer, and Fred MacMurray as the barrack room lawyer Keefer striking a far more dramatic note. After an otherwise taut film, Altman's ends on rather a flat note.

However, I am glad of this new adaptation of the Caine Mutiny, because it is fascinating to compare the two films which nicely complement each other. I think Herman Wouk's Caine Mutiny is one of the best ever World War II stories ever written and subsequently screened, not just for its action but its psychological subtlety and depth. Sadly, his Winds of War is a let-down but that is matter for another review.

this ending more convincing

[marktayloruk · 7/10 · 24 April 2020]

At a real party with booze flowing, would people really pay attention to.Greenwald- especially as he was drunk? He had nothing to be ashamed of -he'd done his duty to the best of his ability.

Just Brilliant!

[griffic-2 · 10/10 · 17 April 2006]

Considering they're reviving The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial on Broadway, I thought I'd revisit the truly great 1988 TV-Movie with a review of my own.

I remember when this film was broadcast. This was at a time when the major networks knew how to make made-for-television films. The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, which played on CBS, placed last opposite NBC's science fiction thriller Something Is Out There and ABC's The Bourne Identity with Richard Chamberlain. But it wasn't just last...practically NOBODY saw it! A shame, because it was easily the best of the three films (although Bourne was pretty good).

Caine was directed by the legendary Robert Altman, who has always been a friend to his actors...allowing them a lot of freedom to perform. Because of the source material (the Herman Wouk novel and play), his actors are a little more confined, yet Altman still manages to take advantage of amazing performances. Setting the courtroom inside a gymnasium is a stroke of genius. I'm not sure why they would set up court there, but being in the military myself, I know it's not unusual to make the best of an unusual situation...thus, it wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary for a military court to utilize another facility under certain circumstances. Anyway, Altman sets the stage within the gym in a way that allows us to get the most out of the performances. It's hard to describe, but when you see it, you'll understand...especially they way we are able to view characters in the background as another character is testifying.

Of course, the best thing about film (besides Wouk's words) is the actors' performances. Eric Bogosian, Jeff Daniels, Peter Gallagher, Michael Murphy, Kevin J. O'Connor and Brad Davis are all first rate. Bogosian is a dominant force as the defense attorney. Jeff Daniels absolutely personifies the accused. Gallagher makes a razor sharp prosecutor. Judging the proceedings is the very fine Murphy. And O'Connor has to convey a slime-ball without being overtly so...he excels.

Finally, there's Davis. It's easy to see why people keep comparing his performance to Bogart. Bogart was a legend and his performance received a lot of attention. But I'm not really a slave to the original film. In the original film, much of the suspense and intrigue of the story is undercut by the rather weak central character and his point-of-view. That is fine for the book, but a film needs to be more focused.

That's where The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial comes in, it's taut suspenseful and intense. Brad Davis exemplifies those aspects with his VERY intense performance. Bogart was wonderful as the unstable commander of the Caine, Philip Francis Queeg. But his Queeg is kind of a pathetic character...more subdued. It's a nice take on the character but it's not the only way Queeg can be portrayed. In fact, he's much more intense, even hyper in the original novel. And that's the way Davis portrays Queeg in Court-Martial. Davis' captain is energetic from the start, jumping at the chance to defend his actions on the Caine and attacking his enemies. But there's much more to Queeg. I couldn't take my eyes off of Davis. He's filled with such intensity, he's like a rocket ship ready to take off at any moment...a bomb ready to explode. And I LOVE it! Word was Brad Davis was Alman's personal choice to play Queeg when the network's original choice Keith Carradine had other commitments. Carradine would have been great, but I see him delivering a Bogart-like Queeg. I thank Altman for casting Davis because he's given us a much different, but no less effective Captain Queeg!

Bringing Herman Wouk's intense drama to the screen...with such an incredible cast...expertly directed by Robert Altman. It's no wonder this is one of my favorite TV-Movies of all time!

