The Caine Mutiny

Rating: 5/10 (28 September 2011)

I recognised the title, and I particularly remembered that it starred the actor from Casablanca and The African Queen, I assumed though it was some kind of gangster or film noir film, I was still going to watch whatever, from director Edward Dmytryk (Farewell My Lovely). Basically, set in World War II, Ens. Willie Keith (Robert Francis) is assigned to the decrepit twenty year old USS Caine, after graduating from Midshipman's school, the converted ship is equipped with mine sweepers. On the ship are fellow crew members Lt. Barney Greenwald (BAFTA nominated José Ferrer), Lt. Tom Keefer (Double Indemnity's Fred MacMurray) and Lt. Steve Maryk (Van Johnson), as well as original captain Comdr. DeVriess (Oscar nominated Tom Tully). The captain is eventually replaced by no-nonsense veteran Lt. Cmdr. Philip Francis Queeg (Oscar nominated Humphrey Bogart), but as time goes by and his commanding skills are put to the test, Keith suspects there is something the matter with him. Keefer does not like the new captain, and spreads word that he may be mentally troubled, and Maryk starts to believe it may be true, with evidence and behaviour from him, e.g. requesting to find out who ate a certain amount of ice cream. It all comes to a head and the crew really believe there is something odd about Queeg during a typhoon storm and the ship is in trouble, but he does not seem to give them good orders. This ends up with his name on the sick list, and crew members of in trouble for mutiny, and they all go to court to answer questions about the accusations of Queeg's madness, in the end the slate is eventually made clean. Also starring Lee Marvin as Meatball, 12 Angry Men's E.G. Marshall as Lt. Comdr. Challee and Battle for the Planet of the Apes' Claude Akins as Horrible. Bogart I can agree is ageing but is relatively good in this, it is a rather all over the place story with not enough boost to keep you that interested, only the ice cream enquiry, storm and court case scenes really standing out, but it is certainly an alright drama. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Music for Max Steiner, Best Sound and Best Writing, Screenplay, and it was nominated the BAFTA for Best Film from any Source. Worth watching!