Billy Budd (1962)

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

Writers:

Louis O. Coxe (based upon the play: "Billy Budd"), Robert H. Chapman (based upon the play: "Billy Budd")

Stars:

Robert Ryan, Peter Ustinov, Melvyn Douglas

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations.

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

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.

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Plot Keywords:

mutiny | flogging | ship captain | british navy | napoleonic wars | 

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Taglines:

MUTINY...the word the navy dreaded most!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 November 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Verdammten der Meere

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allied Artists Pictures,Anglo Allied

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ustinov reports that he was horrified by attempts by Allied Artists to make the film more commercial. One idea was to close the film with a montage of stock footage from pirate movies.

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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.

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Quotes

Captain Vere: You know Seymour, there are some men who cannot stand too much perfection. They see it as a disease, which must be stamped out at it's first rash showing.

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Crazy Credits

As the cast is listed onscreen, the actors are heard stating their characters' names and ranks.

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Connections

Version of Beau travail (1999)

User Reviews

Stamp Acts Up A Storm!

Stamp's finest performance.

The screen is never quite the same after watching Stamp's portrayal of Budd. An elegant, stunning performance by one of the finest actors of our time. As the film sails on, you are left to adjudicate a moral dilemma...one that produces a certain sinking feeling.

Stamp's brave portrayal will always be with you!