Rating: 
Summary: Humphrey Bogart is outstanding in this gripping drama
Review: Humphrey Bogart gives another top rated powerful performance in this classic drama with a first rate professional cast including Fred MacMurray, Van Johnson, Jose Ferrer, E.G. Marshall, Tom Tully, Lee Marvin, Robert Francis, Claude Atkins, and Arthur Franz.Captain Phillip Queeg (Humphrey Bogart) is in command of the USS Caine. Very unpopular with the men he gradually becomes more and more paranoid and his chief officers believe he is no longer competent to be in charge of the ship. His Executive Officer Lt Steve Maryk (Van Johnson) suspects that Queeg is a very sick man and not fit to command the ship due to his wild and erratic behaviour. Lt Tom Keefer (Fred MacMurray) feels the same way but is not prepared to make a stand against the Captain. During a violent storm Queeg loses his nerve and Maryk takes over the command only to be accused by Queeg of mutiny. ("Mr Maryk, if you question my decision once more I'll order you off this bridge". - Bogart to Van Johnson). Maryk does take over the ship against Queeg's wishes and when back on land charges of mutiny are brought against him. The trial that follows forms the main focus of the film (and for me it was the most interesting) with some very tense and impressively acted dramatic scenes showing Bogart at his best. Lt Barney Greenwald (Jose Ferrer) is engaged as defending counsel for Maryk who is being charged with mutiny. However, things begin to look very bad for Maryk when Tom Keefer is called to give evidence and fails to support him. Some other witnesses are also unable (or reluctant) to show that Queeg was unfit to command the ship and Greenwald appears to be losing his case. Then Captain Queeg is called to the stand and has to face some strong questioning from Greenwald leading to the dramatic climax of the film. Some favourite lines from the film: Humphrey Bogart (to crew): "You people think you're very clever, but you're not fooling me". Bogart (to Van Johnson): "Mr Maryk, you may tell the crew for me there are four ways of doing things aboard my ship. The right way, the wrong way, the navy way, and my way - they do things my way we'll get along". Johnson (to Fred MacMurray): "I don't get it. Is the captain off his head or isn't he? Is this record I've kept correct or not?". Johnson (to Bogart): "Captain, I'm sorry, but you're a sick man. I'm relieving you as captain of this ship under article 184". Bogart (to officers): "You'll all hang for conspiracy for mutiny". Bogart (on witness stand): "Ah .... but the strawberries! That's where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes, but I proved beyond a shadow of a doubt, and with geometric logic, that a duplicate key to the wardroom icebox did exist". Jose Ferrer (to the officers): "Sure, I got a guilty conscience. I defended you Steve because I thought the wrong man was on trial. So I torpedoed Queeg for you. I had to torpedo him and I feel sick about it". "The Caine Mutiny" was directed by Edward Dmytryk who was also responsible for "Raintree County", "The Young Lions" and many other classic films. "The Caine Mutiny" was remade as a TV movie in 1988 with Eric Bogosian, Jeff Daniels, Brad Davis and Peter Gallagher. I have never seen this so I can't comment on it. However, I did see the Bogart version several times and doubt if anything else could come up to that standard. TV movies are seldom as good as the big screen originals. Bogart was nominated for the Best Actor "Oscar" for his performance in this film but was unfortunately beaten by Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront". The film received a nomination for Best Picture but the award again went to "On the Waterfront". Actor Tom Tully was nominated as Best Supporting Actor for his role as Captain DeVriess but the award went to Edmond O'Brien for "The Barefoot Contessa". Even though it failed to win any Academy Awards "The Caine Mutiny" remains a very important dramatic and exciting film and the acting from all the principals was excellent. Another memorable Bogart winner that should not be missed.
Rating: 
Summary: I kid you not-This is good!
Review: Humphrey Bogart ia in one of his classic roles and those Fred MacMurray fans used to him as a doting father(My Three Sons) or a slightly addled good guy (Disney movies, notably The Absent Minded Professor) are in for a surprise as he hangs his colleagues out to dry. The typhoon sequence makes the film as well as a compelling case for Queeg's insanity. While Bogey's performance isn't up to Casablanca standards(and mothing is) he is certainly compelling. It's an enjoyable watch and can still pack a wallop.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely not the book, but close enough.
Review: Humphrey Bogart, Fred McMurray, Robert Francis, and Jose Ferrer round out an extraordinary story on film. While the movie differs some from the book in various methods, the differences are soon forgetten when Bogart brings his acting prowess to the role of Captain Phillip F. Queeg. It was a gripping film, right up to the end and didn't disappoint as a seperate story. As other reviews mention, the book's ending is quite different, but this movie is to be enjoyed without returning to Herman Wouk's naval masterpiece. I highly recommend it to readers of the novel, however... Bogart brings an excellent dynamic to Queeg.
Rating: 
Summary: A Superficial Portrait
Review: I found the actors not credible--I couldn't help feeling that they were merely mouthing memorized lines. So I couldn't believe in them as the characters they were supposed to be. Compared to some of the even hardly known actors of today, they were terrible.
Nor could I even believe the film's ending--Queeg definitely looked incompetent, helpless, stressed, and mad, certainly not one to be trusted with the lives of numerous seamen, especially since he had shown various psychological symptoms, as the defense lawyer cleverly proved.
The movie lacked mood, variation, real suspense-- based on my caring for the characters. Therefore, the story seemed contrived, false, manipulated, unbelievable. Perhaps it could have been credible if the actors had really understood the characters they were playing. But they expressed their feelings on the same superficial level that so many other actors did in the movies of that era. No depth--all shallow!
