The Caine Mutiny

Rating:
Summary: Strawberries, anyone?
Review: "The Caine Mutiny" follows the story of the men aboard the minesweeper U.S.S Caine during the period of 1943-44 in the pacific war. After the Caine is assigned a new captain, Philip Queeg (Humphrey Bogart), the officers begin to get suspicious at various acts that the captain does: His attention to small details such as shirttails and erratic behavior like rolling ball bearings in his hand when he's nervous and the spouting of catchphrases like "I kid you not". His behavior reaches a climax during a typhoon. Executive Officer Maryk (Van Johnson), after being advised by some others, relieves the captain with the firm belief that the ship would founder with Queeg in charge. Now Maryk has to defend his actions in a court martial.

It may seem surprising today, but at the time of this movie's release, Jose Ferrer was one of the hottest actors around. He was already an Oscar winner for 1950's "Cyrano de Bergenac". Here, he plays Lt. Barney Greenwald, who is assigned to Maryk's defense, but isn't so enthusiastic ("I've read the preliminary investigation very carefully and I think that what you've done stinks."). He came off to me as a competent defense attorney who was just waiting for the moment to strike. And although the evidence that backs up Queeg and goes against Maryk is overwhelming, Greenwald is able to break down Queeg in court, validating his instability and allowing Maryk to get off only with a reputation as a "mutineer".

My favorite performance is Fred MacMurray as Lieutenant Keefer, who doesn't think too highly of the Caine, even being cynical towards it ("The first thing you've got to learn about this ship is that she was designed by geniuses to be run by idiots.") And, though not a psychologist himself, he is also the one who raises it to Maryk's attention that Queeg may be nuts. Since he also contains hammering the idea at Maryk, it makes one assume that he would be willing to go all the way by alerting the top navy brass. But we soon learn that he is nothing but a scheming coward. He plants it in the men's minds that the captain is crazy, yet has "A yellow streak 15 miles wide". And when he is called to testify, "He never even heard of Queeg" as Greenwald remarks. At this point, we turn from disliking his cynicism to hating his guts. MacMurray, I thought, played this role so well and very convincingly. Surprisingly, he never got Oscar nominated for any of his performances. Perhaps the academy thought that this actor-who's most well known as the father on "My Three Sons" and had a track record in light comedies- wasn't prestigious enough to win the gold. It's like his against type roles in "Double Indemnity", "The Apartment" and this movie never existed!

In the beginning of the film, we tended to dislike Queeg because he's a nut. He has the ship steam away from a combat mission, he orders no more movies to be shown, has constant practice drills and, when some strawberries turn up missing, has the ship searched and basically ripped apart in a futile search for a "duplicate key to the icebox". But at the end, when Keefer's plan is revealed, when sympathize with Queeg at how he was used and mistreated by his crew. For had the crew supported and helped the captain when he asked for it, things might have turned out different in the typhoon. This is one of Bogart's better roles, maybe his last great one, and it netted him his last Oscar nomination. He made only about 3 or four other movies after this one, with the last, "The Harder they Fall", being released in 1956. In February 1957, Bogart died of complications from throat cancer.

If there is one problem with "The Caine Mutiny", it is the romance plot between Ensign Keith (Robert Francis) and his girlfriend May, played by May (Coincidental?). Keith's character is the first we are introduced too in the film. His involvement in the film is sort of like that of the newsreel reporter in "Citizen Kane": He serves as a guide, a plot device to the events that follow. And only a handful of scenes are dedicated to Keith and May. However, these end up in the way of the much more exciting action involving Queeg and the other officers. I have read Herman Wouk's novel and am aware that this wasn't manufactured for the film, but was actually in the book (And was the main plot, if I'm not mistaken). This shows how much the screenwriters tried to remain faithful to the book. But the only way the movie could have been truly faithful to the novel would be if it had been two and a half or even three hours long. With a roughly two-hour movie, the writers should have figured out what was more important to focus on. If they had either dumped or worked out the romance plot better so it fit more into the plot, the movie would have been even better.

Otherwise, "The Caine Mutiny" is a great film, one that many persons can find something to like. Naval buffs will enjoy beautiful shots filmed aboard naval destroyers at port and sea to represent the DMS Caine. Fans of court room dramas will find a very tense, well played one that'll satisfy them (Though a 1988 T.V movie, "The Caine Mutiny court-martial", was said to do a better job. But having not seen that, I can't form an opinion). Bogie fans will most likely judge this one of his career highlights. And skeptics of Fred MacMurray's talent will be put to rest. Add in a supporting cast that includes Tom Tully, E.G Marshall and Lee Marvin, you have great entertainment, I kid you not!

