The Caine Mutiny (1954)

This was a fairly controversial film in the 1950's because, as the film's disclaimer says at the start, this is fiction and there has never been a mutiny in the US Navy. It was more than slightly frowned upon to make a film that didn't show the military in the best light less than a decade removed from World War II.

The film starts with Ens. Willie Keith [Robert Francis] a young man fresh out of the academy preparing for his first real assignment. We get the sense that he is immature and does not make the best and most mature decisions. He favors his mother over the girl he really loves because she isn't in the same "class" and wouldn't meet mother's approval. He seems sure that he will get a job aboard a battleship, but to his dismay he gets assigned to the Caine. The Caine is a beat up ship that has seen a lot of action, the crew is informal and the captain is unorthodox which upsets Ens. Keith. When the captain is reassigned the navy brings in Lt. Commander Queeg [Humphrey Bogart], so our lead character really isn't on the screen for the first 20-30 minutes of the picture.

The immature Mr. Keith is immediately impressed by Queeg's desire to clean up the crew. Lt. Keefer [Fred MacMurray] is immediately against Queeg and convinces Lt. Maryk [Van Johnson] and Ens. Keith that action needs to be taken.

The film turns into a courtroom drama, and by seeing Ens. Keith mature, which is reflected in his personal life as he introduces his girlfriend to his mother and they get engaged. At the same time though, he is still siding with Keefer and Maryk against Queeg, and the film eventually turns into a courtroom drama. This is when José Ferrer is introduced and we get [I feel] the best performance in the film.

Good, not great, based on a book and play, I am glad I watched it. It was better than I was expecting.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046816/

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