Billy Budd (1962)

100% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
88% of users liked it
(375 ratings)

Herman Melville's short novel Billy Budd is adapted for the screen, distinguished by Robert Krasker's expressive black-and-white cinematography and Peter Ustinov's crisp direction. Terence Stamp is Billy Budd, a seaman forced to serve in the British Navy during the war between England and France in… More Herman Melville's short novel Billy Budd is adapted for the screen, distinguished by Robert Krasker's expressive black-and-white cinematography and Peter Ustinov's crisp direction. Terence Stamp is Billy Budd, a seaman forced to serve in the British Navy during the war between England and France in 1797. Billy looks upon all men as inherently good and, although his crewmates are initially skeptical about this sailor who appears too good to be true, he proves his mettle by his skills as a sailor and gains the respect of the crew -- all except for the ship's reviled master-at-arms John Claggert (Robert Ryan), who attempts to poison Billy's reputation by accusing him of instigating a mutiny. When the ship's captain, Edward Vere (Peter Ustinov), questions Billy about the charges, Billy reacts by striking Claggert, who falls over and dies from a blow on the head. A court-martial is called and Vere has to determine whether Billy should be hanged or acquitted. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 3 min.
Directed By: Peter Ustinov
Written By: Louis O. Coxe, Robert H. Chapman, Peter Ustinov Herman Melville, Peter Ustinov, De Witt Bodeen
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Nov 12, 1962 Limited
On DVD: Mar 6, 2007
Studio: Allied Artists Pictures

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Terence Stamp received his only Oscar nomination (supporting category)for playing the titular role, the naive and charismatic youth, in Peter Ustinov's version of Melville's classic.
Austin Kennedy, Sin Magazine
It's Robert Ryan that really makes this movie good.
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks
Director Ustinov indulges his own performance, but otherwise, it's a great yarn well told.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

a faithful adaptation of melville's powerful last work. i liked it slightly better than huston's moby dick, tho to be fair, no one could faithfully adapt that behemoth. terence stamp in his film debut is a real charmer and robert ryan has never been quite so flinty-eyed… More
a faithful adaptation of melville's powerful last work. i liked it slightly better than huston's moby dick, tho to be fair, no one could faithfully adapt that behemoth. terence stamp in his film debut is a real charmer and robert ryan has never been quite so flinty-eyed and evil. ustinov's direction outshines his acting
jay n

Fine acting in this sad tale.
Walter M

In "Billy Budd," it is 1797 and the man of war Avenger, commanded by Captain Vere(Peter Ustinov, who also co-wrote the script, directed and produced), boards the merchant Rights of Man to impress sailors and comes away with only one, Billy Budd(Terence Stamp), a junior… More
In "Billy Budd," it is 1797 and the man of war Avenger, commanded by Captain Vere(Peter Ustinov, who also co-wrote the script, directed and produced), boards the merchant Rights of Man to impress sailors and comes away with only one, Billy Budd(Terence Stamp), a junior sailor. His first impression of His Majesty's Navy is not a good one as soon after his arrival he witnesses a flogging watched over Master of Arms Claggart(Robert Ryan). His fellow sailors are not kind either, as he is challenged to a fight by Jenkins(Ronald Lewis) who quickly comes to regret his rash decision. "Billy Budd" is a compelling adaptation of the allegorical Herman Melville novel which I read back in high school, so I can't accurately judge how faithful this is. The acting is good, even if Robert Ryan seems out of place but I think this is intentional, as Claggart is not an entirely unsympathetic presence, even if he is the villain and the catalyst for the action. That goes to the setting of the story during a war when the military has no choice but to take people who should never be in a war zone. For different reasons, Claggart is one, and Budd, though he makes a superb sailor, is too kind for such cruel circumstances. Whether or not there is anything else to be read into this story is up for debate, even with an oddly filmed shot.