Billy Budd (Terence Stamp) 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.
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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 | |
| Peter Ustinov | ... | Edwin Fairfax Vere - Post Captain Royal Navy | |
| Melvyn Douglas | ... | The Dansker - Sailmaker | |
| Paul Rogers | ... | Philip Seymour - First Lieutenant | |
| John Neville | ... | Julian Radcliffe - Second Lieutenant | |
| David McCallum | ... | Steven Wyatt - Gunnery Officer | |
| Ronald Lewis | ... | Enoch Jenkins - Maintopman | |
| Lee Montague | ... | Squeak - Assistant to Mr. Claggart | |
| Thomas Heathcote | ... | Alan Payne - Maintopman | |
| Ray McAnally | ... | William O'Daniel - Maintopman (as Ray McAnnally) | |
| Robert Brown | ... | Arnold Talbot - Maintopman | |
| John Meillon | ... | Neil Kincaid - Maintopman | |
| Cyril Luckham | ... | Alfred Hallam - Captain of Marines | |
| Niall MacGinnis | ... | Nathaniel Graveling - Ship's Master, Rights of Man (as Niall McGinnis) | |
 |
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 (Sir Peter Ustinov). He relies on his cruel and often sadistic Master-at-Arms John Claggert (Robert Ryan) to maintain what he believes to be tenuous order and discipline aboard the ship. When a new seaman, Billy Budd (Terence Stamp), is pressed into service from a passing merchantman, his innocent, happy-go-lucky attitude quickly endears him to 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:
TERENCE STAMP A new face! A new talent! A great new star discovery! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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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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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Master At Arms Claggert: Why, thank you, Sir.
Captain Vere: [impatiently] It's no flattery, Mr. Claggert. It's a melancholy fact!
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Did You Know?
Goofs
After the trial, the captain speaks with Budd below decks. In some shots Billy's head cast a long shadow on his left shoulder. In others, a short one. Then his head's shadow is on his right shoulder. See more »Quotes
Captain Vere: Master-at-Arms, you possess too much knowledge for such a lowly post.Master At Arms Claggert: Why, thank you, Sir.
Captain Vere: [impatiently] It's no flattery, Mr. Claggert. It's a melancholy fact!
See more »
Crazy Credits
As the cast is listed onscreen, the actors are heard stating their characters' names and ranks. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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If you've read the Melville story, this film will be a delightful surprise, especially in contrast to what usually happens to film adaptations of literature. For those of you who've never heard of Herman Melville, it's no matter. This film can stand on its own without reference or support from its original source.
A cheerful, innocent young man with wide eyes and blonde hair is conscripted from his commercial schooner to serve aboard an English Royal Merchant ship, which is akin to being Shang-Hai'd, but without the knock to the head. Everyone on both his old and new ship loves Billy Budd, an affable, competent young seaman who can fathom no sinister purpose in man nor beast, until he meets the master-at-arms of his new vessel.
I don't want to give away any more of the story, so give this lovely film a try if the premise interests you.