BILLY BUDD
UK, 1962, 125 minutes, Black and white.
Peter Ustinov, Robert Ryan, Terence Stamp, Melvyn Douglas, Paul Rogers, John Neville, Ronald Lewis, David Mc Callum, Lee Montague, John Meillon, Niall MacGinnis?, Cyril Luckham.
Directed by Peter Ustinov.
Billy Budd is a very interesting adaptation of the stage version of Herman Melville's classic novel. The film has an 18th. century naval background and this is brought to the fore for screen effect with Cinemascope and black and white photography. The setting is also brutal and highlights authoritarian situations in which men can be victimised. This is personified by Claggart, portrayed by Robert Ryan. The victim, even Christ-figure in his innocent suffering and forgiveness, is Billy Budd played by Terence Stamp at the beginning of his career.
There is excellent support from a British cast and from Melvyn Douglas. Peter Ustinov is the captain of the ship and he also adapted the screenplay from the play and produced and directed the film. The film rests very strongly on its excellent cast and on the strength of Melville's insight into his situation and the interaction of character. The film is literate, perhaps too literate at times for its vigorous setting. However, it is a film to ponder and discuss.
1. How impressive a film was this? It had an impressive them from an impressive book. Was the film itself equal to these origins? What was the main audience response to the film: to its plot, characters and atmospheres, its themes?
2. How well did the film use the conventions of 18th century naval adventure? The melodrama of life at sea, the clashes between characters on ships? The victimising of innocents? Could an audience respond well merely to these plot details? How would audiences enjoy the film in this way?
3. How well did the film stand as an allegory? Could audiences respond easily to the allegorical nature of the film? How impressive were the details and was it clear what they stood for? The sea as a basis for the world, the microcosm of the sea? The ship and its confinement of characters? The struggle of good and evil? Humanity and the law? The background of biblical quotations and biblical morality? Ordinary men as victims?
4. How well did the film centre Billy? His initial being taken to the ship, his willingness and goodness, his quickly being made victim on the ship, yet his acceptance of his lot and his likable response, his attractiveness and winning over friendship of officers and crew? Goodness basically getting a good response? Yet the evil response of Claggart? The persecution by Claggart and the unwillingness to see the good? Billy's capacity for learning, helping others? The provocation of mutiny? The importance of the encounter before Captain Vere? The impact of Billy's anger and speech impediment? The surprise of his death-blow to Claggart? Billy's status at his trial and his response to the accusations? The edification to those trying him? The human sympathy yet the role of the law? The edifying death? His final call for Captain Vere? How was Billy a salvation figure? A victim of law? A victim of evil? Yet his influence of the men and their ultimate success because they were inspired by him? The Christ-figure overtones of this kind of character?
5. How did Billy stand as almost perfect good? The ideal man? How did Claggart contrast with him as almost total evil? What was salvation in terms of this struggle between good and evil? Is it inevitable that evil conquers? The irony of the good killing the evil? And yet good ultimately destroyed?
6. How evil was Claggart? Was his evil explained? Was it just malign malice? The melodramatic overtones of his evil? The persecution of Jenkins, the persecution and provocation of Billy, the encounter before Captain Vere? Audience response to Claggart's death? Audience sympathy with Billy?
7. The role of Captain Vere on the ship? Playing God with his crew? Impressing men to serve on the ship? An absentee landlord running his ship? A likable person yet distant from the crew? As ineffective in terms of relationships with the men, allowing men like Claggart to rule? His sympathy for Billy and trying to help him? Vere's status at the court case and his attitude towards Billy? His decision to stand for law and order over all instead of the humanity for Billy? Billy's call for God's saving Captain Vere? Audience response to Captain Vere? Was his application of law and justice credible?
8. The role of Jenkins in the film? The first persecutor of Billy, won over (as Claggart was not)? Jenkins becoming Claggart's victim? Billy trying to save him?
9. The role of Ratcliffe on the ship? As subordinate to the Captain, bringing Billy on board, his relationship with Billy during the voyage?
10. The role of Danster in the film? As the ordinary man? The sympathetic man? His support? The biblical wisdom?
11. Comment on the different characters on the ship, their interaction amongst themselves, their relationship with Billy, the effect of Billy on them: Seymour, Wyatt, Kincaid, Squeak, Helen etc.?
12. How was the 18th century and the British navy a good setting for such insight into good and evil, law and justice? The nature of the British navy in the 18th. century, the inhumanity, the standing of law, the horror of mutiny? Was the execution of law too severe? What would happen now?
13. How well did the film explore themes of life and death, the mystery of life, suffering and hardship, the achievement in human life and its influence?
14. Was the film right to be in black and white and Cinemascope, utilising the ship and the sea to make vivid this world in which people were trapped and yet could find salvation?
