Cliff Notes for Mutiny on the Bounty

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Cliffsnotes Mutiny on the Bounty (Cliffs Notes Series) List Price: $4.95 Sale Price: $1.30 Used From: $1.34

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The Bounty Mutiny (Penguin Classics) List Price: $15.00 Sale Price: $7.86 Used From: $5.56 Average Rating:

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The names William Bligh, Fletcher Christian, and the Bounty have excited the popular imagination for more than two hundred years. The story of this famous mutiny has many beginnings and many endings but they all intersect on an April morning in 1789 near the island known today as Tonga. That morning, William Bligh and eighteen surly seamen were expelled from the Bounty and began what would be the greatest open-boat voyage in history, sailing some 4,000 miles to safety in Timor. The mutineers led by Fletcher Christian sailed off into a mystery that has never been entirely resolved.While the full story of what drove the men to revolt or what really transpired during the struggle may never be known, Penguin Classics has brought together-for the first time in one volume-all the relevant texts and documents related to a drama that has fascinated generations. Here is the full text of Bligh's Narrative of the Mutiny, the minutes of the court proceedings gathered by Edward Christian in an effort to clear his brother's name, and the highly polemic correspondence between Bligh and Christian-all amplified by Robert Madison's illuminating Introduction and rich selection of subsequent Bounty narratives.

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• ISBN13: 9780140439168
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Reviews

Depending on your mindset when you read this collection, this can be a great analytical read on the most infamous mutiny in western naval history. The most important point to understand about this collection is that it is meant to illustrate the power of language. The accounts in the book are from many of the people either directly involved in the Bounty mutiny or were closely affected by it. When reading the different accounts, the reader will see how each author utilizes rhetorical strategies to sway the reader to sympathize for their agenda. It is from this use of rhetoric that the reader can see the types of people these men truly were. Captain Bligh uses facts and exact and minute details to recall the events before and after the mutiny. It shows he is a very astute and analytical thinker who was perhaps out of touch with his crew. From Edward Christian we can see the type of fire and passion that he and his brother (Fletcher, the initiator of the mutiny) possessed. The develop of these people based on simply their own writing is quite astounding. In all, these primary writings are a good source for historical analysis and also important to document the use of rhetorical strategies in written language.

This is my first review. I feel that some of the 'rave reviews' I read for this volume did not adequately describe several flaws that I feel need mentioning. I bought this book because I wanted to read the contemporary accounts of the Bounty mutiny to gain an understand of both sides of the issues involved, and to make a personal decision on what happened and why. This edition was touted as allowing me to do just that. However I found that the editor, in his introduction, tries to do some of my thinking for me. I feel that, in a book of this sort, the editor should not be telling us his version of the story, particularly at the beginning of the book. Mr Madison may well believe that Captain Bligh was the villian in this tragedy with Mr Christian the poor sensitive victim, but I wish he would keep it to himself and limit himself to background and supplemental material. Another disappointment is that apparently, the chapter titled "Minutes of the Proceedings of the Court-Martial held at Portsmouth, August 12, 1792." is not the real minutes at all, but a partial transcript provided by Edward Christian (Fletcher's brother). I'm not sure I understand why the actual court transcript was not available and what is missing in the version we have. I do know we have to rely on a version published by the 'defendant's" brother. Is that really conducive to getting an objective picture? That said, the book is still interesting and does give the reader a fairly comprehensive picture of the events of that spring morning in 1789.

