Humphrey Bogart Movie:

				Salesrank: 292155
		MPAA Rating: Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
Humphrey Bogart is heartbreaking as the tragic Captain Queeg in this 1954 film, based on a novel by Herman Wouk, about a mutiny aboard a navy ship during World War II. Stripped of his authority by two officers under his command (played by Van Johnson and Robert Francis) during a devastating storm, Queeg becomes a crucial witness at a court martial that reveals as much about the invisible injuries of war as anything. Edward Dmytryk (Murder My Sweet, Raintree County) directs the action scenes with a sure hand and nudges his all-male cast toward some of the most well-defined characters of 1950s cinema. The courtroom scenes alone have become the basis for a stage play (and a television movie in 1988), but it is a more satisfying experience to see the entire story in context. --Tom Keogh

The Caine Mutiny [Region 2] Reviews:
Great in every way
2009-12-31 - This is a truly great classic that is just top notch in every respect. Besides the all-star cast, everyone did a wonderful job with their roles. Bogart plays against type here as a man who no longer can cope with the stresses of command, in contrast to many of his other roles as an intrepid, smart, more than competent tough guy.

Based on the Herman Wouk novel (who wrote many best-sellers in the 50s and 60s, such as The Winds of War), the story chronicles the downward spiral of a destroyer/mine sweeper captain who is now cracking under the strain. What's great is how the other roles and characters in the movie contrast and complement each other: MacMurray as the insightful but cowardly writer who convinces everyone Bogart is paranoid but cops out later, van Johnson as the plodding but dutiful and courageous chief officer, and Robert Francis as the young and inexperienced but idealistic ensign. And Jose Ferrer is great as the Naval lawyer who defends the mutineers at the end.

Just a little trivia, the shots in Yosemite, using on site locations, were unusual for Hollywood at the time, and the scenes at the hotel appear to have been done at the famous Aiwanee hotel there (having visited it once myself) There's even footage of the famous pouring of the embers over Fire Falls in the film, which, by the time I visited Yosemite for the first time in the late 60s, had already been banned because the hot embers had started a couple of fires.

Robert Francis unfortunately had a promising career cut short when he was killed at the age of 25 in a private plane crash only 11 months after this movie was filmed. He had only appeared in four films, with the Caine Mutiny being the second.

Another interesting feature of the movie is that the three main ships the movie was filmed on actually saw service during WWII, the movie being just 10 years after WWII ended. And there's a cameo appearance by the future star and very young looking Lee Marvin during the trial scene. And at one point it looks like Claude Akins (from the move The Dirty Dozen and also he starred in that TV series about Truckers back in the 70s) sticks his head through a door at one point.

Finally, another reviewer commented:

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LOL. Well, I can only say I didn't realize so many actors were into playing with steel balls. :-)

To sum up, a truly great Hollywood classic with one of Bogart's greatest roles, and with stand-up performances by every other important character in the cast.

Good Movie
2009-11-25 - This is $9.99 along with Sahara at Barnes and Noble. Why Amazon is so much more I have no clue. Barnes and Noble have many titles at 50% off.

BOGEY NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE IN MARITIME CLASSIC
2009-08-08 - This is a GREAT movie and one of my all-time favorites. Just when you thought Bogey was packing it in he provides us with one last great performance. He plays Commander Philip Francis Queeg, the Captain of a US naval ship during WW2. The veteran Queeg appears to be an eccentric, aloof and pompous old tyke. He is surrounded by a basically much younger bunch of subservient officers who probably wish they had one half of his experience and bark. The group is led by the second-in-command Lieutenant Steve Maryk played by the always charismatic vet actor Van Johnson. Fred MacMurray, a vastly underrated performer [remember his all-time UNFORGETTABLE kick-butt performance in DOUBLE IMDEMNITY, 1944] plays Lieutenant Tom Keefer, a self-serving, judgmental, know-it-all sycophant. Eyebrows are continually raised onboard with Queeg's increasingly odd behavior. The "strawberries" caper is a beaut. The level-headed and practical Maryk seems to brush things off as normal aging and long-time-out-in-the-sea quirks while the perturbingly intrusive Keefer defines Queeg as a paranoid loon. Things come to a head during a nocturnal typhoon that threatens to upend the ship. Queeg, called to the bridge as the ship is being rocked, makes the wrong calls, is questioned and ultimately breaks down. As Queeg freezes with lives at stake Maryk, citing Naval regulations, relieves Queeg of duty and takes over command of the ship. This is a stirring scene. Maryk is able to save the ship but he, along with all his officers, are accused of mutiny and court-martialled. Things look bleak as there are no lawyers willing to take the case. Jose Ferrer plays the military lawyer willing to give it a shot. Ferrer is perfect for this role. Courtroom interrogation, banter and repartee is lots of fun but most evocative is Ferrer's final verbal assault and denudation of Queeg's psyche. The sight of a tired, lonely, neglected and war-beaten Queeg, sitting and twirling his fetish-like metal spheres in his hand to a disturbing clicking sound is memorable and worth the price of your ticket. But it ain't over yet as the masterful Ferrer uses the post-acquittal party to unload on the saved officers---some prima donnas, some passive-aggressive, some not having a clue as to what part of the system failed. Ferrer's drunken exposition and rebuke of MacMurray's character and his final challenge is a CLASSIC and can't be missed. Ferrer is AWESOME. Indeed, Queeg was part of a system [military] where teamwork is essential for success as well as survival. Unfortunately, often leaders are envied, despised and even ostracized by their men and neglected and objectified by a system that frowns upon, and may not be willing to recognize, mental dissolution. Queeg had no one who would listen for the purpose of helping him, but there were many who would listen to excise him. Bogart's performance was terrific---poignant, detached, marvelously underplayed for the stars around him---further cementing his status as an icon of American cinema.

Great storyline and actor ensemble!
2009-07-14 - This is a first-class and well-acted movie. The plot is gripping and kind of different from the usual Bogart films. I'm also a big fan of multi-talented Jose Ferrer, and as usual he delivers with a superb acting job.

The picture quality and sound is very good and the 1.85:1 aspect ratio makes it even better.

Bottom line, with all these great actors and Edward Dmytryk as the director, how can anything go wrong?! Buy this one.

The Caine Mutiny
2009-05-09 - I bought this movie for a paper I had to write for a psychology class. The movie isn't something I would have watched for personal enjoyment however, the DVD was new and in perfect condition. I received the DVD in 1 day!