JLRVancouver Set against the background of the Spithead Mutiny, a 18th century 'rebellion' by Royal Navy sailors against the brutal way many of them were treated, "Damn the Defiant" follows the build up to a mutiny on the fictitious HMS Defiant, a R.N. frigate serving in the Mediterranean during the Napoleonic wars. The film centers on the conflict between the relatively benign (or 'soft' to his detractors) captain (Alec Guinness) and his harsh (or 'brutal' to his detractors) and supercilious second in command, played by Dirk Bogarde, who is too well connected in the Admiralty to fear punishment for insubordination. Like the Bounty's infamous Captain Bligh, Bogarde's character is a cruel martinet but a highly competent and brave R.N. officer. Tension builds on the ship as the Captain has to deal with potentially out-of-date orders, his first officer's insubordination, the brutalisation of his young mid-shipman son, and the press-ganged crew's growing resentment of their living conditions and the brutal punishments being meted out. The shipboard scenes are very good, especially the battle scenes, and the story well told. Overall: an excellent period-piece Navel adventure.

sol- 'H.M.S. Defiant' - sometimes known as 'Damn the Defiant!' - this UK drama follows a British naval captain who wishes to run "an effective ship... and a happy one" despite the fact that half his crew are "pressed men" (forcibly enlisted against their will). Alec Guinness is solid in the lead role, playing a character so obsessed with the naval life that he does not bat an eyelid at the prospect of having his 12 year old son on board. Problems arise as the ship's second-in-command, played by Dirk Bogarde, becomes obsessed on usurping power, insisting on regular over-the-top punishments for the captain's son in the hope of infuriating him. At the same, the pressed men, led by Anthony Quayle, are plotting a mutiny, with their cause only heightened after seeing how cruel Bogarde is to the innocent preteen boy. Then there is a pressed man who was studying law and is able to help the aspiring mutineers out. At times, 'H.M.S. Defiant' feels a tad histrionic, however, there enough of interest in the character dynamics that the film remains thought-provoking even when it turns melodramatic. The insight into forced enlistment, cruel working conditions and punishments (watch for the bread one character is told to eat) is impressive too, capturing just how unrealistic captains like the Guinness character were back in the 1790s, believing that their ships are great places to work.

Spikeopath It is the Napoleonic Wars, and Captain Crawford takes command of the HMS Defiant and sets off with his orders to Corsica. His second in command is Lt. Scott-Paget, a vindictive and bullying man who has moved thru the ranks on account of his connections. The two men don't see eye to eye from the off, which only compounds the many problems that are reaching boiling point aboard the ship. Mutiny is afoot and the French forces are closing in.Lewis Gilbert may just be one of Britain's most undervalued versatile directors. Here's a man that has directed Educating Rita/The Admirable Crichton {comedy}, The Good Die Young {crime}, Cast a Dark Shadow {Noir}, Reach for the Sky {biography}, Alfie/Shirley Valentine {romance}, James Bond x 3 {multi genre} and sea faring adventures such as Sink the Bismarck! and this fine Napoleonic historical piece, H.M.S. Defiant.Adapted from Frank Tilsley's novel Mutiny, this is a film built around a true story about what became known as the "Spithead" and "Nore" mutinies in 1797. Where sailors and press ganged inlander's were fed up with working conditions, rates of pay and the all round treatment from the officers in charge. Also into the mix is a fascinating battle of wills between the two leaders of the Defiant, both men, in the midst of their power struggle, are oblivious to the rumblings and plotting of the crew. I mean you would think that with the French warships possibly around the corner, that they would be unified in creating a rock solid front? That they don't gives the film an extra dimension. Thus when the battle sequences do come, and the turn of events perk the piece up, it has a two fold impact that makes all the waters lead to a terrific foggy bound climax.The cast are notable names from a roll call of British performers. Alec Guinness as Captain Crawford plays it spot on. An honourable man adhering to his code of ethics, it's thru a plot strand involving his own son being on board that Crawford gets torturous and conflicted by his emotions. Who better than Guinness to layer such a role? Dirk Bogarde steps up to play weasel duties as Lieut. Scott-Padget, suitably handsome in uniform but playing the devils tricks, it begs the question on why Bogarde didn't in fact play more villains because here he is excellent at it. Leading the mutiny is the looming presence of Anthony Quayle, who along with Nigel Stock, leaves a favourable mark in the support cast.Comparisons with other notable genre entries are inevitable, the likes of Mutiny On the Bounty, Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. and the more modern offering that is Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. If you like any of those films then the chances are you are bound to get much from this British film. It lacks quality location work, and the sound mix needs some modern tweaking {at the time of writing there is a DVD release but I've not witnessed the transfer yet}. But this is a fine genre entry as it stirs the blood, tells a great multi stranded story and is acted quite superbly by the cast. 8/10

ianlouisiana Life for the lower ranks in His Brittanic Majesty's navy was tough.What food there was was mostly rotten.Discipline was extremely harsh.Pay was negligible and irregular,prize money from captured vessels rarely permeated down to the Lower deck,Leave a rare privilege and not a right.Not,you might think,a particularly desirable career except for the well - off officer - class and you'd be quite right.Shortage of recruits meant that Press Gangs roamed the dockside streets packed with pubs and brothels to cudgel the drunk or unwary,be they seaman or "lubber" and drag them on board ship the night before sailing where,willing or no,and it was usually no,they were signed on for a voyage that might last for three years or more of harsh sometimes terrifying conditions with no redress and no hope of escape. HMS "Defiant"(called "Regenerate" in Frank Tilsley's novel)is a frigate with a crew of mostly pressed men.Nominally in charge is relatively humane Captain Crawford(Mr A.Guinness),but de facto sadisitic Lt Scott - Padgett (Mr D.Bogarde)has power of life and death over the crew. Desperate to improve conditions,sailors throughout the fleet are organising a "petition" outlining their grievances to be presented to sympathetic ears at the Admiralty.This is "Mutiny" by the back door,a word that sends tremors of fear throughout all ranks in the navy. Capt Crawford,whilst attempting to defuse Scott- Padgett's worse depredations is handicapped by the fact that his son is a midshipman directly under the Bad Lieutenant's command.In the ensuing power struggle the crew are used as pawns by both sides so that,in effect,three factions are trying to seize control of the ship. As in "Bridge over the River Kwai" Mr Guinness plays a brave honourable man overtaken by outside events.Fighting the French and the Spanish,only having the vaguest idea of the progress of the war,he knows the best way to keep the crew with him is to engage the enemy.Scott - Padgett, ambitious glory hunter to whom the ultimate prize is command of The "Defiant" will stop at nothing to achieve that ambition. Nelson's navy is a source of unending fascination for the British. Countless novels have been written about it."Mutiny" by Frank Tilsley,on which the movie is based concentrates on the run - up to the events at Spithead in 1797."HMS Defiant" has more action than talk but the sense of the original source is retained. "Rum,Bum and concertina" was how life below decks used to be described. There's not much of the first,none at all of the second and precious little of the third on display in "HMS Defiant",but nonetheless it's a well - made entertaining film about a ghoulishly fascinating era in British naval history and I can thoroughly recommend it.