Barnes & Noble

The winner of 1935's Best Picture Oscar, this sumptuously produced adaptation of the Charles Nordhoff-James Norman Hall bestseller has weathered the intervening decades extremely well. It's just as powerful and exciting today and remains the best of several big-screen versions. Based on real-life events, Mutiny dramatizes a momentous voyage of HMS Bounty, an 18th-century cargo ship sent to Tahiti to gather supplies of breadfruit that will be sold to West Indian colonies. The ship's new first mate, Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable), discovers early on that Captain Bligh (Charles Laughton), the Bounty's commanding officer, is a ruthless tyrant. A series of outrages gradually turns Christian against Bligh, and the mate leads his rebellious crew in a mutiny that culminates in the captain's expulsion from the ship. But that's only part of this unusually complex story line, beautifully developed by top screenwriters Talbot Jennings, Jules Furthman, and Carey Wilson. Legendary MGM executive Irving Thalberg personally supervised the production, insisting on period accuracy down to the most minute details: Although the film's Tahitian maidens were garbed somewhat more modestly than their real-life counterparts, the sets and costumes were flawlessly re-created and shipboard routine was realistically pictured. In actual fact, Bligh was not quite the heartless villain he's made out to be here, nor was Christian the altruistic humanist of Gable portrayal. But that doesn't matter, really. As a rousing historical drama, Mutiny on the Bounty is expertly constructed. It's one of several superb motion pictures directed by that underappreciated journeyman, Frank Lloyd, whose masterly touches made the film an instant classic -- and one that has withstood the test of time. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

This colorful remake of the 1935 version again concerns the crew and treatment of the HMS Bounty by a cold hearted sadistic captain. Captain Bligh (Trevor Howard) boards the ship in Portsmouth, England, to embark on a mission to bring tropical breadfruit trees to Jamaica. Fletcher Christian (Marlon Brando) is the aristocratic second mate who welcomes the new captain aboard. Christian's view of the captain sours with the cruel treatment of the crew and the dangerous decision to round Cape Horn. The Bounty sails into the teeth of a ferocious winter storm which is another in a long line of indignities suffered on the journey. John Mills (Richard Harris) is punished for stealing cheese. A sailor is ordered to stay aloft in the crow's nest, nearly resulting in death. The crew finds temporary paradise in Tahiti before Bligh's behavior becomes intolerable for the once faithful Christian. The crew revolts and sends the captain on his way in a small rowboat. Settling on Pitcairn Island, the crew soon realizes they may never see England again. Mills burns the ship to insure the trip is never made. Christian attempts to save the only means of transportation of their new island home. Lewis Milestone directed the film which was plagued by constant cost overruns to the tune of 18 million dollars. Brando's legendary ego clashed with results as turbulent as the fictitious trip around stormy Cape Horn. The movie retained slightly over half the cost of the production price tag in its initial release. Dan Pavlides

Product Details

• UPC: 012569791978
• Source: WARNER HOME VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
• Editions: Remastered, Special Edition, Subtitled, Dubbed
• Time: 3:05:00
• Sales Rank: 4,718

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Marlon Brando Collection

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