The Caine Mutiny (1954)

When a U.S. Naval captain shows signs of mental instability that jeopardizes the ship, the first officer relieves him of command and faces court martial for mutiny.

Director:

Edward Dmytryk

Writers:

Stanley Roberts (screen play), Michael Blankfort (additional dialogue)

Stars:

Humphrey Bogart, José Ferrer, Van Johnson

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Humphrey Bogart	...	Lt. Cmdr. Philip Francis Queeg
José Ferrer	...	Lt. Barney Greenwald (as Jose Ferrer)
Van Johnson	...	Lt. Steve Maryk
Fred MacMurray	...	Lt. Tom Keefer (as Fred Mac Murray)
Robert Francis	...	Ens. Willie Keith
May Wynn	...	May Wynn
Tom Tully	...	Comdr. DeVriess
E.G. Marshall	...	Lt. Comdr. Challee
Arthur Franz	...	Lt. JG H. Paynter Jr.
Lee Marvin	...	Meatball
Warner Anderson	...	Capt. Blakely
Claude Akins	...	Seaman Lugatch aka 'Horrible'
Katherine Warren	...	Mrs. Keith (as Katharine Warren)
Jerry Paris	...	Ens. Barney Harding
Steve Brodie	...	Chief Budge

Storyline

During the World War II, the crew of a small insignificant ship in the U.S. Pacific Fleet experience an event unlike any event ever experienced by the United States Navy. A Ship's Captain is removed from command by his Executive Officer in an apparent outright act of mutiny. As the trial of the mutineers unfold, it is learned that the Captain of the ship was mentally unstable, perhaps even insane. The Navy must decide if the Caine Mutiny was a criminal act, or an act of courage to save a ship from destruction at the hands of her Captain?

---

Plot Keywords:

ship captain | court martial | mutiny | u.s. navy | u.s. military | 

---

Taglines:

Jose Ferrer as Greenwald... who understood the reason for "The Caine Mutiny"

---

Genres:

Drama | War

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Features Tom Tully's only Oscar-nominated performance.

---

Goofs

Incorrect item above, Ens Keith hands Keefer his paperwork, who then takes out a single sheet to hand to the sailor behind him. Keefer gives the envelope jacket back to Keith. Keith is then introduced to Maryk who escorts him to see the Captain. Keith has his packet with him in all scenes, sometimes in his hand or under his arm.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Admiral: And so today you are full-fledged ensigns. Three short months ago you assembled here from all parts of the nation, from all walks of life: field, factory, office and college campus. Each of you knew what the fighting was about, or you wouldn't have volunteered. Each of you knew that the American way of life must be defended by life itself. From here on your education must continue in the more demanding school of actual war. Wearing the gold stripe of ensign in the United States ...

---

Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: "There has never been a mutiny in a ship of The United States Navy. The truths of this film lie not in its incidents but in the way a few men meet the crisis of their lives."

THE TIME - WORLD WAR II . . .

---

Alternate Versions

There was a version made for school, to be used in Social Studies class. It edited out most everything except the pertinent scenes of the Queeg incidents and the trial. The movie ended before the decision was reached so that the class could vote on whether they would convict for mutiny or not.

---

Connections

Spoofed in The Monkees: Captain Crocodile (1967)

---

Soundtracks

For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung a cappella by officers of The Caine

User Reviews

Mutiny During the War

The spoiled newly graduated Ensign Willie Keith (Robert Francis) is assigned to the sloppy minesweeper USS Caine commanded by Comdr. DeVriess (Tom Tully) and befriends Lt. Steve Maryk (Van Johnson) and Lt. Tom Keefer (Fred Mac Murray). Comdr. DeVriess is popular with the officers and crew but Keith does not like him. Keith likes when DeVriess is replaced by the veteran Lt. Cmdr. Philip Francis Queeg (Humphrey Bogart), who demands discipline on board. But soon Kefer notes that Queeg is paranoid and coward and induces Maryk and Keith to meet Admiral Halsey and to disclose Queeg´s behavior and paranoia. However, Keefer backs down when they are ready to meet Halsey afraid of being misunderstood and punished. Later a typhoon hits the USS Caine, Queeg freezes in the wheelhouse and Maryk relieves Queeg of command, supported by Keith. They have to face a court-martial for mutiny and only the lawyer Lt. Barney Greenwald (Jose Ferrer) accepts to defend them in court.

"The Caine Mutiny" is a fictional film about mutiny on board of a minesweeper in the World War II with magnificent performances. The plot is engaging, with life on board of a ship during WWII and also a court-martial in a military court in time of war. This film received nominations for important categories of the Oscar but won no awards. My vote is eight.

Title (Brail): "A Nave da Revolta" ("The Ship of the Rebellion")

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 June 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Authority and Rebellion

Filming Locations:

Royce Quad, UCLA, Westwood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$21,750,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$21,750,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1