Weak adaption, but still a decent watch

[jbiii-666 · 7/10 · 20 March 2024]

The story will probably be familiar to most, as it is a famous work that has been done many times over, both on the stage and screen. Unfortunately most of the other variations are probably better. It is a tribute to the original work that a flawed production like this can still capture an audience's imagination and manage to entertain even when 99% of the film takes place in a single, sterile location. The production relies on the strength its acting, with such standouts as Jeff Daniels, Brad Davis and Peter Gallagher delivering stellar performances. The film undeniably suffers from its spartan set though when it comes to the final act and Greenwald finally confronts Keefer. His anger seems so out of place because we've only seen Keefer in one brief scene and we are given nothing to hold against the character. Bogart's version at least had the benefit of flashbacks to the actual events to lend context to trial. Yet if one is a fan of the original play or movie you can do far worse than to see the material plays out like it would on the stage.

Really good TV movie!

[Irishchatter · 8/10 · 21 February 2016]

I was watching this on the Sony Movies channel and it is quite indeed a good movie. Its not boring, even though I don't know anything much about the Navy sector but I found it really interesting for being a 1988 movie!

I was surprised to have seen Jeff Daniels on this, he really played a serious role for a comedian actor like himself to be acting as a Lietuniant! He looked really young and in my opinion, he really doesn't look like an army type at all. I'm mostly use to him playing in comedy films such as Dumb and Dumber. I say, fairplay to him for taking the risk!

I liked how Brad Davis' character spoke very well in defending his own will, I think its to do with regarding a ship that went down. Now i don't know if thats true but anyway, its something to do with that!

Very good for a underrated TV movie from the 1980's!

Better than Bogart? Yes.

[cousin_chuck · 29 July 2002]

All of the comments before this one are perfectly true in saying this is a great film, even more so considering it was made for TV. Having read The Caine Mutiny and having seen the movie numerous times I already knew many of the incidents referred to in the courtmartial dialog. I wondered how good a film it would be to someone totally unfamiliar with the Bogart film and the book. Queeg was a stinker but I still felt sorry for the SOB. Now in REAL life, Maryk would have been found guilty no matter how loony his CO was.

Should have been theatrically released. A great film.

[shoobe01-1 · 8/10 · 8 August 2019]

Good rendition of classic, around the best stage-to-screen adaptation I have seen, not stilted and free to zoom, move the camera, etc. Worked well.

Writing is of course awesome. Most of the cast is entirely believable. And here's where it may be superior to the 1954 film. The court is really believable, in every way. In the original film they were played-too-straight as The Man.

But the defense. Eric Bogosian was outstanding. One of his best roles, and I mean that. Disappeared into it in ways I do not normally see. I thought I loved José Ferrer's final party speech, but Bogosian's - and the directing, having much of it drowned out by the ongoing partiers, then confused by the end - version is truly great.

Blasphemy I know, but dunno if I miss Bogart over Brad Davis as Lt Cdr Queeg. His final courtroom performance was spot on, and played against the script and especially the judges perfectly.

However, Kevin J. O'Connor was merely fine as the truly guilty one, whereas Fred MacMurray was delightfully charming-evil, in ways that I don't know anyone could replicate.

Gripping, extreme character study

[tignor-2 · 10/10 · 13 April 2000]

I went into this movie for one reason only--I'm a huge Peter Gallagher fan. That aside, it took some time for me, a non-military civilian to get past the military language and settle down for a remarkable movie about a navy court martial. The characters are brilliant, and the direction (by the always wonderful Robert Altman) was superb. The story is interesting to males and females, for different reasons I suppose. I found this movie much more interesting than a recent court martial movie, Rules of Engagement, which seemed to glorify in it's large budget and bloody special effects. The Caine Mutiny Court Martial is a simple film, shot in only 2 settings, but gives you a satisfaction and also a disturbing feel after the film is over. I highly recommend it.

