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Alec Guinness, Anthony Quayle, Bryan Pringle, Dirk Bogarde, Joy Shelton ...( see more  see more... ) , Maurice Denham , Nigel Stock , Robin Stewart , Tom Bell

Set in 1797 at the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars, Damn the Defiant! (also known as H.M.S. Defiant) is an enthralling British naval drama made to capitalize on MGM's epic remake of Mutiny on the Bou...( read more  read more... )nty, also released in 1962. It's based on Frank Tilsey's novel Mutiny and stars Alex Guinness as a fair-minded captain locked in psychological conflict with his manipulative, coldly malicious first officer (Dirk Bogarde), and the parallels with the famous true story are clear. However, there were many naval mutinies during this period, and this large-scale saga, which includes some spectacularly staged widescreen naval battles, offers a realistic depiction of life in the British navy at the time--from the press gangs and floggings to the appalling food and living conditions.

Director Lewis Gilbert--who previously helmed Sink the Bismarck! (1960)--strikes a good balance between the personal drama and sweeping maritime adventure. Guinness successfully varies his firm-but-fair officer from The Bridge on the River Kwai, Bogarde is chillingly hateful, and Anthony Quayle gives strong support. --Gary S. Dalkin

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46% liked it

1,300 ratings

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Directed by: Frank Tilsley, Lewis Gilbert

Release Date: June 1, 1962

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DVD Release Date: October 10, 2000

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Stats: 37 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (37)

  • organgrinder136
    November 14, 2007
    organgrinder136
    it's a story about the power struggle between a badly treated crew, a good captain, a nasty piece of work of a 2nd in command and alliegences of the heart to the homeland (wow, i sound german). yeh, i'll conform and put 3 stars just like everybody else. okay.. the shizay is... as...( read more) usual alec guinness is great. dirk bogarde played the prime bully (mr always have to be right). they both played their parts very well. you gotta hand it to bogarde. by the end i wanted to beat the shit outta him too, so he obviously played the baddie well enough! haha... you always get people like that everywhere you go. it's like some social disease. anyway, back to the film... very solid effort. i also agree with someone else who reviewed this on here. much better than dull and boring master & commander. sometimes the oldies are the best!
  • garyX
    October 12, 2007
    garyX
    This rousing sea-faring adventure set during the Napoleonic war stars Alec Guiness as a fair-minded sea captain vying for control over his ship with coldly sadistic first mate Dirk Bogarde. The interplay and politicking between the two is the real reason to watch this film; I fou...( read more)nd myself wishing they'd get the battle sequences over with so I could get back to the more interesting political machinations. Anthony Quayle provides excellent support below decks as a revolutionary-minded crewman and it slots in nicely with the historical background of the story. If you liked Master and Commander, check this out. It's better.
  • DrLappos
    October 8, 2009
    DrLappos
    Alec Guiness was born to be a captain...great seafaring romp.
  • lebulltaurus
    February 14, 2009
    lebulltaurus
    My style & he doesn't mind that he gets killed at the end good cast as well
  • spongeofmystery
    October 12, 2007
    spongeofmystery
    Amazing for a film in the 60's. I love it!
  • gerrybbc
    August 10, 2007
    gerrybbc
    Excellent Movie Dirk Bogarde is a great actor, as is Alec Guinness

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