Classic Performance By Bogart

Rating: 10/10 (9 April 2006)

"The Caine Mutiny" is one of Bogart's many great performances. As the new commander of the mine sweeping ship called the U.S.S. Caine, Queeg seems to be tough as nails. But we soon realize that the cheese is slipping off Queeg's cracker. As Lt Maryk (Van Johnson), Lt. Keefer (Fred MacMurray) and newbie Ensign Keith (Robert Francis)watch, Queeg seems to be riding the paranoia bus, tearing the ship up for a nonexistent key that he believes has been used to steal some frozen strawberries, causing a slight accident with a tow target while dressing down Keith for allowing a guy to have his shirt hanging out and playing around with a pair of metallic balls. Maryk is wary enough by Queeg's actions that he ends up reliving Queeg during a typhoon (Queeg's cowardly behavior causes the ship to nearly founder).
Maryk and Keith is brought on trial for mutiny, with Lt. Greenwald (Jose Ferrer)defending them. The scene in which Queeg takes the stand is absolutely stunning, in which we watch Queeg's madness brought to the surface. However, it is Greenwald's speech to the officer's of The Caine that brings the most shock: That it was Keefer that stirred the pot that brought the mutiny to a full boil.
All of the performances in the film are first class, even though some of the scenes with Francis and May Winn should have been left on the cutting room floor. Despite this, it is Bogart, Johnson and MacMurray that makes "The Caine Mutiny" the classic that it has become.