This book is a collection of early documents relating to Fletcher Christian's mutiny against William Bligh in 1789 on the HMS Bounty. The editor claims to have gathered together for the first time "the relevant texts and documents" related to this famous event that has intrigued readers for 200 years. In all, ten documents whose publication dates range from 1790 to 1870 are included. The first four documents make up the body of the book and consist of a series of published statements by William Blight and responses by Edward Christian, Fletcher's brother. Fletcher Christian died on Pitcairn Island and never put his story in print. These four sections are followed by six Appendixes. The first Appendix contains a transcript of Bligh's orders and a botanical description of the breadfruit that the Bounty went to Tahiti to obtain. The remaining five Appendixes are narratives of the lives of those who stayed on the Bounty after the mutiny.All of these early texts are preceded by a delightful and informative Introduction by the editor that relates the early lives of both Bligh and Christian and discusses their relationship leading up to the mutiny. It describes the mission of the Pandora to seek out the Bounty and bring back any mutineers they can find. Also covered is the trial and disposition of those sailors brought back from Tahiti. Lastly, the Introduction goes on to summarize the history of Bounty documentation and scholarship, from Bligh's first published account right on through the famous fictionalized Bounty trilogy by Nordhoff and Hall. The Introduction is followed by a one page listing of suggested further readings.The first section of the book is Bligh's 1790 account of the mutiny and subsequent voyage of he and 18 crew members in the ship's 23 foot boat. He quickly recounts the details of the mutiny on the first four pages and then spends the remaining 62 pages on his heroic and epic voyage across 3,600 miles of the South Pacific that took about a month and a half. Bligh depicts himself as a dedicated leader who saved the lives of all but one crew member in this fascinating and arduous journey. The second section of the book is the proceedings of the court martial of those brought back to face charges of mutiny, published in 1794 by Edward Christian in an attempt to exonerate his brother. This text consists of a written statement by Bligh, a series of interrogations of the Bounty crew regarding the events of the mutiny, and an Appendix by Edward. A picture of Bligh as a tyrant emerges from this testimony. It is 86 pages long and somewhat repetitive, but still an interesting document to read. The 20 page Appendix at the end of is Edward Christian's attempt to show that his brother had cause for his actions. Although he does not try to justify his brother's actions, he tries to show the state of desperation that his brother was driven to by Bligh's actions. Bligh was at sea when this was published and, when he returned home, he published in 1795 "An Answer..." to the statements of the Appendix which is included as the third section of this book. To this Edward Christian wrote and published a "Short Reply..." that is the fourth section of this book. This interchange in writing between Bligh and Edward Christian is wonderful to read because it presents both sides of the story in a very balanced and fair manner. Without having Fletcher Christian to defend his own actions, this set of documents is the next best thing we have to a fair presentation of both sides of the case.The above documents alone would have made a wonderful and enlightening book. The editor goes on to present in the Appendixes documents that tell the story of those men who followed Fletcher Christian to Tahiti or Pitcairn Island. The first Appendix is a copy of Bligh's orders to go to Tahiti and a description of the breadfruit he was to bring to Jamaica. The second Appendix is an 1870 retelling of a journal kept by one of the sailors who was taken by the Pandora from Tahiti as a mutineer. It tells of the harsh treatment these 14 received aboard this ship and how four died when the ship sank. The next two Appendixes are accounts written by crew members of a ship that visited Pitcairn Island 19 years after the mutiny in 1808. They tell the story of the crew that landed there with Fletcher Christian and their history and families. By this time only one of the nine members of the original Bounty crew that landed on the island remained alive. The last two Appendixes are the story of one of the Tahitian women who married a Bounty crew member and the story of the last surviving crew member himself. Altogether these various documents pieced together tell what we can know of the Bounty mutiny. They make fascinating reading, more interesting than the fictional accounts. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in tales of the sea.

What an amazing book. Using the original source materials--Bligh's diary, the transcript of the Bounty Court Martial, Fletcher Christian's brother's defense of the mutineers, and other materials--the Editor R.D. Madison has put together a book which is impossible to put down. Indeed, the book leaves the reader wishing it were twice as long. Madison refuses to take sides in the Bligh v. Christian debate, and lets the record speak for itself. Since the record is contradictory and nobody is unbiased, the effect, in cinematic terms, is more like "Roshomon" than either of the two Bounty movies. William Bligh comes across as an incredibly brave man with an indomitable will--yet he has a tendency to whine, and worse, he stoops to securing affidavits which do not even pass the smell test. Fletcher Christian comes across as a 23-year old hothead who lets the men talk him into leading a mutiny--and can't control the situation after the mutiny. Christian petulantly refuses to have dinner with the Captain on the eve of the mutiny. Clark Gable, he clearly ain't. The moral world of the Bounty is painted entirely in shades of gray; the men of the Bounty are imperfect and all too human.Not only is the reader treated to a great detective story, but it is a story with an absorbing and instructive sequel. The book ends with a contemporary account, first published in the 1830's, of the subsequent history of Pitcairn's Island as told by the last survivor of the Bounty, "John Adams" (an alias). Adams described a harrowing descent into mayhem and murder by the mutineers who made it to Pitcairn's Island along with their native friends. The disputes began with a dispute over--you guessed it--who would possess a native woman. Except for Adams, Fletcher Christian his gang were all killed, along with the native men. In the end, John Adams sets up a harmonious society based on Biblical principles. I have been scratching my head for two whole weeks since finishing this book, pondering its meaning. And that is a high recommendation, indeed.

