The Caine Mutiny (1954)

Long thought of as one of Bogey’s great films, The Caine Mutiny is worth taking time out to watch.

I read that ex-sailors commend it for its realistic portrayal of onboard navy life, but more than that it has sinews and and excellent courtroom scene topped by an unexpected development.

It’s one flaw is a wholly, wholly, wholly irrelevant and pointless subplot involving one of the naval officers, a Princeton-educated young chap from a wealthy family who believes himself in love with a nightclub singer (and suspending disbelief is needed to accept that line).

Reading up ‘the plot’ of the novel, the ‘love story’ also featured in the original novel and perhaps it was somehow relevant. But in the film? Not in a million years and could have been cut (as in not included) and the film would still stand.

That aside, the film is recommended, from Bogey’s excellent turn, to Fred McMurray’s oddly duplicitous

officer, Van Johnson’s well-meaning No 2 who is accused of mutiny, E.G. Marshall navy prosecutor and Jose Ferrer as a smart and intelligent defending counsel.

For those who have seen the film, here is an account in IMDb’s Trivia section:

The fate of the USS Hull, one of three US Navy destroyers lost during Typhoon Cobra in December 1944, served as the basis for the mutiny in the story. According to his first hand account, Boatswain's Mate First Class John Ray Schultz directly confronted Hull's CO, Lt. Cmdr. James A Marks, about his handling of the ship as she was entering the worst of the typhoon.

Schultz implored Hull's XO, Lt. Greil Gerstley, an expert ship handler, to assume command but he refused citing fear of a court martial for mutiny.

Other surviving witnesses on the bridge described Marks as paralyzed and indecisive, issuing questionable maneuvering [sic] orders, and declining to take on leveling ballast to help keep the ship upright after severe rolls, a decision his XO strongly disagreed with.

A powerful gust exceeding 100 knots eventually rolled Hull over to her side and she did not recover. The ship flooded rapidly and 202 of her crew were lost. Sixty-two others were subsequently rescued, including Captain Marks.

A board of inquiry did not find fault with Marks (none of the incidents on the bridge were brought up by anyone) but rather with Adm. Halsey for sending his fleet directly into the massive storm, although no disciplinary action was recommended. Some survivors of the Hull laid the blame for ship's loss exclusively on the Captain.

James Marks committed suicide in 1986.