Rating:
Summary: 4 Stars But............
Review: ............why is this movie so freakin' expensive???!!! It's old and there are basically no extra features. It's a really good movie and I would love to buy it, but I am not paying that much for it. I guess I'll have to wait a few years for the price to come down.

Rating:
Summary: great film, great cast
Review: A great film that certainly ranks among the classics, even by Bogart's high standards. In this he is more of an ensemble player, but he is still outstanding in the role of Captain Queeg. Full of great performances, like Fred MacMurray, who surprisingly at his best when playing rats, like here and Double Indemnity and The Apartment. Van Johnson, although not a great personal favorite, is superb in this film. But Jose Ferrer comes in at the end and steals the picture. A film that ranks with the great ensemble acting movies, like Glengarry Glen Ross.

Rating:
Summary: Herman Wouk's MASTERPIECE'!
Review: After viewing this film, you may never want to eat another strawberry again. Its themiddle of WWII. We have to stop the Nazis - Hitler's gone berserk. He's murdering millions of innocent people. So whats the most pressing issue aboard the USS Caine? WHO TOOK THAT QUART OF MISSING STRAWBERRIES? A strip search ensues, then a Court-Martial, then a party. At the party, the drunken attorney tells everyone off and proceeds to reveal the person who instigated the mutiny for his own purposes. I think this movie works even better as a comedy. The dialogue probably made Shakespeare rock and roll in his grave. A best line? Consider Lee Marvin's response when the defense attorney asked him, "Did you like Captain Queeg?" Marvin: "I liked him. Not a lot. But I liked him. He acted strange." (Yes,no,yes,no) If you like a show where the only one who gets in trouble is the one who tells the truth then you'll LOVE The Caine Mutiny. A study in contrast. A study in deceit. A study in mutiny.

Rating:
Summary: A BOOK OF SHADOWS
Review: Blessed be.Tortured and beat by decades of "arduous combat", an aging LT. Commander is given the opportunity to retire as a senior officer should he successfully command a target-towing rust bucket during the final months of conflict in the Pacific; probably around March of 1945.Most of his trusted officers are Reserves, or ROTC types and thus unfamiliar with the ways of command. Except one.Because his predecessor cared little of the War, less of the Navy, and nothing of his crew and compliment, aging Lt. Commander Francis Queeg found his importance lie in salvalgeing these military men from the jade they had come to embrace. Except one.Attentive to the wishes of Command, and adherent to orders that lacked clarity, the Officers and men of the Caine put her out to sea to move targets around. A Tow-line incident was seized upon by crew members to discredit Captain Queeg. All rank and structure organizations have embedded within them a check and balance in where leadership is subject to harsh scrutiny; like it should be. Captain Queeg was no different than any other leader and was thus frankly ridiculed for perceived errors. He knew this from prior Command experience, and remained undetered. Despite confusion, the crew remained loyal. Except one."Ah! The strawberries. That's where I had them". In a mis-guided attempt to re-assert his authority, and re-enlist his men into a military deal, Captain Queeg chastised them as a quart of frozen strawberries went missing from the ward room freezer compartment. After the ship was searched from stern to aft, after the men were searched by Corpsman, the strawberries - or maybe a "duplicate key" - remained mysteriously unfound. Except one.Now confused by visions of strawberries and duplicate keys, the crews confidence in Captain Queeg began to whither. The men wrote funny poems about him; and little songs. They made things up about him. None-the-less, the Captain continued his mission, and his staff remained loyal; though tacidly so. Except one.A typhoon tested the Captains seafaring skill. His seemingly obtuse response broke the proverbial camel's back, and the Executive Officer - being number 2 - assumed command, and ordered security personnel to confine Captain Queeg to his wardroom. Except one.Back ashore, Captain Queeg files Mutiny.A courts-martial eventually ensues, and we learn the orders given to the officers and men of the Caine; orders delivered without pace; orders that symbolized panic, were actually orders that had been given to him. All the witnesses tell thier story to the panel of judges just the way they saw it. Except one.After the verdict, came a party. The successful defense attorney, drunk, angry, and new bearer of that "arduous" tatered soul that was Francis Queeg, tells the celebrants of what he found. He defended the accused only because he saw the wrong man was on trial. Everyone's glance was unknowing. Except one.