The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty List Price: $17.00 Sale Price: $3.66 Used From: $0.01 Average Rating:

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More than two centuries after Master’s Mate Fletcher Christian led a mutiny against Lieutenant William Bligh on a small, armed transport vessel called Bounty, the true story of this enthralling adventure has become obscured by the legend. Combining vivid characterization and deft storytelling, Caroline Alexander shatters the centuries-old myths surrounding this story. She brilliantly shows how, in a desperate attempt to save one man from the gallows and another from ignominy, two powerful families came together and began to create the version of history we know today. The true story of the mutiny on the Bounty is an epic of duty and heroism, pride and power, and the assassination of a brave man’s honor at the dawn of the Romantic age.

Surely this exhaustingly-researched, enthralling and enthusiastically-written tome is the last word on the most famous of all seafaring mutinies, that of shipmate Fletcher Christian and against Lieutenant Bligh on the Bounty. More than 200 years have gone by since the ship left England after dreadful weather kept it harbored for months, on its mission to transport breadfruit from Tahiti to the West Indies. The mutiny in Tahiti left the mutineers scattered about the paradisiacal islands and found Bligh and 18 of his loyal crew members set adrift in a 23-foot open boat. Bligh, who'd served as Capt. James Cook's sailing master, fantastically maneuvered the crew on a 48-day, 3,600-mile journey to safety. Caroline Alexander, author of The Endurance, is never in over her head even when weaving together densely twisting narratives, or explaining the unwritten rules of the Royal Navy, of the complexities of class and hierarchy that impelled much of what happened aboard the Bounty. The book centers far more on the effort to round up the mutineers than the actual mutiny itself. The book is enlivened by the colorful commentary of the crew members themselves, gleaned from letters and court documents. Alexander does us all the favor of presenting Bligh the way he was understood and received in his day--as a brilliant navigator who, when placed in context, was not a brutal task-master at all. She roots the tyrannical figure we know so well from the movies on the last-ditch efforts of one well-connected crew member to save his own hide from hanging. --Mike McGonigal

Features

• ISBN13: 9780142004692
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Reviews

Like many today, the only knowledge I had of the mutiny on the Bounty had come in bits and pieces from popular culture. I was well aware of the portrait of Bligh as a tyrannical madman forcing his subordinates to his will. However, is that characterization correct? If not, then why would his men mutiny? These and many other questions are answered in great detail in Caroline Alexander's book. I began reading with the expectation that the mutiny would take place with some swashbuckling battle for control of the ship, ultimately deposing Bligh and his allies. The mutiny actually took place fairly peacefully and is really a strange spectacle. The bulk of the book is not concerned directly with the mutiny itself but in the courts-martial drama that follows. The events that took place on the Bounty are told from multiple, often contradictory standpoints. It is hard to tell exactly who is innocent and who guilty. It amazes me that the mutiny seems to have been put together at the last minute. Christian Fletcher's motives remain shrouded in some mystery. Alexander asserts, with good evidence, that it was the lure of Tahiti that ultimately lit the fuse. This seems a partial explanation in my mind however, because Fletcher's reaction seems so abrupt and drastic. Perhaps this can be attributed to the excess of alcohol. I enjoyed being taken back to Tahiti, having read several books of Cook's voyages, and enjoyed reading of the mutiny, the sailors involved, and what eventually happened to the mutineers. I was, however, disappointed that I found myself in a book that reads more as a courtroom drama than adventure on the high seas. I wish Alexander had spent more time and detail on the open boat voyage and the mysterious malaise that eventually struck several who survived it. The scenes on the Pandora were interesting but I think I would have gotten more out of them if they had been placed after the mutiny and I knew the characters better. All in all the book is well researched, detailed, and does a good job of showing what eventually became of the major characters. The narrative does drag at times but there is always something interesting right around the next few pages. I really did like the suspense that was built up by not settling the fate of Fletcher until well into the book.

