Larry Karaszewski on MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1962)

Like the following year's Cleopatra, the drama behind the scenes of Lewis Milestone's Mutiny on the Bounty surpassed the film itself. Its reputation has inched upward after a rocky reception in 1962; Trevor Howard delivers a scathing take on the surly Captain Bligh, and as the foppish Fletcher Christian, Marlon Brando can't help but be compelling. Though the three-hour running time is daunting, Milestone has a steady hand on the rudder and Robert Surtees's glorious 70MM imagery is a big help.
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[TheVid]

I couldn't agree with you more, and this is one of the great 70mm roadshows of its time. The Bronislau Kaper score is as stupendous as the movie and the 3-CD score is a must have, containing every bit of music recorded for the picture (including alternate and multi-versions of cues).

[moviesgalore]

This movie was perfection I loved it when I first saw it on TV as a boy and it's still great.

[azohundred]

I actually like that Brando did his own different take on Fletcher than Gable's. It makes the movie unique from the first adaptation. Mutiny On The Bounty has the distinction of having 3 entertaining adaptations of the story. The 1935 one with Clark Gable and Charles Laughton is probably my favorite, but you really can't go wrong with the 1962 one with Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard or the 1984 one with Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins. All very entertaining films and interesting takes on Fletcher Christian and Captain Bligh in their own right.

[downunderrob]

That was such a sledge against Bligh. One of the Finest Captains in the Royal Navy.

[justanothersciencenerd]

The ship constructed for this film was later used as a training vessel and sunk in Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The captain more or less sent it right into the hurricane. He, along with a crew member, were killed. The remaining crew were saved in an exceedingly difficult rescue operation.

[maxthepupp]

Larry, if you need a PA in beautiful Tahiti just shout out!😁

[FCSchaefer]

I've always thought it would have been interesting if Brando had played Captain Bligh.

[johnpendarvis]

Trevor Howard doesn't get enough acclaim. He was perfect.

[SRV]

I prefer the 1980's version with Anthony Hopkins as Bly and Mel Gibson as Christian.

[ricardocantoral]

I admit I avoided this one for years because of it's poor reputation. When I finally saw it, I thought it was a good epic yarn. Trevor Howard as Bligh makes Laughton's character look like a saint! Marlon Brando did a good job, not one of his great performances but still good. I prefer the 30's and 80's films but this was good Hollywood epic.

[lostnthenoise]

It seems like almost every picture, you sort of have to set aside the accent that Marlon Brando has decided to affect.

[nighthiker]

THE VERY BEST PART OF THE MOVIE (THEY) CUT OFF, FROM THE ORIGINAL. I had seen it with my dad, at a matinee, ONLY TIME I EVERY SAID, THANKS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN FIND A ORIGINAL.

[jackpavlik]

Brando would’ve been a crap T.E. Lawrence

[MrDaiseymay]

A VERY FAIR ASSESSMENT, AND A PLEASING CONCLUSION. HAVING BEEN ABOARD THAT BEAUTIFUL SHIP, WHEN SHE DOCKED AT TORQUAY, IN SOUTH WEST ENGLAN, D, I STOOD AT THE WHEEL, AND, TOURED BELOW DECKS. ETC. I SHED TEARS, WHEN SHE WAS LOST. I'DLIKE TO POINT OUT, THAT BRANDO'S ACCENT, WAS PERFECT FOR THAT ERA, AND THE CHARACTORS BACKGROUND, I.E A BORED ARISTOCRACTIC FOP, WITH WELL ORFF RELATIONS. DONT CHA- KNOW. ? BUT NOT HISTORICALLY ACCURATE, AS BLIGH AND CHRISTIAN KNEW EACH OTHER, AND HAD SAILED ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. A FANTASTIC EVENT, VISUALLY GORGEOUS, TERRIFFIC MUSIC, AND THE STAR OF THE FILM--THE BOUNTY.
I VERY MUCH DOUBT, IF WE WILL EVER SEE NEW FILMS, LIKE THIS AGAIN. THANK GOD FOR DVD's ETC.

[hollyshippy]

Agree with you completely. We love this version and hope it gets remastered on 4K. What the Clark Gable version has going for it is not Gable, but Charles Laughton. He was great in comparison to the lackluster production he performed in. The Mel Gibson version is simply forgettable, with all the epic steam let out of it, opting for too much interior psychology. Lower budget and it shows.