H.M.S. Defiant (1962, Alec Guinness, Dirk Bogarde)

British sea adventure is set during the Napoleonic Wars. Alec Guinness is the captain of the HMS Defiant, Dirk Bogarde his brutal lieutenant, whose cruel treatment of the sailors has added fuel to the fire among the crew who have planned to participate in a fleet-wide mutiny against the British Navy.

Guinness is unaware of Bogarde’s behaviour, but when the lieutenant inflicts a vicious punishment upon Guinness’s midshipman son David Robinson, he begins to see the light. A confrontation is delayed when the ship comes across a French frigate and a battle ensues for its capture. The Defiant is victorious, but it costs Guinness an arm. A captured French officer reveals that his country plans to invade England when the massive mutiny is put into action.

The mutiny eventually starts, led by Anthony Quayle, but Guinness convinces the mutineer to head the ship back to England to warn the military of the planned invasion by the French. When the King hears of the mutiny, he agrees to meet the mutineers’ demand and the ship returns to an uneasy state of normality. However, the truce is shattered when an angry crew member knifes Bogarde. Once again, Quayle leads the ship out to sea where it meets a French fireship. Quayle redeems himself by leading his men into action in the ensuing battle.

production details
UK | 101 minutes | 1962

Director: Lewis Gilbert
Producer: John Brabourne
Writers: Nigel Kneale, Edmund H North, based on Frank Tilsey’s novel Mutiny
Cinematography: Christopher Challis
Composer: Clifton Parker

cast
Alec Guinness as Captain Crawford
Dirk Bogarde as Lieut. Scott-Padget
Victor Maddern as Dawlish
Maurice Denham as Mr. Goss (Ship’s Surgeon)
Nigel Stock as Senior Midshipman Kilpatrick
Peter Gill as Lieut. D’Arblay
Ray Brooks as Hayes
Anthony Quayle as Vizard
Tom Bell as Evans
Richard Carpenter as Lieut. Posonby
Robin Stewart as Pardoe
Murray Melvin as Wagstaffe
David Robinson as Harvey Crawford
Bryan Pringle as Sgt Kneebone
Johnny Briggs as Wheatley
Toke Townley as Silly Billy
James Bolam as Midshipman