The Caine Mutiny [DVD]

I have seen this movie twice. The first time I saw it several years ago I really did notappreciate the complexity of the story. I fully sided with the decision to remove theCaptain from his post.But when I watched it again recently I realized for the first time that this movie is notso one sided and "obvious" in what I, at first viewing, thought.The acting is very very good. Bogart is at his finest and the supporting cast is verygood at showing the differences of opinion. Look closely for the plaque on thewall in one of the scenes. It is a key to understanding the tremendous mental stressand pressure that Captains are under when German U-Boats are all around.

Seeing this again for about the 15th time, I noticed that the script seemed really haphazard. Cliché-ridden and sentimental, it dawdled around on minor side-stories, and scenes of Yosemite Valley, without really getting into the meat of the Captain Queeg plot till the second half. But Wouk had a hand in the script, and was merely following his own novel, which was not about Captain Queeg, but rather a naval ensign who got caught up in a commonplace situation of the Pacific War.Fred MacMurray as always is wonderful. This is one of his three or four 'dark' movie roles, along with Double Indemnity and The Apartment. Humphrey Bogart is the centerpiece, but he's just sad; I believe that Dick Powell, who wanted the role, would have been better. Van Johnson shines in a hapless role.José Ferrer is at the top of game, top of his career. You can see why they carved out his court-martial scenes and made them into a two-act stage play.

I especially liked the back story videos. I never read the book, so found it interesting their comments on what happens in the book to the characters. Quite a twist!This movie has very strong performances by Humphrey Bogart, Van Johnson, Jose Ferrer, and Fred MacMurray--who usually is a more mild manner performer (thinking of "My Three Sons") but sure can turn around and portray a heel.Also shows that even when we think poorly or don't want to work with a manager that doesn't meet our expectations, we still need to be behind them to make a situation work, and maybe could sway a situation to a more positive end.

As one of my all-time favorite movies, getting it in 1080p HD for my home Plex library is great. I loved the book when it was first published, and I've seen the movie on TV several times. Now having it readily available, anytime, for the "big screen" in the livingroom, or any other screens... well it's just more than worth it for me.Another HD movie I recently bought was African Queen with Bogart & Bacall. I loved that early 50's movie, but had only ever seen it in black & white or on the pathetic color TVs of the last century. It was so much better in HD on a Blu-ray disk.As a bonus on that disk, there was a short article about the difficulty of restoring old films shot in Technicolor. Technicolor cameras were huge cameras, because they used three rolls of film simultaneously... one each of the three basic colors. Three cameras in one, to get better color than a single roll of color film could provide. Theaters then needed Technicolor projectors with three synchronized projector lenses to blend the three colored film rolls together.To digitize those old films, restorers had to find the best individual reels of the three colors, and synchronize those, frame by frame (including the sound), as they restored each frame. It's a far tougher process than I ever realized, and with Technicolor, three times as difficult as with B&W or other color processes. I'm glad there's enough of a Blu-Ray market to justify the cost of such a difficult restoration on old classic films.

The acting in this movie is its most notable feature. I read "The Caine Mutiny" before seeing the movie, and while there are some significant differences (for example, Willie was actually something of a spoiled rich kid who joined the Navy because it would keep him out of the Army), the fundamental story was the same. And when Herman Wouk wrote the character of Captain Queeg, he must have had Humphrey Bogart in mind! This story is one where one starts out sympathizing with the mutineers because of Queeg's outrageous actions, but in the end, one must think carefully about what really happened and what it means to command a ship at sea during wartime.

Humphrey Bogart is Lt. Commander Queeg. That should be it for this review. The Cain Mutiny was adapted from a Book by Herman Wouk. The basic story is about a few junior officers on the USS Cain who have to deal with the complicated Lt Commander Queeg. The main character, Ensign Willie Keith (Robert Francis, who died in a plane crash at age 25), joins the crew of the USS Caine is is displeased with the current Captain. Soon after he is replaced by Queeg and the fun begins, not fun really. After a few incidents, accidentally cutting a tow line, a search for a key that never existed, the some of the Junior officers, Van Johnson as Lt Steve Maryk is their leader, take over the ship during a sever Typhoon. The Court Marshall is very tense and we see a stellar performance by Bogart. The cast is fantastic, besides the ones i have mentioned, there is Fred MacMurray, E.G. Marshall, Le Marvin, who provided military advice and Jose Ferrer is brilliant as the defense attorney. There is some war action, but the Court Marshal is the main focus of the movie. I recommend this movie.

Unfortunately I haven't read the book, so the role that the communications officer (Fred McMurray) played in the plot is still unclear. It did not occur to me that he was a "bad guy" — perhaps just lacking spine?The love story, the overbearing mother, the typhoon, the court martial, and the celebration do not blend together into a compelling story. Loose, desultory threads distract from the main plot.The scene in the bridge was well acted, but the following scenes (Treasure Island, the hotel celebration) seem mostly lifeless. The behavior of the lawyer makes little sense to me.