Rating:
Summary: Mutiny on the high seas
Review: Bogart is AMAZING as Captain Queeg. Great supporting cast. Through out the movie you follow the crews uncertainty about the mental status of their commanding officer. The ship board scenes follow the real navy very closely, but the court matial scenes electrify the screen. Well made and well worth owning.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, but differs greatly from the book!
Review: Caine Mutiny is a great book, and the movie of the same name is also great. However, the movie differs greatly from the novel. The book described Ensign Kieth as medium in height, somewhat chubby, and as an intellectual in school. The actor who represented Kieth in the movie, however, was tall, very athletic-looking, and described as an athlete at Princeton. There are a lot of other inconsistencies between book and movie, but I guess that's why the movie is only BASED on the book. Otherwise, the movie is in every way excellent and the climactic courtroom scene was especially entertaining! A definite must-see!

Rating:
Summary: I like it
Review: Es una pelicula interesante, el drama como tal que se plantea es muy actual, es la predecesora de marea roja (Crimson Tide) y valor bajo fuego (Courage under fire) y pone en tela de juicio los valores de la gente de uniforme.

Hasta que punto es ético especular sobre la conducta de otras personas, sin tener el escenario completo de los eventos y es posible precipitar la caida por falta de colaboración, fue el capitan Queeg realmente criminal o su oficial novelista es el verdadero criminal, en mi opinión el novelista es el verdaero culpable y es quien debio ser enjuiciado, pero tal como en la vida real las responsabilidades se escurren y pocas veces los verdaderos culpables pagan por lo que propician.

Queeg no es Blaigh, son posiciones totalmente opuestas.

Rating:
Summary: A Must See Classic
Review: For many of my generation, Fred MacMurray is the father on "My Three Sons" repeats and the best military/courtroom drama is "A Few Good Men". Many people my age have not even heard of, much less seen, the Caine Mutiny. Well, I am here to tell all of you Gen X'ers (anyone else sick of that term?), don't miss this movie. It is a compelling story of a "mutiny" aboard a naval ship during World War II.

The story centers around the ship the Caine. The easy-going Captain of the Caine is replaced by the disciplinarian Captain Queeg (marvelously portrayed by Humphrey Bogart). The crew is not used to the Queeg's ways and question his leadership. Led by Lt. Keefer (MacMurray in a role vastly different from his Disney and "Sons" days), several officers on the Caine begin laying the groundwork for removing Queeg from power. When the moment comes, the drama has been built to a peak.

The trial that follows the mutiny is a well written, and the performances are wonderfull. If you enjoyed the courtroom scenes of "A Few Good Men", you will not want to miss this movie. The ending of the film, revealing the true problem aboard the Caine, is great drama. Jose Ferrar's performance in the final scene is one of the best around. The cast is for the most part fantastic. Bogart is of course on of the finest actors of all time and gives one of his best, deepest performances in this film. In addition to MacMurray and Ferrar, Van Johnson, E.G. Marshall, and Scott Savage also are excellent. Robert Francis is the only weak link in the cast, but even his performance can't spoil this great film. Look for Lee Marvin in an a small role.

So, younger viewers, if you have not seen "The Caine Mutiny" yet, get ahold of this classic. It is definitely worth adding to your DVD collection.

Rating:
Summary: BANQUET OF BACK-STABBING
Review: Herman Wouk's masterpiece THE CAINE MUTINY, traces the decompensation of an emotionally scarred naval officer whose final chance at redemption comes to him aboard an outdated Navy rust-bucket.As Captain, LCDR. Queeg tries to run a taught ship. No one takes him seriously except the XO LT. Maryk.Queeg's already weak grip on reality begins to loosen, and is exploited by a reserve officer who convinces the other officers that Queeg has lost the ability to command. When Captain Queeg devotes his billet to solving the mystery of the missing pint of strawberries, all begin to question his sanity. Then during a period of heavy weather, Queeg freezes and is unable to give proper orders. LT. Maryk, having been polluted by the slanders of the reserve officer (who in civilian life is a successful writer), prematurally relieves the Captain, and takes "full command". The court martial scene that follows reveals the ugly selfishness in everybody involved. The film could've ended there, and been regaled as a masterpiece. But the coda that follows is even better. From the beginning, defense attorney LT. Barney Greenwald, a line officer-cum-lawyer assigned to JAG, perceived exactly what had transpired, and why. During an odd celebration, LT. Greenwald explains it all. At once compelling, then sad, then obvious, a lesson in life is offered to the viewer. A brief additional coda sees the film go full circle as a naive Ensign gets a chance to start over again. As great as this story is, it is perhaps the outstanding performances of the players that make The Caine Mutiny an all-time classic. The star-studded cast delivers every line as if it were their own. One might come to believe that Humphrey Bogart and Captain Queeg are one in the same. Jose Fareer's portrayal of JAG Greenwald is spellbinding. There are too many hollywood heavyweights in this film to comment on individually, so let me finish by saying: this is acting at its best! ~thanks and thanks and ever thanks~