Fortunately, Brando and Dean brought a whole new dimension to acting--one that brought believability to not only the characters they played but also to the stories they were portraying. Involving is what they were--you couldn't escape their absorbing, engulfing performances. What a difference between them and the actors of this Caine Mutiny. It's like comparing elementary school actors with PHds.
Rating:
Summary: Naval adventure, leadership, and courtroom drama!
Review: I hadn't watched this film for many years, but recently bought and watched the DVD version. This movie is just as great now as it was when it came out in 1954. This film packs a tremendous amount into about 125 minutes--a crisis of leadership, the testing of loyalty, and courtroom drama--all done superlatively well. This is the tale of ordinary men who are tested in wartime by the fact that they are serving a captain who is a spectacularly bad leader. As almost everyone knows, this is the story of the events surrounding what amounts to a kind of mutiny aboard a US Navy destroyer during World War 2 in the Pacific. The events leading up to this, and the aftermath, are a great story that ranks with "Mutiny on the Bounty" as a naval classic. The story moves at a fast pace, never drags, features excellent acting, and the script is a wonderful adaptation of Herman Wouk's novel of the same name. The movie merited seven Academy Award nominations, and the book a Pulitzer Prize, all for a very good and simple reason: this is a great story about ordinary men who are placed in a difficult and all-too-possible situation. It is difficult to say whether the aboard-ship portion of the movie, or the segment dealing with the trial, is the better. Both are superb. Jose Ferrer was absolutely magnificent as Barney Greenwald, and of course Humphrey Bogart was peerless as Captain Queeg. Van Johnson does well as the uncomplicated but competent Meryk. The rest of the cast turn in fine performances as well. Every movie afficianado will want to own this DVD and will enjoy this classic many times.
Rating:
Summary: Highly enjoyable World War II navy drama!!!
Review: I liked everything about this film! Great performances, an excellent cast, and some legendary scenes make this a MUST SEE MOVIE!!! No, not much actual war video, but a really interesting plot nonetheless! A classic scene: Humphrey Bogart's being cross-examined by Jose Ferrer during the court-martial --- "ah, the strawberries! That's where I had them, and I would have proved it, too!" A great film!
Rating:
Summary: MAD COWARD / HEROIC MADMAN
Review: I really think that Humphrey Bogart is one of the best actors of movie history and, in my opinion, THE CAINE MUTINY is the film to see if one does want to have an idea of the wide possibilities Bogie had. You have to admire him in the role of Queeg, a character "à la De Niro", playing an officer whose mental health is to be questioned. Produced by Stanley Kramer who was the father of some pretty good movies with social or political purposes in the 50-60's period, THE CAINE MUTINY still is a very interesting feature. In fact, the mutiny Queeg has to face is not a rebellion against him personally but against what he stands for ; a symbol of power for Fred "the writer" Mc Murray or the portrait of a caring mother for the young officer. Max Steiner's musical score is to be admired too. In fact, military music has never sounded so dramatic than it does in this movie. A DVD for Mr Humphrey Bogart, Sir !
Rating:
Summary: Mutiny on this DVD!!
Review: I would have to say I would agree with the reviewer from 12/9/03: Why is this DVD so pricey? It has no extra features, it is an average film, turgid in spots, but--it does have Bogey. Hmmm...then why do truly GREAT Bogart films like Key Largo, Maltese Falcon, Big Sleep, and High Sierra go for around $15.O0? Even the 2-disc deluxe sets of Casablanca and Treasure of the Sierra Madre go for less than this one. I say, blame it on the lawyers!!! I'm sure if we wait it out, the price will come down to earth. Bogey is really great in the film, and the military trial sequence is one of the best, better than "A Few Good Men" but not quite up to "Paths of Glory". So remain mutinous until this DVD is affordable for the common seaman.
Rating:
Summary: i need some answers to this one
Review: i'm not sure that anyone's ever going to read this 'review'...i can't believe that anyone over the age of 35 hasn't seen this film!! my question isn't about the movie itself however..it's about something strange i see in the film. van johnson and jose ferrer both look like they've been in a car wreck prior to filming...i've tried to find out if this is in fact the case, but i've run out of places to look for answers. perhaps, some day, some where, someone will read this 'review' and have some answers. till then..it remains one of my all time favorite films....(ps..i was a navy wife for 21 years!! could that be the reason??)
Rating:
Summary: Bogart Unhinged
Review: If you love courtroom dramas, then don't miss this film. Humphrey Bogart stars as the captain of the Caine who has been relieved from duty by his officers who believe him to be insane. This is one of Bogart's best later performances, twitching with paranoia, yet somehow oddly sympathetic. Van Johnson is excellent as the officer who takes over and ends up charged with mutiny. Fred MacMurray is also terrific as the officer/novelist with the self-professed yellow streak. Robert Francis is adequate as the new officer who finds himself tangled in the mess. And Jose Ferrer is amazing as the lawyer who defends Johnson. He delivers a show stopping final scene. The scenes demonstrating Bogart's paranoia are well done and memorable, and the courtroom scenes are full of tension. What I liked most about the film is that when all was said and done, I had to really consider if Bogart was as bad as he seemed. That's a tribute to his fine acting, not to mention the complex screenplay with its many layers. Any movie that leaves you thinking is more than worth "the price of admission".
| 
