"Mutiny on the Bounty" is an outstanding film. The cast is excellent, as is the cinematography and the script. The film never flags for a moment. All the scenes work, whether they are dramatic, romantic or comic.
In late eighteenth century England, a ship is launched to Tahiti, to obtain breadfruit trees for feeding slaves on a British colony. Captain Bligh (Charles Laughton) is a brutal taskmaster, punishing his seamen even up to their death. First Mate Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable) openly disapproves of Laughton's harsh methods.
With both men stubborn and hot-tempered, conflict is inevitable. Gable takes command of the ship and sends Laughton off in a lifeboat with some loyal mates. Against all odds, Laughton makes it to England alive, and returns to the sea in a second ship to catch and hang the mutineers.
It is difficult to say what is more impressive: the cinematography of the big ships, cleverly giving the illusion of their sailing the high seas, or the script, which gives the actors dramatic but natural lines.
I liked how events went after the mutiny. Laughton, who was selfish and cruel on the Bounty, is equally just and kindly on the lifeboat. This character transition was credible to me. Cooperation and not discipline was what was needed to reach shore. These were also his loyal men, and his anger was focused on seeing Grant hang.
Grant and the mutinous crew are hunted men without a country. Grant shows remorse for becoming an infamous outlaw, but no remorse for taking the ship to save lives and stop Laughton's cruelty.
Tahiti is depicted as a tropical paradise, with the most benevolent people (natives who look suspiciously Anglo-Saxon) in world history. Too bad civilizations like that cannot exist for long, as they would be ripe for exploitation by outsiders.
"Mutiny on the Bounty" won the Oscar for Best Picture. It was also nominated for Best Director (Frank Lloyd), Best Screenplay (Jules Furthman, Talbot Jennings, Carey Wilson), Best Film Editing and Best Score. Laughton, Grant, and Franchot Tone (who plays a good-guy officer tried for mutiny) were all nominated for Best Actor, but must have split the votes between them. Victor McLaglen ("The Informer") was the winner that year.
"Mutiny on the Bounty" was remade in 1962, with Marlon Brando entertainingly miscast as Fletcher Christian. Mel Gibson also played the role in "The Bounty" (1984), a tedious but more realistic version with excellent cinematography. (94/100)
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