ElMaruecan82 27 years after the classic precursor, a new "Mutiny of the Bounty" movie was to be directed by the same MGM studio, becoming one of the most expensive movies of its time if you consider the budget it took to a/ build a size-by-size replica of the iconic ship (and even a smaller one for some particular shots), b/ shoot the film in Tahiti, in the very spot where the ship set ashore less than two centuries earlier, and c/ get Marlon Brando to play Fletcher Christian. It was this casting that undermined the film's release and reception, which makes "Mutiny of the Bounty" an authentic case of failure that shouldn't have happened.This is a film that benefited from the long experience of director Lewis Milestone who made the groundbreaking "All Quiet on the Western Front", it benefited from Trevor Howard who as Captain Bligh, though older than his character, managed to make him tough, rough and far above the cartoon-version (though enjoyable) Charles Laughton played in 1935. The film also had the Technicolor visuals, the extras who looked like real seamen, the flogging where you could "feel" the red stains on the backbones, the Tahitian extras, everything exuded a hint of authenticity, immediately ruined whenever Brando started talking. I'm a fan of Brando, "The Godfather" is my all-time favorite movie and "Bounty" was my first Brando movie but God, I never realized how an actor could be unfit for a role, vocally and visually, until I saw this film again, as an adult.The problem comes right from the start when we're introduced to his Christian, he's dressed like a dandy, coming with two women and an irritatingly snobbish printed on his face. This debonair and seductive attitude worked perfectly in his later film "The Ugly American" but in "Mutiny on the Bounty", it was the most puzzling angle because it made Christian the least likely man to care for Bligh's tyrannical tantrums. So, it has less to do with Brando's acting talent than the characterization, something just rings false or doesn't allow a transition to the plot-structuring antagonism to be believable. It is very unfortunate because for the most part of the film, the performances of the other actors, with a honorable mention to Richard Harris, do justice to the story.The film isn't less iconic for all that, like a good wine; it aged fairly well. As the plot advances, even Brando seems more at ease in Christian's shoes and one can see he's not acting at all when Tarita has this luscious, magnificent hip dance to seduce him (we know reality joined fiction in that particular chapter of his life). While the Tahiti part was the weakest point of the 1935 film, in 1962, at a time where audiences were mature enough to enjoy some nudity and sexual innuendo, there was no need to cover the fact that the seamen had more than enjoyed their little trip, giving more attenuating circumstances to their mutiny, another pivotal plot point that felt forced in the first film, where Bligh was portrayed as a one-dimensional villain.After the mutiny, the two movies diverge dramatically. In the first, we have to admire Bligh's feat that consisted on taking 18 men to the Island of Timor 3600 miles away, Bligh defeated the odds and accomplished a naval exploit, to earn the admiration of any sailor, and that elevated Laughton above his "bad guy" status. Unfortunately, Bligh remains clean-shaven the whole film, and an ill-thought ellipse shows him directly stating his case in front of a court and being given a sermon he didn't get in real life. Bligh deserved a bit better. But I guess the point was to show the aftermath of the mutiny, in a less romantic tone than the first film. This one has a darker ending for Christian and foresees the tragic fate of the mutineers. A prologue and epilogue were shot to make it more explicit but didn't end up in the actual footage.Not the wisest choice because the film wasn't too long so it couldn't afford fifteen minutes more (the film is everything but a bore) and knowing that the lack of leadership lead these men to their death (only letting their descendants to live a peaceful life in Pitcairn Islands) gives a credit to the theories stated by Bligh about men needing rules and rulers. And I think any good "Bounty" story should be able to give the credit Bligh deserves, Bligh who seems far from the villainous and cruel depiction his legacy has been tarnished with, but not far enough. The film still seems entrapped in some mission to make a hero out of Fletcher Christian, which wasn't too difficult for Gable (although he never really risked his neck in the film) but it was too much asking for Brando.A quick look on the trivia page would have the most afflicting effect, everyone complained about Brando's behavior, the director didn't even shoot the last scenes, Richard Harris who admired Brando wanted to talk to a log rather than him in his final confrontation etc. Point is everyone complained about Brando's diva behavior, only equaled by Elizabeth Taylor's Prima Donna caprices in "Cleopatra". "Mutiny on the Bounty" was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and was one of the highest-grossing movies of the year, but it was a commercial failure that marked the beginning of the end for the studio system, the end of Milestone's career and the fading of Brando's stardom, until his come-back in "The Godfather". Quite an irony for a movie that is still enjoyable in its own right.This is one of these school-cases when a bad casting ruins a film, as if Brando was the real-life Bligh on the set. After watching the film, I'm not surprised that a third version of the story needed to be made, twenty years later.

