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AdventureHistoryWar

H.M.S. Defiant

- The cry was MUTINY... and the decks ran red!...

Defiant's crew is part of a fleet-wide movement to present a petition of grievances to the Admiralty. Violence must be no part of it. The continual sadism of Defiant's first officer makes this difficult, and when the captain is disabled, the chance for violence increases.

Release Date : 1962-04-15

Language :EnglishFrenchItalian

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Columbia Pictures

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles : Damn the Defiant!

Cast

Alec Guinness

Character Name : Captain Crawford

Original Name : Alec Guinness

Gender : Male

Dirk Bogarde

Character Name : Lieut. Scott-Padget

Original Name : Dirk Bogarde

Gender : Male

Anthony Quayle

Character Name : Vizard

Original Name : Anthony Quayle

Gender : Male

Maurice Denham

Character Name : Mr. Goss (Ship's Surgeon)

Original Name : Maurice Denham

Gender : Male

Nigel Stock

Character Name : Senior Midshipman Kilpatrick

Original Name : Nigel Stock

Gender : Male

Tom Bell

Character Name : Evans

Original Name : Tom Bell

Gender : Male

Richard Carpenter

Character Name : Lieut. Posonby

Original Name : Richard Carpenter

Gender : Male

Peter Gill

Character Name : Lieut. D'Arblay

Original Name : Peter Gill

Gender : Male

Ray Brooks

Character Name : Hayes

Original Name : Ray Brooks

Gender : Male

Robin Stewart

Character Name : Pardoe

Original Name : Robin Stewart

Gender : Male

Murray Melvin

Character Name : Wagstaffe

Original Name : Murray Melvin

Gender : Male

Victor Maddern

Character Name : Dawlish

Original Name : Victor Maddern

Gender : Male

David Robinson

Character Name : Harvey Crawford

Original Name : David Robinson

Gender : Male

Bryan Pringle

Character Name : Sgt Kneebone

Original Name : Bryan Pringle

Gender : Male

Johnny Briggs

Character Name : Wheatley

Original Name : Johnny Briggs

Gender : Male

Toke Townley

Character Name : Silly Billy

Original Name : Toke Townley

Gender : Male

Declan Mulholland

Character Name : Morrison

Original Name : Declan Mulholland

Gender : Male

Peter Greenspan

Character Name : Johnson

Original Name : Peter Greenspan

Gender : Male

Brian Phelan

Character Name : Grimshaw

Original Name : Brian Phelan

Gender : Male

Walter Fitzgerald

Character Name : Admiral Jackson

Original Name : Walter Fitzgerald

Gender : Male

Joy Shelton

Character Name : Mrs Crawford

Original Name : Joy Shelton

Gender : Female

Anthony Oliver

Character Name : Tavern Leader

Original Name : Anthony Oliver

Gender : Male

Russell Napier

Character Name : Flag Captain

Original Name : Russell Napier

Gender : Male

Michael Coles

Character Name : Flag Lieutenant

Original Name : Michael Coles

Gender : Male

André Maranne

Character Name : Col. Giraud

Original Name : André Maranne

Gender : Male

Del Baker

Character Name : Marine Captain (uncredited)

Original Name : Del Baker

Gender : Male

Joe Beckett

Character Name : Crewman (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Beckett

Gender : Male

James Bolam

Character Name : Midshipman (uncredited)

Original Name : James Bolam

Gender : Male

Tom Bowman

Character Name : Bosun (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Bowman

Gender : Male

Jim Brady

Character Name : Press Gang (uncredited)

Original Name : Jim Brady

Gender : Male

Vic Chapman

Character Name : Crewman (uncredited)

Original Name : Vic Chapman

Gender : Male

Maxwell Craig

Character Name : Crewman (uncredited)

Original Name : Maxwell Craig

Gender : Male

Dick Gregory

Character Name : Purser (uncredited)

Original Name : Dick Gregory

Gender : Male

Patrick Halpin

Character Name : Crewman (uncredited)