A classic movie from 1954, Humphrey Bogart plays – rather against his usual screen persona – the paranoid, martinet Lt. Commander Queeg, captain of a US minesweeper.Based on Herman Wouk`s novel of the same name (though rather different from it) this is nevertheless a very good study of the “men in war” type dealing with a situation where the commanding officer may be mentally unfit for duty.One of Bogart's most memorable roles, the supporting cast are equally fine and there's a rousing music score from Max Steiner.The UK DVD has nothing to speak of in the way of extras, though it does have subtitles in English.

The Caine Mutiny tells the fictional story of troubled times on board an American minesweeper in WWII, and a court martial that follows.Recently graduated Ensign Willie Keith (Robert Francis) arrives on board the Caine, and is disappointed to find not all is shipshape. Initially pleased when a new Captain arrives, it's not long before he and the rest of the crew realise Capt. Queeg (Bogart) is a paranoid tyrant, quick to find fault in others, and keen to hide his own failings.Lt. Keefer (Fred MacMurray) urges Lt. Maryk to act. Things finally coming to a head during a violent storm, in the midst of which the titular 'mutiny' (or is it really?) occurs. When back on dry land the events at sea result in a court martial. Lt. Greenwald (Jose Ferrer), an inexperienced lawyer, is assigned to the defence.Despite depicting a loony captain and a possible mutiny (which the film assures us has never actually happened in the US navy), the film clearly had US Navy help. The port and sea footage is good, although the story is perhaps initially a bit pedestrian (the romantic subplot seems like a red herring), only gradually livening up. The switch to courtroom drama is also a little clunky.Young star on the rise Robert Francis was an unknown face. I subsequently found out that this was 'cause his career was cut short when he died in a plane crash, aged just 25. His central character is a bit too wet behind the ears and all-American for me. Bogey plays one of his least likeable characters. And both he, and even more so Ferrer, take their time to appear. Fred MacMurray and Van Johnson are both fine, giving solid if unremarkable performances. And a very young Lee Marvin plays the lowly 'Meatball'!After some vacillating, I'm giving this just three stars, as I was rather disappointed. Most assuredly not a classic. But still worth seeing if you like Bogey and WWII movies, as I do..

'Ensign Willie Keith's first assignment is on the undisciplined 'rust-bucket'the 'SS' Caine' a minesweeper, he is obviously disappointed with his appointment.The serving Commander is replaced by 'Lt Commander Philip Francis Queeg' who isa disciplinarian who follows 'the book' to the letter.However whilst he is openly critical of the officers serving under him he acceptslittle in the way of responsibility for his own shortcomings.His decisions throw doubt into the minds of officers and crew alike.Things come to a head during a cyclone in which the ship and it's crew are at risk,2nd in command 'Lt Steve Maryk' takes command saving the 'Caine' from almostcertain floundering.Following this incident, at a naval hearing 'LT Maryk' is charged with inciting amutiny,An absorbing naval drama with many familiar faces from yesteryear, solid performancesfrom 'Humphrey Bogart' supported by 'Fred MacMurray' 'Van Johnson' and new-face'Robert Francis'Picture and sound quality benefiting from the HD upgrade.A MOVIE WELL WORTH RE-VISITING.As you might expect there is little in the way of additional features, except for'Commentary from 'Richard Pena' and 'Ken Bowser' along with 'Behind the Caine'mutinit' featurette.

This is not the sort of film you'd expect from Hollywood, now or in the 50's. There aren't any heroics; there aren't even any heroes. Queeg (Bogart) is obviously a man no longer fit for command; a man who cannot win over his officers from the moment he takes over command. The officers are officers of a slack ship that needs leadership; leadership Queeg is no longer equipped to provide. Whilst there is a villain (Keefer), even he is somewhat equivocal, and that is probably the closest point at which this film conforms to Hollywood "normality".It is, nevertheless, an absorbing story; well thought out, well directed, well acted. The ending is... unsatisfactory, as it should be. If there are no heroics, there shouldn't be a neat tying off of all loose ends. Nothing is black & white; no-one emerges from the final court-martial tarred & feathered or with shining haloes, not even Keefer, oddly enough.It's not quite a 5* film, but it's not far off it. In the 21st Century, Bogart's probably the only recognisable name in it (Lee Marvin has a minor part). That should & does not detract from the quality of the performances. Every character is as believable as the story is; everything is as grey as the storm that proves the climactic trigger of that story. It's not quite a 5* film, but it is well worth adding to your film library.

When Queeg takes command of the USS Caine he introduces regulation discipline aboard the ship. This does not go down to well with the crew, and the officers, with the exception of Maryk soon despise Queeg. As Queeg tightens discipline , Keefer, begins to make subtle suggestions about Queegs sanity and suggests that Maryk should relieve Queeg. When it happens, the ship is saved from sinking but Maryk ends up on mutiny charges. It will take a good lawyer to secure his aquittal, and some ugly truths to come out.Fred Macmurray is great as the subltle, clever Keefer who gets Maryk (Van Johnson) to do the dirty Work, and Bogart delivers a great performance as Queeg