Excellent Story, great actors, but not as good as it could have been

Rating: 8/10 (14 May 2006)

Starting off with one of Herman Wouk best fiction books, Edward Dmyrtryk and Stanley Kramer, produced an excellent post world war II film. Better than the majority of its ilk, typically slathered in thank yous and references to the US Navy (the Navy helped make these movies, and were an absolutely necessary partner for boats, consultants, and even extras).
Managing to tell its very interesting and plausible story of the first "alleged" mutiny on a US Navy ship, I am certain there were lengthy conversations between Kramer, Wouk and the Navy. Having said that, the film does a fine job of capturing the book's story, right down to the complex character development necessary for it all to make sense.
The early 1950s, a time of exuberant recovery, both economically and socially, was just the right audience for a pro-American, pro-Navy fictional film, that also challenged authority, command, and many of the foundation elements of the post WW II military machine. Without translating the movie into an attack on any of these foundations to society, a more subtle, intellectual story of intrigue, loyalty, cowardess and the applications of the Navy's strict rules, is its main story.
As with many of Kramer's works, the characters are well developed, interesting, and each have their own flaw that will ultimately play a role in the story. This classical method of simultaneously developing the characters, as the plot takes its twist and turns, is artfully executed by Dymytryck.
The two stand-out actors, however, are Jose Ferrer, the less than enthusiastic legal defender to the mutineers, and that master of complex thoughts, Humphrey Bogart. With great supporting actors, all perfectly cast, this movie moves quickly and with virtually no room for error.
There will be moments when the somewhat saccharine or overly sarcastic nature of the time and place get to be too much, but this is quickly over shadowed by action, intrigue and a boat load of personalities, who keep you thinking.
I wish that movies today had as much uniqueness and complexity as this particular film has. Bogarts character, while maybe a little tired from too many years at sea, is actually an insecure, loving man, who fails to gain the loyalty of his crew. He tries, and in ways that would win over most men, but ultimately he fails, due to the already established lack of support the crew has taken on, triggered by an individual, with an agenda, and the fear created by a mis-informed mob.
See this film and try to put yourself in Bogarts shoes. Its an uncomfortable ride, I am not sure I would have done any better. Thanks