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Damn the Defiant!

Original title: H.M.S. Defiant
  • 1962
  • Approved
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
Damn the Defiant! (1962)
Official Trailer
Play trailer3:13
1 Video
56 Photos
ActionDramaHistory

On the H.M.S. Defiant, during the French Revolutionary War, fair Captain Crawford is locked in a battle of wills against his cruel second-in-command Lieutenant Scott-Padget, whose heavy-hand... Read allOn the H.M.S. Defiant, during the French Revolutionary War, fair Captain Crawford is locked in a battle of wills against his cruel second-in-command Lieutenant Scott-Padget, whose heavy-handed command style pushes the crew to mutiny.On the H.M.S. Defiant, during the French Revolutionary War, fair Captain Crawford is locked in a battle of wills against his cruel second-in-command Lieutenant Scott-Padget, whose heavy-handed command style pushes the crew to mutiny.

  • Director
    • Lewis Gilbert
  • Writers
    • Nigel Kneale
    • Edmund H. North
    • Frank Tilsley
  • Stars
    • Alec Guinness
    • Dirk Bogarde
    • Maurice Denham
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    2.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lewis Gilbert
    • Writers
      • Nigel Kneale
      • Edmund H. North
      • Frank Tilsley
    • Stars
      • Alec Guinness
      • Dirk Bogarde
      • Maurice Denham
    • 36User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Damn the Defiant!
    Trailer 3:13
    Watch Damn the Defiant!

    Photos56

    Damn the Defiant! (1962)
    Damn the Defiant! (1962)
    Damn the Defiant! (1962)
    Alec Guinness and Anthony Quayle in Damn the Defiant! (1962)
    Tom Bell and Anthony Quayle in Damn the Defiant! (1962)
    Damn the Defiant! (1962)
    Alec Guinness and Dirk Bogarde in Damn the Defiant! (1962)
    Murray Melvin in Damn the Defiant! (1962)
    Tom Bell and Anthony Quayle in Damn the Defiant! (1962)
    Dirk Bogarde in Damn the Defiant! (1962)
    Alec Guinness and Dirk Bogarde in Damn the Defiant! (1962)
    Dirk Bogarde in Damn the Defiant! (1962)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alec Guinness
    Alec Guinness
    • Captain Crawford
    Dirk Bogarde
    Dirk Bogarde
    • Lieut. Scott-Padget
    Maurice Denham
    Maurice Denham
    • Mr. Goss (Ship's Surgeon)
    Nigel Stock
    Nigel Stock
    • Senior Midshipman Kilpatrick
    Richard Carpenter
    Richard Carpenter
    • Lieut. Ponsonby
    Peter Gill
    Peter Gill
    • Lieut. D'Arblay
    David Robinson
    • Harvey Crawford
    Robin Stewart
    Robin Stewart
    • Pardoe
    Ray Brooks
    Ray Brooks
    • Hayes
    Peter Greenspan
    • Johnson
    Anthony Quayle
    Anthony Quayle
    • Vizard
    Tom Bell
    Tom Bell
    • Evans
    Murray Melvin
    Murray Melvin
    • Wagstaffe
    Victor Maddern
    Victor Maddern
    • Dawlish
    Bryan Pringle
    Bryan Pringle
    • Sgt. Kneebone
    Johnny Briggs
    Johnny Briggs
    • Wheatley
    Brian Phelan
    • Grimshaw
    Toke Townley
    • Silly Billy
    • Director
      • Lewis Gilbert
    • Writers
      • Nigel Kneale
      • Edmund H. North
      • Frank Tilsley
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Sir Alec Guinness and Sir Anthony Quayle made this movie during the two month break in the shooting of Lawrence of Arabia (1962), when the production moved from Jordan to Spain. Upon finishing this movie, both returned to Lawrence of Arabia (1962).
    • Goofs
      In the last scene, Alec Guinness orders all larboard (left side) guns to bear on the fire ship. In the next shot, the starboard (right side) cannon fire. Ironically, the term "larboard" was changed by the navy into the current term "port" precisely because it was too easy to mistake it for starboard.
    • Quotes

      Lieut. Scott-Padget: [Scott-Padget turns back to the Captain as he begins to exit] You may have the power of life and death over every man about this ship, sir, but I warn you: if we come through this voyage safely...

      Captain Crawford: [Crawford looks up from his work] Yes? If?

      Lieut. Scott-Padget: To have followed Admiralty instructions may not be quite be enough.

      Captain Crawford: [Crawford smacks his desk, jumps up and approaches Scott-Padget] I will say this to you only once, sir: I will not be bullied or threatened and I intend to be obeyed! Your friends in London mean nothing to me! I assure you that while you serve aboard this ship, they will mean absolutely nothing to you! You can go now.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: SPITHEAD, ENGLAND 1797
    • Connections
      Featured in The Nelson Affair (1973)

    User reviews36

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Spithead Mutiny Avast.
    It is the Napoleonic Wars and Captain Crawford takes command of the H.M.S. Defiant and sets off with his orders to Corsica. His second in command is Lt. Scott-Paget, a vindictive and bullying man who has moved through the ranks on account of his higher echelon connections. The two men don't see eye to eye from the off, which only compounds the many problems that are reaching boiling point aboard the ship. Mutiny is afoot, just as the French forces are closing in.

    Lewis Gilbert may just be one of Britain's most undervalued versatile directors. Here's a man that has directed Educating Rita/The Admirable Crichton (comedy), The Good Die Young (crime), Cast a Dark Shadow (Noir), Reach for the Sky (biography), Alfie/Shirley Valentine (romance), James Bond x 3 (multi genre) and sea faring adventures such as Sink the Bismarck! and this fine Napoleonic historical piece, H.M.S. Defiant.

    Adapted from Frank Tilsley's novel "Mutiny", this is a film built around a true story about what became known as the "Spithead" and "Nore" mutinies in 1797. Where sailors and press ganged inlanders were fed up with the working conditions, rates of pay and the all round treatment from the officers in charge. Also into the mix is a fascinating battle of wills between the two leaders of the Defiant, both men, in the midst of their power struggle, are oblivious to the rumblings and plotting of the crew. I mean you would think that with the French warships possibly around the corner that they would be unified in creating a rock solid front? That they don't gives the film an extra dimension. Thus when the battle sequences do come, and the turn of events perk the piece up, it has a two fold impact that makes all the waters lead to a terrific foggy bound climax.

    The cast are notable names from a roll call of British performers. Alec Guinness as Captain Crawford plays it spot on. An honourable man adhering to his code of ethics, it's through a plot strand involving his own son being on board that Crawford gets torturous and conflicted by his emotions. Who better than Guinness to layer such a role? Dirk Bogarde steps up to play weasel duties as Lieut. Scott-Padget, suitably handsome in uniform but playing the devils tricks, it begs the question on why Bogarde didn't in fact play more villains? because here he is excellent at it. Leading the mutiny is the looming muscular presence of Anthony Quayle, who along with Nigel Stock leaves a favourable mark in the support cast.

    Comparisons with other notable genre entries are inevitable, the likes of Mutiny On the Bounty, Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. and the more modern offering that is Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. If you like any of those films then the chances are you are bound to get much from this British production. The ocean scenes are filmed out in Alicante, and they sparkle as a backdrop to the splendid costumes, while the ships design is top draw. Ultimately this a fine genre entry, for as it stirs the blood and tells a great multi stranded story, it's also acted quite superbly by the cast. 8/10
    helpful•12
    1
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Jun 30, 2009

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 15, 1962 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • The Mutineers
    • Filming locations
      • Denia, Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain(Spanish coast)
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • G.W. Films Limited
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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