Bogart and Ferrer keep Caine Afloat

Rating: 7/10 (5 January 2008)

In The Caine Mutiny Humphrey Bogart gives one of his finest performances as Captain Queeg, a by the book, mentally unstable commander of an eyesore tub during world war two. The shame of any fleet when Queeg assumes command, the Caine has a rather laid back crew and officer staff. Determined to get the vessel in ship shape Queeg alienates the crew with his hard taskmaster ways. Paranoia begins to take hold of the captain as he drives the crew to be the best they can be. An incident involving strawberries begins to expose Queeg's instability. When he makes glaring mistakes during a typhoon that nearly sinks the ship he is relieved of his command by Maryk , the first mate after he confers with fellow officers. Back in dry dock, Queeg accuses Maryk of mutiny and demands his court martial.
When it sticks to the main plot The Caine Mutiny is an an absorbing story of disintegration and betrayal in the military. Bogart's collapse is almost too painful to watch as he rages against perceived slights to his command, close-ups registering a deep emotional pain as we witness the tragic last act of Queeg's naval career. Jose Ferrer as the lawyer that dismantles Queeg on the stand leads a solid supporting cast that also features Van Johnson and Fred MacMurray. Ferrer, sober and drunk acts as the conscience of the film with two fine speeches in the final scenes.
A romantic sub-plot weakens the film and a big patriotic send off detracts from the climax, but Bogart's Queeg makes Caine well worth the cruise.