Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

Mutiny on the Bounty (Dir: Frank Lloyd, 1935).

A lavish Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer adaptation of the bestselling historic novel by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. 

Mutiny on the Bounty recounts the now famous events of the 1789 mutiny when, on a mission to Tahiti to collect breadfruit, the crew of the HMS Bounty, lead by First Officer Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable) revolt against the tyrannical Captain William Bligh (Charles Laughton). Putting him to sea in a rowboat, the crew pilot the ship to the lush paradise of the Pitcairn Islands. 

Clark Gable was, at the time, the biggest male star in Hollywood and it is easy to see why. Shorn of his trademark mustache, he gives a wonderfully charismatic performance as Fletcher, exuding masculinity and sensitivity. A markedly different, but equally successful approach is adopted by Charles Laughton in his intense depiction of Captain Bligh as a despotic psychopath, berating and punishing his crew for minor or unproven indiscretions. His display of arrogance and pompousness create a genuinely loathsome character. Bligh would rightly become a signature role for Laughton and remains arguably the best interpretation of the role. Franchot Tone also impresses as Midshipman Byam, torn between his loyalty to the Navy and his friendship with Fletcher.

Central to an exceptionally well crafted production, the Bounty itself is magnificent and thanks to extensive location shooting in Tahiti, the movie rarely feels studio bound. Occasional use of back-projection is evident, but for the most part the special effects hold up excellently. There is genuine excitement generated by the various storms and rough seas and in the thrillingly staged mutiny. The movie does not hold back in its depiction of the cruelties administered by Bligh upon his crew; creating a glaring contrast between shipboard life and island paradise. Director Frank Lloyd's movie is more character driven than most modern action films, yet the pace never wavers in its dramatic portrayal of the real life conflict. 

With its mix of action and romance, Mutiny on the Bounty is in many respects the archetypal Hollywood blockbuster.  A massive hit for MGM, the studio revisited the tale almost three decades later. This epic, three hour adaptation of Mutiny on the Bounty (Lewis Milestone, 1962) would not repeat the financial success of the original, although it is an impressive and enjoyable production.  

While this Bounty cannot compete with the Super Panavison 70mm Technicolor 1962 version for sheer spectacle, it is ultimately the better movie thanks to superb performances from it legendary cast. A rousing, old-fashioned adventure, Mutiny on the Bounty is a classic from the golden age of Hollywood.