FilmBuff1994 Mutiny on the Bounty is a mediocre movie with a reasonably well developed storyline and an average cast. The best part about this movie is the cinematography, the scenery is absolutely beautiful and it is visually stunning, the boat is one of the most impressive I've ever seen in a movie, if only the storyline and acting could have been as good as the set pieces then this film could have became an instant classic. I don't think that this films cast are genuinely bad actors, I just had conflicting options with them, a lot of them didn't seem to know what they were talking about or even truly understood their characters, and others didn't suit their roles one bit, I think Marlon Brando is one of the greatest actors who ever lived and he tries his very best with Fletcher Christian, but there's no taking away from the fact that this part wasn't right for him, he butchers the accent and he really isn't right for film epics like this, he's better off with deep, dialogue based dramas, although his scenes with Tarita Teriipia are probably the best parts as they were genuinely in love at the time. As for the story, I felt it was way too long, a good hour and twenty minutes probably could have been scrapped, every scene is too detailed and provides the audience with more information than they really need, and I found myself wanting it to be over before the adventure even began, which dosen't happen until roughly forty minutes in. Long, poorly acted, but stunningly filmed, it definitely has its moments but I couldn't recommend Mutiny on the Bounty. When the Bounty sets sail on a journey towards Tahiti, their adventure becomes more complicated than originally expected. Best Performance: Trevor Howard

ma-cortes Spectacular and lavish second retelling with extraordinary performances and wonderful outdoors . This high-budgeted rendition contains the mightiest excitement that ever swept across the sea or the screen . The Bounty leaves Portsmouth in 1787 . It is commanded by captain Bligh , he was chosen for the mission to Tahiti because he was considered one of the most skilled navigators in the world , having been personally selected by Captain James Cook as Master , title now would be Navigator , on his third voyage around the world . Its objective : to sail to Tahiti and load bread-fruit . The Bounty's original reason for going to Tahiti was to transport breadfruit seedlings to Jamaica where they would be cultivated to provide inexpensive food for the slaves working on English plantations . Captain Bligh (Trevor Howard, he was initially reluctant to play , because he felt he was far too old for the part, the real life Lieutenant William Bligh was 33 when the Bounty set sail) will do anything to get there as fast as possible , utilizing any means to keep up a rigid discipline . When they arrive at Tahiti , it is like a paradise for the crew (Richard Harris , Richard Haydn , Hugh Griffith , Percy Herbert , Gordon Jackson , among others) and officers , something totally different than the living hell aboard the boat . On the way back to England, 1st Lt. Fletcher Christian (Marlon Brando) becomes the chief of a rebellion . This is the second adaptation of the vintage story of mutiny during the turbulent voyage based on one of history's greatest true life sea adventure . It's the colorful classic version very well played and with marvelous scenarios . Interesting screenplay tough there are some gaps and flaws , as many writers did uncredited rewrites on the script, including Eric Ambler, William L. Driscoll, Borden Chase, John Gay and Ben Hecht . Big budget adaptation as the film cost an estimated $19 million in 1962 which was a huge expenditure at the time . The ship cost $750,000 to reconstruct ; for almost four decades, the ship used in this film, has been a popular tourist attraction in St. Petersburg, Florida. Visitors get to tour the ship itself and learn more about both the historical H.M.S. Bounty and MGM's two screen versions of the Nordhoff and Hall book . She was reused in ¨Caribbean pirates¨ and was also used in ¨Treasure island ¨ and sank during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. This account of the mutiny led by Fletcher Christian against captain Bligh is