Although this is the third Hollywood account of the infamous 1789 mutiny, it’s not a remake.
Unlike the Charles Laughton/Clark Gable or Trevor Howard/Marlon Brando versions, this sticks closely to historical fact.
Consequently, Lieutenant – as he was at the time of the mutiny – William Bligh emerges as a gentleman bound by duty and loyalty who expected nothing less of his crew, while Fletcher Christian comes across as a man driven by heartfelt but half-digested notions of liberty and romance.
It was undoubtedly a bold move for Mel Gibson to play such an antihero, but, despite his efforts, he is acted off the screen by the magnificent Anthony Hopkins, whose dignity and determination hold together Roger Donaldson’s highly intelligent film.
Fletcher Christian
Mel Gibson Lieutenant William Bligh
Anthony Hopkins Admiral Hood
Laurence Olivier Captain Greetham
Edward Fox John Fryer
Daniel Day-Lewis Cole
Bernard Hill Smith
John Sessions Young
Philip Davis Churchill
Liam Neeson Nelson
Simon Chandler Doctor Huggan
Malcolm Terris Quintal
Neil Morrissey Ellison
Dexter Fletcher
Director
Roger Donaldson
Related Posts
Woman In Red, The (1984) This comedy remake of the 1977 French farce Pardon Mon Affaire stars Gene Wilder (who also wrote and directed), Kelly LeBrock, Gilda…
Blue Thunder (1983) A super-duper, high-tech helicopter is the centrepiece of this fast-paced action yarn which plays out in the skies above Los…
Trancers (1984) The low-budget Trancers blithely steals ideas and images from the two best science-fiction films of the previous five years -…
Billy Budd (1962) Set aboard the HMS Avenger, an 18th-century British frigate, Herman Melville's last novel is both a realistic drama and morality…
Betrayed (1954) Clark Gable stars in a wartime espionage drama which has as many thrills as surprises. It is based on the…
Braveheart (1996) 13th century Scotland. A Scottish rebel, William Wallace (Mel Gibson), leads an uprising against the cruel English reign of Edward…
Beast Must Die, The (1974) Wealthy playboy, philanthropist and big game hunter Tom Newcliffe (Calvin Lockhart) and his wife Caroline (Marlene Clark) invite an eclectic…
Backlash (1986) Australian police officers Trevor Darling (David Argue) and Nikki Iceton (Gia Carides) have to escort Kath (newcomer Lydia Miller), a…
