The Caine Mutiny (1954)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Graham J

  
  Maybe Bogart's finest moment, but overall a weak film if you don't include his performance.

• xGary X

  
  The officers that relieve a veteran naval commander during a WWII mission must justify their actions to a court martial tribunal or face execution. Another courtroom drama based around the twisted morality of war and the command structure, The Caine Mutiny sidesteps the usual dryness… More
  The officers that relieve a veteran naval commander during a WWII mission must justify their actions to a court martial tribunal or face execution. Another courtroom drama based around the twisted morality of war and the command structure, The Caine Mutiny sidesteps the usual dryness associated with legal rhetoric by basing most of the story on board ship amongst a set of interesting, well realised characters. There's little in the way of military action, but the character dynamic works really well, the picks of the bunch being Fred MacMurray as the cynical writer who instigates the insurrection and obviously the brilliant Humphrey Bogart in one of his best performances as the captain who has perhaps served one tour too many and is suffering the psychological damage that results. Jose Ferrer is also excellent as the reluctant defending lawyer and his drunken blitzkrieg at the finale is a real highlight. The only off key note is the unnecessary and sentimental glimpse into Robert Francis' homelife, but these scenes are mercifully brief and the quality performances and sharp dialogue make this one of the best courtroom dramas around.

• Michael G

  
  The Caine Mutiny is one of those movies that's okay or just alright for the majority but really knocks you on your ass in the last 10 minutes. Anyone who wants to accuse Humphrey Bogart of playing the same record for his entire career is more than welcome to eat this one. The… More
  The Caine Mutiny is one of those movies that's okay or just alright for the majority but really knocks you on your ass in the last 10 minutes. Anyone who wants to accuse Humphrey Bogart of playing the same record for his entire career is more than welcome to eat this one. The Robert Francis/May Wynn storyline (actually off the boat most of the Francis character off the boat) was completely negligable but all the action aboard the Caine was great. Picture The Caine Mutiny as Mister Robert's older codge brother. The whole cast is great (with a minor supporting role from a non-white-haired Lee Marvin) but Bogart and Fred MacMurray steal the show. But Jose Ferrer in the banquet scene was superb and leaves the viewer asking themselves a lot of questions. I won't call The Caine Mutiny one for my Kick in the Ass List but its still great, great stuff...

• AJ V

  
  This is a great movie with great actors. It does have some dull moments, but the story is really interesting. I recommend seeing this movie.

• jay n

  
  Interesting story and excellent cast all giving good performances, even the usually grating Johnson, add up to a fine entertainment.

• Randy T

  
  "Strawberries!"

• Tom E

  
  This is a marvel of a movie from it's time -- a bit stiff as we watch it from our time -- but great, nevertheless

• danny d

  
  this is a pretty solid film. it was a shadow of what i expected, being slow, simple, and without intensity for a film about a mutiny. but the performances were solid and it was entertaining. overall a pretty solid film.

• Lanning :

  
  You know, Bogart never grew older, he just grew better. Excellent performances from the majority of the principals. The only one better than Bogart in this is Fred MacMurray. I think MacMurray never really achieved the recognition he deserved. A fine actor. <p>… More
  You know, Bogart never grew older, he just grew better. Excellent performances from the majority of the principals. The only one better than Bogart in this is Fred MacMurray. I think MacMurray never really achieved the recognition he deserved. A fine actor. <p> There's a pretty slow build up to the real drama of this film, but when it comes, the majority of the cast pulls togther for some high energy work. The courtroom action is tight and tense. Ferrer's greatest moment actually comes after the trial is over. <p> If the script had been cut leaner and the actors had been all equally good, this would have been a five star movie.

• Matthew Y

  
  One of the most underrated performances of all time. Humphrey Bogart is absolutely captivating in his haunting performance a Lt. Queeg. The main storyline of the movie is engrossing and intriguing as well, but let's not kid ourselves, it's all about Queeg. His final scene… More
  One of the most underrated performances of all time. Humphrey Bogart is absolutely captivating in his haunting performance a Lt. Queeg. The main storyline of the movie is engrossing and intriguing as well, but let's not kid ourselves, it's all about Queeg. His final scene clutching the Chinese stress balls and repeatedly mumbling 'strawberries' should be considered a top movie scene of all time. The film received seven generous Oscar nominations but criminally took home no statues.

