Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)

Synopsis:

In 1787, the Bounty sails from England for Tahiti (Pacific) under the command of captain William Bligh (Trevor Howard). Her mission is to transport breadfruit to Jamaica, hopefully it will provide a cheap source of food for the slaves. Captain Bligh attempts to reach Tahiti sooner by choosing the shorter route around Cape Horn, a navigational nightmare. The travel fails and the Bounty go eastbound, it took much cost and time. Bligh attempts to make up the lost time by pushing the crew works harder. When the Bounty reaches Tahiti, the crew revels in easygoing life of the tropical paradise and in the free-love philosophies of the Tahitian women. Christian himself is attracted by Maimiti (Tarita), daughter of the Tahitian king. On the return voyage, Bligh brings back twice the number of breadfruit plants and must reduce the water rations of the crew to water the extra plants. When a crew becomes ill from drinking seawater, Christian gives him fresh water in violation of the Captain's orders. Bligh strikes Christian when he ignores his second order to stop. On the contrary Christian strikes Bligh. Bligh tells Christian that he will brim him to a court and hang him when they reach port. No other choice, Christian takes command of the ship and sets Bligh and the loyalist of the crew adrift in the longboat with navigational equipment. Bligh decides to reach British authorities and arrives back in England with remarkable speed.

Directed by Lewis Milestone

Produced by Aaron Rosenberg

Written by Charles Lederer

Based on Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall

Starring:

Marlon Brando - 1st Lieutenant Fletcher Christian

Trevor Howard - Captain William Bligh

Richard Harris - seaman John Mills

Tarita Teriipia - Maimiti

Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1962)

Running time 178 min.