Original Name : Patrick Halpin

Gender : Male

Walter Henry

Character Name : Pressed Crewman (uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Henry

Gender : Male

Ann Lynn

Character Name : Young Wife of Pressed Crewman (uncredited)

Original Name : Ann Lynn

Gender : Female

Alf Mangan

Character Name : Sailor (uncredited)

Original Name : Alf Mangan

Gender : Male

Endre Muller

Character Name : French Captain (uncredited)

Original Name : Endre Muller

Gender : Male

Roger Mutton

Character Name : Sailor (uncredited)

Original Name : Roger Mutton

Gender : Male

Emilio Scala

Character Name : Pirate (uncredited)

Original Name : Emilio Scala

Gender : Male

Arnold Schulkes

Character Name : Crewman (uncredited)

Original Name : Arnold Schulkes

Gender : Male

James Sharkey

Character Name : Venetian Captain (uncredited)

Original Name : James Sharkey

Gender : Male

Vera Tilsley

Character Name : Girl in Inn (uncredited)

Original Name : Vera Tilsley

Gender : Male

Harry Webster

Character Name : Flagship Sailor (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Webster

Gender : Male

Fred Wood

Character Name : French Sailor (uncredited)

Original Name : Fred Wood

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Spithead Mutiny Avast. It is the Napoleonic Wars and Captain Crawford takes command of the H.M.S. Defiant and sets off with his orders to Corsica. His second in command is Lt. Scott-Paget, a vindictive and bullying man who has moved through the ranks on account of his higher echelon connections. The two men don't see eye to eye from the off, which only compounds the many problems that are reaching boiling point aboard the ship. Mutiny is afoot, just as the French forces are closing in. Lewis Gilbert may just be one of Britain's most undervalued versatile directors. Here's a man that has directed Educating Rita/The Admirable Crichton (comedy), The Good Die Young (crime), Cast a Dark Shadow (Noir), Reach for the Sky (biography), Alfie/Shirley Valentine (romance), James Bond x 3 (multi genre) and sea faring adventures such as Sink the Bismarck! and this fine Napoleonic historical piece, H.M.S. Defiant. Adapted from Frank Tilsley's novel "Mutiny", this is a film built around a true story about what became known as the "Spithead" and "Nore" mutinies in 1797. Where sailors and press ganged inlanders were fed up with the working conditions, rates of pay and the all round treatment from the officers in charge. Also into the mix is a fascinating battle of wills between the two leaders of the Defiant, both men, in the midst of their power struggle, are oblivious to the rumblings and plotting of the crew. I mean you would think that with the French warships possibly around the corner that they would be unified in creating a rock solid front? That they don't gives the film an extra dimension. Thus when the battle sequences do come, and the turn of events perk the piece up, it has a two fold impact that makes all the waters lead to a terrific foggy bound climax. The cast are notable names from a roll call of British performers. Alec Guinness as Captain Crawford plays it spot on. An honourable man adhering to his code of ethics, it's through a plot strand involving his own son being on board that Crawford gets torturous and conflicted by his emotions. Who better than Guinness to layer such a role? Dirk Bogarde steps up to play weasel duties as Lieut. Scott-Padget, suitably handsome in uniform but playing the devils tricks, it begs the question on why Bogarde didn't in fact play more villains? because here he is excellent at it. Leading the mutiny is the looming muscular presence of Anthony Quayle, who along with Nigel Stock leaves a favourable mark in the support cast. Comparisons with other notable genre entries are inevitable, the likes of Mutiny On the Bounty, Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. and the more modern offering that is Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. If you like any of those films then the chances are you are bound to get much from this British production. The ocean scenes are filmed out in Alicante, and they sparkle as a backdrop to the splendid costumes, while the ships design is top draw. Ultimately this a fine genre entry, for as it stirs the blood and tells a great multi stranded story, it's also acted quite superbly by the cast. 8/10