Review of The Caine Mutiny (1954) by Danny R — 30 Dec 2011

A classic film that was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Humphrey Bogart's impeccable performance as the unbalance Captain Philip Francis Queeg. On the high seas during World War II the by-the-book Captain Queeg pushes his wary crew to the breaking point that will finally lead to a modern-day mutiny, after a series of questionable orders, Lieutenant Maryk, played by Van johnson in a solid performance confronts Queeg when he orders the ship to maintain its path directly into a deadly typhoon.

Lt. Maryk invokes naval regulations and relieves Captain Queeg of his command forcing the crew to mutiny. Lt. Maryk is court-martialed for treason, an offense that could get him hanged. The film ends with the trail which is brilliantly intense and fascinating.

The supporting performances are uniformly fine from a stellar cast that includes Jose Ferrer, Fred MacMurray, Robert Francis, May Wynn, Tom Tully, E.G. Marshall and a young Lee Marvin. But it is Humphrey Bogart who owns this film and he is amazing giving one of the last great performances of his career, he conveys the sheer complexity of his character with his quirky mannerisms and tortured demeanor, his demand for perfection and his refusal to accept his own fallibility, this is truly an exceptional performance.

This film is an excellent character study of men under pressure during a time of war. Highly Recommended.