highlighted thanks to glamorous cinematography by Robert Surtees , as the last Ultra Panavision film to be shown in the extremely wide screen. Emotive as well as haunting musical score by Bronislau Kaper . Extremely memorable acting by Marlon Brando who brings his own powerful individualism to contrasting role of Trevor Howard with opposing attitude whose inevitable clash receives greatest importance . Interesting portrayal of Fletcher Christian's Marlon Brando and Bligh's Trevor Howard who bears little relation to Mel Gibson-Anthony Hopkins version . Furthermore , a sensual and romantic relationship between Marlon Brando and Tarita, the Tahitian beauty actress who played Maimiti, they met during filming and later married. Secondary cast is frankly excellent , such as Percy Herbert as Seaman Matthew , Duncan Lamont as John Williams , Gordon Jackson as Seaman Edward ,Noel Purcell a Seaman William , Eddie Byrne as John , Frank Silvera as Minarii and Hugh Griffith was fired during filming when his alcoholism became unmanageable , that is why his character disappears for large portions of the film . Compelling direction by Lewis Milestone who captures the feel of sea and harshness of the times . After the firing of Carol Reed, Marlon Brando began to usurp the power of replacement director Lewis Milestone , a well-respected veteran with two directing Oscars to his credit , in fact , it was last movie directed by Lewis Milestone ; he only did two TV episodes after this . Other renditions based on these historical events are the followings : Old and black and white take on titled 'Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)' by Frank LLoyd with Clark Gable , Charles Laughton and Franchot Tone and revisionist storytelling titled ¨Bounty¨ by Roger Donalson with Mel Gibson , Anthony Hopkins , Bernard Fox and Liam Neeson .The real deeds are the following : In 1787, Captain Bligh was chose to command HMS Bounty on a voyage to Tahiti, where he was to collect breadfruit trees with the object of introducing them to the Caribbean . Ironically, the breadfruit seedlings which Bligh brought to Jamaica as an inexpensive food for the slaves working on English plantations were an utter failure , as the slaves took one bite, and refused to eat any more . Captain Bligh is determined to reach Tahiti and return with a hold full of breadfruit trees. When the ship sailed after a six-month stay on the island, Bligh's men mutinied , casting him and a handful of loyal crew members adrift with scant provisions and no chart. Bligh's incredible seamanship brought them safely to Timor after a voyage of 4000 miles. Fletcher Christian and the other mutineers sailed on to the island of Pitcairn. The mutineers' fate remained in mystery for 18 years until their island was discovered by an American whaling ship , they found one man , John Adams, with nine women and 23 children. What happened Fletcher Christian remains uncertain, some say he was murdered on Pitcairn island, but then there were reports that he returned safely to England . However the descendants live on Pitcairn island to this day.

JoeB131 Which meant everything about it had to be epic.Captain Bligh had to be painted a villain of the darkest hue (he wasn't) while Fletcher Christian was a tormented hero because Marlon Brando was playing him.The scenes on the ship are indeed epic (the Bounty in this film is probably larger than the real ship was.) Again, this was the period when the movies saw Television as the competitor instead of the after-market, and therefore big movies had to be "epic". You can't see this on your little tube! You know the story. Captain Bligh is sent on an impossible mission to bring breadfruit from Tahiti to Jamaica, but his cruel leadership of the bounty causes his crew to revolt against him. Brandon plays Fletcher Christian as a leading man type better than Clark Gable or Mel Gibson did, but his performance is the least believable. (Oddly, Gibson's interpretation seems most like a real person.) The action scenes are epic compared to other versions, and that makes it worth watching.I would be remiss if I didn't point out the replica Bounty built for this film wasn't lost this year in Hurricane Sandy. Just thought I'd mention that.