Insights on Jose Ferrer's character of Barney Greenwald

Rating: Null/10 (16 February 2007)

Some 25 years ago I met Jose Ferrer at a function. I told him that The Caine Mutiny was one of my favorite films and novels....but I had one question. I asked what was the significance of the wrap around bandage on Barney Greenwald's hand. He chuckled and said that not many people have asked him about that.
Mr. Ferrer said that he was very excited about the role of Barney Greenwald after reading the novel. In the novel Greenwald has a bigger role in going back to his training days as a Navy Pilot and the struggles in the Navy fighting the anti semitism that was rampant at the time . He felt that aspect of the novel into Greenwald's tribulations to make it up the ladder as an officer should have been in the film. However in the early '50s the temperament in Hollywood was not to make waves in that direction. He stated that the Writer and Producer did not want to go that way....being Jews themselves...thus he, a Catholic from Puerto Rico felt he had to make a statement. So the bandage was a form of silent protest known to his family and a few friends.
He also had a short point about the famous scene where he threw Champagne into Fred MacMurray's face. The take you see was the first one filmed. The Director did a number of others since liquid got on the camera lens filming behind MacMurray's head...however they could never get the intensity of the original take so that there is a very quick cut when you see the liquid hitting MacMurray.
A Great movie. Mr Ferrer was more than gracious in spending time with me. A real gentleman.