BEFORE: I'm finishing off the major films made about the Bounty adventure. I included this in my historical novel section even though it's based on a real event, because I first heard the story by reading the novel - and this film credits the authors of the book, Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. I'm not sure why you don't hear their names very often, not as often as you hear about, say, Herman Melville or Daniel Defoe.
Since this is my third time viewing the same story in film, I'll be looking for the major and minor differences between the versions.
I picked this one up during TCM's "31 Days of Oscar" programming last year, which was all organized by the settings of the films - mostly different countries, but they also included the South Pacific (and other non-specific locations like "outer space" and "heaven"). I liked their system so much, I borrowed it for my World Tour last year. While I'll probably pick up a couple more Oscar winners and nominees from TCM this year, I'm less interested by their organization this time around. The films this February will be organized by movie studio. Bo-ring. Who cares if a film was made by Warner Bros. or Universal? A great film is a great film, no matter who made it.
THE PLOT: same as last night.
AFTER: Well, the first major difference is that this version is nearly three hours long (including the overture, intermission and entr'acte music) so almost everything takes longer to establish or occur. The upswing is that the time at sea is extended, so when the ship finally reaches Tahiti, it feels like more of a big deal. But the downside is that more time is devoted to pointless activities like dancing at the island celebration.
Fletcher Christian, here played by Marlon Brando (last seen in "A Streetcar Named Desire"), is a much different character than the ones played by Clark Gable and Mel Gibson, who played him more as an everyman who happened to be second in command. (Though he is a central character, the story is not necessary told from his point of view) Brando played him as more of an upper-class twit, who earned his rank perhaps through privilege, and this makes it take longer for him to rise to the defense of his crew. And he's got an upper-class British accent here - which fits the character, but seems weird coming from Marlon Brando.
His status puts him almost in a class with Bligh - though he doesn't share Bligh's views on discipline, he does seem to understand them at first. And when he becomes the leader of the crew, perhaps he understands just how difficult it is to motivate the men.
He seems to be great at playing "the game", in that he complains to Bligh without putting himself directly at risk. He also acts with the best intentions toward the crew, and this is one way that he earns their respect. He also has the most to lose by taking over the ship - he gives up his rank, his station, and any chance of returning to England, and he seems to be the most aware of this fact. And if you need an actor to display inner conflict, Brando should be your top choice.
But there's that same conflict again - speak up and be condemned, or remain silent and be damned (or lose one's honor, same thing). It's not hard to draw a direct connection between Fletcher Christian, Jean Valjean, and Thomas More. I wonder just how prevalent this type of dilemma is in literature and film - perhaps it's quite common, and I'm only noticing it because it popped up three times in the last week.
Another major difference concerns the ending of the film - less time is spent on Bligh's men sailing in the small boat to Timor (the 2nd book of the trilogy), and more time devoted to the men on the Bounty seeking refuge on Pitcairn Island (the 3rd book). Whereas the 1935 film focused on Bligh's men at sea, and his commissioning of a new ship to track down and prosecute the mutineers - and no mention of what happened to the men who landed at Pitcairn. Stylistic choice, I suppose. But this film should be penalized for changing the fate of Fletcher Christian for dramatic purposes.
Last night I mentioned where you can see the ship that played the Bounty in the 1935 film. The ship from this 1962 version appeared at the 1964 World's Fair, and was also used in the 1990 version of "Treasure Island" and in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest". It has been a tourist attraction in St. Petersburg, Florida, and was still in sailable condition until last year, when it sunk 90 miles off the coast of North Carolina after being caught in Hurricane Sandy. And the ship used in the Gibson/Hopkins film is still in service, as a tourist attraction in Hong Kong.
Also starring Trevor Howard (last seen in "Around the World in 80 Days"), Richard Harris (last seen in "The Guns of Navarone"), Hugh Griffith (last seen in "Kind Hearts and Coronets").
RATING: 5 out of 10 navigation charts
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