MUTINY

US/UK, 1952, 77 minutes, Colour.
Mark Stevens, Angela Lansbury, Patric Knowles, Gene Evans, Rhys Williams.
Directed by Edward Dimytryk.

Mutiny is a slight swashbuckling story, set in 1812, with the Americans trying to get gold and naval resources to fight the British, to break the British line and get the information and resources from France.

Mark Stevens portrays the leader of the expedition, relying on Patrick Knowles as the captain. Knowles had been dismissed for misconduct earlier, trying to get finances to pay his wife’s debt. She is played by Angela Lansbury – a femme fatale, opportunist if ever there was one.

The sailors decide to mutiny to get the gold, enlist the help of the captain. However, with an attack from the British, there is a need for heroism – and the captain saves the leader of the expedition, but not his wife.

The film has words of American patriotism – interesting because the director, Edward Dimytryk, after successful films in Hollywood including Crossfire, became one of the Hollywood Ten and was blacklisted. However, within two years he was back in Hollywood to make such films as The Caine Mutiny and Broken Lance and have a long career.

1. Popular swashbuckling stories? The British attack on America in 1812? Patriotism?

2. The locations, the sea, the atmosphere of the period? The ship? Action sequences? The submarine? The musical score?

3. The situation, the British and the attack, the response of the Americans? Memories of the American Revolution? The request to Captain Marshall to go to France? Get the money, the information? The contact? His proposing Captain Waldridge as the captain of the ship? Talking with Ben? His reputation with the navy? The authorities and their agreement?

4. The voyage, the men? The arrival in France? Leslie, her coming aboard, making up with Ben? Angry with him for being second-in-charge? Wanting to leave? Hearing about the gold, the anchor? Her plotting with the sailors? Her staying on board?

5. The voyage, the contact, the risks? Getting the anchor? Eluding the British? The planned return to America?

6. Hook and Redlegs? Their plotting? The other men in on the mutiny? Contact with Ben? His agreement? His motivation, for Leslie?

7. The mutiny, Captain Marshall and his being imprisoned? The risk from the British? The attack?

8. The action, the deaths, the end of the mutiny? Ben and his helping Captain Marshall? The submarine, its malfunctioning, sinking? Ben and his giving his life for Captain Marshall?

9. The successful achievement of the mission?

10. The combination of American politics and history – with sea stories and mutinies of the 19th century?