Absolutely magnificent World War II naval drama from the pen of Herman Wouk and expertly directed by Edward Dmytryk.

Rating: Null/10 (6 June 2004)

I never tire of watching this unforgettable film which conveys a story, although fictional, could be applied to a real life situation despite it's unbelievable improbability.
Humphrey Bogart as Captain Philip Francis Queeg gives one of the greatest performances in his acting career as the paranoid skipper of the minesweeper USS Caine who attempts to bring his own brand of naval discipline to a previously slovenly run ship.
His eccentric but quite plausible actions are interpreted by his crew as those of a dangerous psychotic fueled by the outspoken comments of know all sub exec. officer Thomas Keefer a budding novel writer played by Fred McMurray who gives an outstanding performance as the sniveling Judas who will betray his fellow officers in a future court martial of of Executive Officer Lt.Steve Maryk well played by Van Johnson.
When Maryk relieves Queeg of his command at the height of a typhoon he is charged with mutiny and reluctantly defended by Jose Ferrer as Lt. Barney Greenwald . Greenwald is brilliant with his eloquent prose who torpedoes Queeg's testimony at the naval tribunal and exposes his failure of command.
At a following dinner attended by the Caine's officers, Greenwald turns up somewhat inebriated and remorseful as the result of his successful court action and uses the occasion to denounce Keefer in a toast by throwing a glass of wine in his face. This is one of the most riveting scenes in the film and a perfectly natural sequel to a well told drama. Robert Francis as Ensign Willie Seward Keith gives this film it's principal, moral in the story theme as the newly enlisted naive naval officer who quickly learns that the real U.S. Navy is very different to the fundamentals he learned at the naval academy.
Along with the stirring musical march score by Max Steiner so descriptive of the Navy just tops off this film as one of the finest productions of all time.