• Mark K

  
  This classic wartime drama/courtroom film set the stage for later films like A Few Good Men and Crimson Tide. Featuring standout performances by Humphrey Bogart, Van Johnson, Jose Ferrer and others, the film revolves around a court martial following a mutiny aboard a US Naval vessel… More
  This classic wartime drama/courtroom film set the stage for later films like A Few Good Men and Crimson Tide. Featuring standout performances by Humphrey Bogart, Van Johnson, Jose Ferrer and others, the film revolves around a court martial following a mutiny aboard a US Naval vessel during wartime. You'll be completely taken in by the performances, and by Bogart's brilliantly erratic performance. The film has some unnecessary subplots, such as the love story, but overall, it remains a taught and gripping tale that uses a clever black is white and white is black approach to who's really at fault for the mutiny. It also makes interesting character studies of most of the key characters and their motivations. Derived from the Pulitzer Price winning novel by Herman Wouk, it's courtroom scenes are as tense and interesting as the stage version of the trial that came after the film. Recommended.

• Danny R

  
  A classic film that was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Humphrey Bogart's impeccable performance as the unbalance Captain Philip Francis Queeg. On the high seas during World War II the by-the-book Captain Queeg pushes his wary crew to… More
  A classic film that was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Humphrey Bogart's impeccable performance as the unbalance Captain Philip Francis Queeg. On the high seas during World War II the by-the-book Captain Queeg pushes his wary crew to the breaking point that will finally lead to a modern-day mutiny, after a series of questionable orders, Lieutenant Maryk, played by Van johnson in a solid performance confronts Queeg when he orders the ship to maintain its path directly into a deadly typhoon. Lt. Maryk invokes naval regulations and relieves Captain Queeg of his command forcing the crew to mutiny. Lt. Maryk is court-martialed for treason, an offense that could get him hanged. The film ends with the trail which is brilliantly intense and fascinating. The supporting performances are uniformly fine from a stellar cast that includes Jose Ferrer, Fred MacMurray, Robert Francis, May Wynn, Tom Tully, E.G. Marshall and a young Lee Marvin. But it is Humphrey Bogart who owns this film and he is amazing giving one of the last great performances of his career, he conveys the sheer complexity of his character with his quirky mannerisms and tortured demeanor, his demand for perfection and his refusal to accept his own fallibility, this is truly an exceptional performance. This film is an excellent character study of men under pressure during a time of war. Highly Recommended.

• Chris B

  
  The Caine Mutiny is a Classic film and one that holds up fairly well in the year 2011, with a intimate look into Navy life. Humphrey Bogart plays a tough and by the book Captain who takes over command on The Caine, a ragged and beat up minesweeper vessel, and tries to shape up the… More
  The Caine Mutiny is a Classic film and one that holds up fairly well in the year 2011, with a intimate look into Navy life. Humphrey Bogart plays a tough and by the book Captain who takes over command on The Caine, a ragged and beat up minesweeper vessel, and tries to shape up the complacent crew on board. While It's apparent that the men and even other officers are weary of the new strict Captain, as time goes on and difficult situations arise, the story progresses into a look into the new Captain's mind and his resulting actions. The officers begin to suspect that the Captain is paranoid and is making reckless and cowardly decisions. He reaches out to the other officers, but by this point they are over him and his outcry for help. When a typhoon coupled with the Captain's unwavering decision to let the ship flounder, the first officer is forced to take command himself and save the ship. The first officer is put on trial along with the new officer Keith, for inciting mutiny on the ship. This is where the film shifts and continues on as a courtroom drama and not so much an action/adventure film like the first half of the film. While I'll leave the outcome secret, it's one in which there is deep and lasting effects on all those involved. The film is a solid action/drama and is filled with great performances by all the actors involved and is highly recommended!

• Leo L

  
  Good!

• Barry L

  
  Truely good war film.

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