Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)

In 1787, British ship Bounty leaves Portsmouth to bring a cargo of bread-fruit from Tahiti but the savage on-board conditions imposed by Captain Bligh trigger a mutiny led by officer Fletcher Christian.

Directors:

Lewis Milestone, Carol Reed (uncredited)

Writers:

Charles Lederer (screenplay), Charles Nordhoff (novel)

Stars:

Marlon Brando, Trevor Howard, Richard Harris

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marlon Brando	...	1st Lt. Fletcher Christian
Trevor Howard	...	Captain William Bligh
Richard Harris	...	Seaman John Mills
Hugh Griffith	...	Alexander Smith
Richard Haydn	...	William Brown
Tarita	...	Maimiti
Percy Herbert	...	Seaman Matthew Quintal
Duncan Lamont	...	John Williams
Gordon Jackson	...	Seaman Edward Birkett
Chips Rafferty	...	Michael Byrne
Noel Purcell	...	Seaman William McCoy
Ashley Cowan	...	Samuel Mack
Eddie Byrne	...	John Fryer (Sailing Master)
Frank Silvera	...	Minarii
Tim Seely	...	Midshipman Edward 'Ned' Young

Storyline

The Bounty leaves Portsmouth in 1787. Its destination: to sail to Tahiti and load bread-fruit. Captain Bligh will do anything to get there as fast as possible, using any means to keep up a strict discipline. When they arrive at Tahiti, it is like a paradise for the crew, something completely different than the living hell aboard the ship. On the way back to England, officer Fletcher Christian becomes the leader of a mutiny.

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Plot Keywords:

mutiny | south seas | corporal punishment | sailing ship | tyrannical captain | 

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Taglines:

TRUE...TURBULENT...TREMENDOUS!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Polynesian French

Release Date:

8 November 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Motín a bordo

Filming Locations:

Bora Bora, Leeward Islands, French Polynesia

Box Office

Budget:

$19,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$13,680,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arcola Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

178 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System) 4-Track Stereo (35mm release) (some prints) Mono (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.76 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor were criticized in the media for what was perceived as their part in causing the budgets of their epic films (this movie and Cleopatra (1963)) to balloon out of control. Aside from their paychecks (1.25 million dollars for Brando, with overages; a minimum of one million dollars to Taylor, both record salaries for the time), the press claimed it was prima donna behavior on the part of the two stars that caused the resulting fiscal hardships at their respective studios, MGM and 20th Century Fox. Although both films were costly, and neither made a profit, "Cleopatra" was a far more costly flop. It was budgeted at forty-four million dollars (approximately three hundred thirty million in 2012 dollars, making it the most expensive film ever made, when adjusted for inflation) and earned the studio only twenty-six million dollars in rentals, against a budget of nineteen million dollars and less than ten million dollars in losses for "Bounty". While MGM was hurt financially, "Cleopatra" nearly bankrupted Fox. In his defense, Brando later pointed out that MGM charged five hundred thousand dollars, paid in the mid 1930s to the book's two authors, to the budget of this remake, an example of creative accounting that makes Hollywood profit-and-loss statements highly suspect. Whatever the truth, the fact is that Brando's career went into decline after this movie, whereas Taylor went on to win a second Oscar, and remained among the highest paid movie stars in the world throughout the 1960s. Brando would regain his star power, however, during the 1970s.

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Goofs

The term "key-holed", referring to dragging a sailor beneath the bottom, or "keel" of the ship, is actually "keel-hauled". It was a form of punishment in the British Navy in the 18th and early 19th century. It was actually an indirect death sentence because the sailor would (a) drown, (b) be torn to shreds by the rough wood and barnacles on the ships hull or (c) attacked by sharks attracted by the blood from (b).

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Quotes

Captain Bligh: [three deserters are brought before Bligh] Quite an interesting gathering. What are those deserters doing here? Why aren't these men in irons?
Fletcher Christian: The men are being bandaged, sir. As to whether they are deserters, I'm a naval officer, I'm not a judge.
Captain Bligh: To my mind, you are neither.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Master Ninja I (1992)

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Soundtracks

Follow Me
Words by Paul Francis Webster
Music by Bronislau Kaper
Performed by Chorus

User Reviews

Superior entertainment in the grand old style!

This is a fabulous movie. Sumptuous production, good screenplay, excellent performances, beautiful cinematography and a majestic musical score.

Story follows the crew of British Naval vessel 'The Bounty' on its mission to transport 'bread fruit' plants from Tahiti to Jamaica, as food for the slaves there. Unrest is almost immediate, with the Captain (Howard) and his first officer (Brando) disagreeing over the appropriate punishment for a sailor's minor infraction. Things only get worse during the voyage as the harsh Captain responds severely to anything that opposes his ambition to please the admiralty with a speedy voyage. The crew's time spent in the paradise of Tahiti (particularly with regard to the naked and willing women) fills them with such pleasure that the prospect of a return voyage under such cruelty is unbearable. Events finally reach a summit on the way to Jamaica, when a mutiny takes place and the Captain is set adrift with most of those in disagreement with the first officer. However, this is far from an absolution for both sides...

For many the film is measured by the performance of Marlon Brando in the lead role, and it is easy to see why. His first officer, Fletcher Christian, is unlike anything from him in memory; however, taken as it is: an effeminate, fair-minded character forced into an extreme dilemma, the result is a complicated man, extremely well played. Indeed, as the film progresses, Christian's predicament is increasingly sympathetic and it is to Brando's credit that he remains engaging throughout. His unexpected plea to his fellow mutineers at the end is an extraordinarily conceived and delivered moment in the film.

Trevor Howard plays Captain Bligh with poise and relish. The character is completely arrogant and utterly loathsome, but never less than believable. This villain is all the more frightening because his cruel methods never stray outside the 'official' Naval regulations, as he is keen to point out. Of the supporting players, Richard Harris' roguish Mills and Richard Haydn as the Royal botanist (and film's narrator) make the strongest impressions. Overall acting is very good.

Vivid use is made of the exotic island locations (on which a considerable time is spent) and the vast, isolating ocean vistas.

Overall impression is of grand scale and spectacle, but illustrated with the intelligence and humanity of the scenario. Near-perfect filmmaking in glorious, old-fashioned style!