Dark

[rmax304823 · 5 August 2002]

I love Robert Altman's persona, a kind of hippy apres la lettre. He'd be fun to have dinner with. But I can never get with his movies. No matter how carefully he explains why he constructed them as he did, it always comes out sounding to me like a burglar's explanation of why the victim brought it on himself because he should never have left the windows wide open in the first place. This TV production is better than most of his movies, though. As a courtroom drama it almost has to be since the focus is almost always on exchanges between two or three people in an otherwise silent courtroom. (When Altman gets a chance, as in the party scene, he lets everything go so that when Barney Greenwald gives his climactic speech, the signal is almost buried in the surrounding noise.) I hate to be negative because, as I say, I like Altman and think the novel is marvelous -- I reread it every two years or so. But the production seems underlighted and unnecessarily dark, which casts a gloom over the exciting proceedings. The performances are okay but they don't always fit the part. Bogosian is nice as Greenwald. Daniels is a bit trim and comes across as more intelligent than he might be. (He ought to be like a brown bull getting the banderillas placed.) The Keefer character is miscast, period. Here, he is soft-spoken and deliberate, completely in control of himself, whereas Keefer knew very well that he was tanking his close friend during his testimony and was nervous and guilty. (His right foot danced all during his testimony in the novel, and he could not meet Maryk's intense gaze.) Keefer is always nervous -- except when he's lambasting the navy, then he comes into his own. These nervous tics are here given to the psychiatrist, a guy who definitely should NOT have had them, so that his frosty complacency could be more effectively destroyed by Greenwald. Altman turns the shrink into a complete fool with big pursed lips and thick glasses, which is extremely amusing, whether it fits or not. Just looking at this poor neurotic is a treat! Much of the success or failure of the production devolves onto Brad Davis's performance, and again the results are mixed. He is the person whose presence undergoes the most dramatic change, and Davis delivers during the breakdown scene. When I first saw this, in 1988, I was somewhat surprised at a particular twist Davis gave Queeg's character, especially during his first court appearance, a kind of wispy lisping quality, and I thought, "Geeze, is Davis trying to suggest Queeg was a homosexual?" I worried that he was going to wind up in a snit when he went to pieces, but Davis in the end projects a genuine-enough paranoid anger. Maybe if I'd never read the novel I'd have enjoyed the movie more, although I did in fact enjoy it. At least it was never insulting. I'd happily watch it again if it were on.

Quite a different view of the classic tale of Naval scandal.

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 16 November 2021]

One thing you notice immediately in this TV version of the novel which became a successful Broadway play and was later re-written for the screen is how youthful the good majority of the cast is. That's gives it at first a jarring viewpoint, but then you quickly realize that this is not the Hollywood version of the Herman Wouke story but in spite of a few familiar faces, this is a really fresh peek into what we had viewed in 1954 as an ensemble film that got Humphrey Bogart his last Oscar nomination. The character of Captain Queeg is simply a part of the ensemble, played here with cool assurance by Brad Davis, but one that breaks down when his resolve fails.

The bulk of the material is given to the defense attorney, played by Eric Bogosian who gets the majority of the dialog and Jeff Daniels who is on trial for mutiny, determined to prove his justification. Daniels gets a ton of chilling closeups that indicates his malevolence towards Queeg so you are not sure from the start whether he's sinister or absolutely correct in his determination to bring Queeg down. You certainly can't default the direction of the legendary Robert Altman who has another triumph with his variation of the film.

Davis is excellent in his few extended scenes where you can't tell until the end if Daniels is correct, and it's absolutely chilling. That's what the theme of this film becomes, questioning those in authority over whether they are actually stable enough to be in authority, an issue that is still debated to this day. While the film has more details of the events leading up to the court-martial, the focus on the trial itself is more psychological intense and that really changes the impact of how you hear the story. It certainly is one of the great ensemble casts of a TV movie ever, certainly very theatrical in nature and riveting as it unfolds.

Really enjoyed this one

[Vindelander · 8/10 · 13 February 2020]

Whilst we've seen a lot of films about courtroom dramas this is one of the best. Great acting and intriguing development of the story under Altman's masterful direction.

The ending is very strange and a real twist but it's a cracker of a film imo.