Damn the Defiant! (1962)

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 (screenplay), Edmund H. North (screenplay)

Stars:

Alec Guinness, Dirk Bogarde, Maurice Denham

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alec Guinness	...	Captain Crawford
Dirk Bogarde	...	Lieut. Scott-Padget
Maurice Denham	...	Mr. Goss (Ship's Surgeon)
Nigel Stock	...	Senior Midshipman Kilpatrick
Richard Carpenter	...	Lieut. Ponsonby
Peter Gill	...	Lieut. D'Arblay
David Robinson	...	Harvey Crawford
Robin Stewart	...	Pardoe
Ray Brooks	...	Hayes
Peter Greenspan	...	Johnson
Anthony Quayle	...	Vizard
Tom Bell	...	Evans
Murray Melvin	...	Wagstaffe
Victor Maddern	...	Dawlish
Bryan Pringle	...	Sgt. Kneebone

Storyline

H.M.S. Defiant's crew is part of a fleet-wide movement to present a petition of grievances to the Admiralty. Violence must be no part of it. The continual sadism of Defiant's first officer Lieutenant Scott-Padget (Sir Dirk Bogarde) makes this difficult, and when Captain Crawford (Sir Alec Guinness) is disabled, the chance for violence increases.

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Plot Keywords:

napoleonic wars | navy | mutiny | press gang | british navy | 

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Taglines:

They were shipmates at war... with each other.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

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).

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Goofs

Vizard says "We do a full try out tomorrow, at eight bells", but he doesn't say which eight bells (00:00, 04:00, 08:00, 12:00, 16:00, 20:00 or 24:00).

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Quotes

Lieut. Scott-Padget: What is your name?
Wagstaffe: Wagstaffe. Percival Pallister Wagstaffe.
Lieut. Scott-Padget: Wagstaffe? Are you by any chance related to Admiral Wagstaffe?
Wagstaffe: Remotely, yes. He's a distant cousin.
Lieut. Scott-Padget: But he would speak for you?
Wagstaffe: Well, I'm quite sure that he...
Lieut. Scott-Padget: Admiral Wagstaffe - how well do you know him?
Wagstaffe: Intimately.
Lieut. Scott-Padget: You visit his house?
Wagstaffe: Oh, yes, often.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: SPITHEAD, ENGLAND 1797

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Connections

Referenced in The Boys (1962)

User Reviews

Wonderful acting in this seagoing tale

"Damn the Defiant." a 1962 film directed by Lewis Gilbert, is based on an actual incident, known as the Spithead Mutiny which took place during the 1797 war with France.

The ship is led by Captain Crawford (Alec Guinness), a fair man who is afraid to rattle the cage of his next in command, the sadistic Lieutenant Scott-Padget (Dirk Bogarde), who is well-connected and has ruined the careers of previous captains. The ambitious Scott-Padget, however, is determined to take over the ship and wants things his way. To this end, he brutalizes Crawford's young son, who is on board as a midshipman, knowing that the principled Crawford will not interfere.

However, there are mutineers on board, led by Vizard (Anthony Quayle) who have written a petition for better food and more money. They hate Scott-Padget, and if they take control, he's in big trouble.

This is a very good film with suspense as well as excitement, dominated by the acting of Guinness and Bogarde. Guinness is brilliant - you can see him making an effort to control his anger, and one also sees his great pain. When he at last asserts himself, he is very noble. Director Gilbert had to fight for Bogarde, so devalued was he by Hollywood, but Guinness spoke up for the actor as well, and he was cast. He does a great job - handsome, outwardly polite, and mean as dirt. Anthony Quayle is excellent as Vizard, who, in leading his men, demands patience.

Absorbing and entertaining, even if movies on the high seas aren't your thing.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English French

Release Date:

15 April 1962 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Mutineers

Filming Locations:

Denia, Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, G.W. Films Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastman Color)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1