Peter Heywood was a sixteen-year-old midshipman on the Bounty - a very minor contributor when juxtaposed with the legendary Fletcher Christian and William Bligh. Nevertheless, Heywood and his family dominate this book. I grew more curious by the page as to why this was so. Heywood was brought to court martial with several others and is one of three released. What followed was an orchestrated family effort to clear his name of any taint. This is where Caroline Alexander takes us and retains us for much of the book. True, Heywood did go on to a distinguished career as a sea-going captain, but his actual participation in the mutiny was exceedingly modest. Thus, the subsequent success that attracts Alexander's attention is due to Heywood's lack of impact on the story. Mutineers don't become British sea captains. History, done correctly, can be as suspenseful as any fiction and the Mutiny on the Bounty would seem the perfect vessel for it. Perhaps I was wrong to expect South Pacific swashbuckling and island intrigue, for there was never much of it. The Bounty, by Caroline Alexander is well-researched, competently written, but compelling it is not. Given the continuous popularity of the story, Alexander had enough information to write a book less focused on Peter Heywood. I won't say this makes The Bounty boring, but it makes it less than it might have been. 4 stars.

Caroline Alexander has produced the definitive account of the mutiny on the Bounty, making what could be a dry history lesson into a true page-turner. My only negative comment is that the maps are nigh illegible on the Kindle. :-(

If you love non-fiction, a fascinating topic, and exceptional writing, this book is for you. Caroline Alexander brilliantly integrates numerous primary and secondary sources into a highly readable narrative of what happened on H.M.S. Bounty on April 28, 1789. The reader learns about the men and events leading up to the mutiny, what occurred during the takeover, and the mutiny's aftermath. Of the 45 men serving under William Bligh, the author lists only 19 as having actively participated in the mutiny. Ten accused mutineers were eventually captured, and the account of their court-martial is particularly engrossing. The author is scrupulous about presenting all versions of what happened during the mutiny, and she gives an equally gripping narrative of its consequences. However, she is not a disinterested observer, i.e., she has opinions, which she supports with facts. For example, she dispels the Hollywood myth that the blame for the mutiny should fall predominately on Bligh's shoulders and that Fletcher Christian had little choice but to overthrow a tyrant. An especially interesting part of the book is the final chapter, which relates what happened later in life to the Bounty's officers and crew. There is also an extensive section on sources and a significant selected bibliography. A fabulous read.

I've had this book in my library for years and finally picked it up a month or two ago. I had no idea that I'd be swept into one of the most interesting narrative histories I've ever read. Alexander has done her research thoroughly and what I find most astounding is just how much source material she had to work with. I'm new to British Naval history and I was amazed that they'd managed to preserve so many of the pertinent logs and letters. What was even more astonishing was that the evidence she compiles for this book paints Bligh in such a contrasting light than the rest of the world knows him. We can all spout what we've 'heard' about the reputation of Captain Bligh, but when the facts are laid bare, the story changes dramatically. I now find myself defending Captain Bligh at every turn and encouraging people to read this fantastic book. Alexander's writing is clear and supremely interesting. She takes the time to explain the naval lingo as well as the ramifications of certain world events and historical context. I ended up feeling sympathy for Bligh and just a bit of rage at how he was mistreated. You may not be swept along as thoroughly as I was, but I doubt you'll be able to look at this epic true story in the same way again.

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The Bounty List Price: $14.98 Sale Price: $8.72 Used From: $4.92 Average Rating:

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OscarÂ(r) winners* Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson lead a stellar cast that includes Sir Laurence Olivier, Daniel Day-Lewis and Liam Neeson in this action-packed adventure bursting with sensational battles, raging storms, and an intensity as powerful as the mighty sea itself! Bristling with commanding performances, blazing dialogue and "superb action scenes" (Los Angeles Times), this "spectacular movie" (New York) is "everything a high-adventure fan could want" (Variety)! Hopkins delivers "a brilliant portrayal" (Boxoffice) as William Bligh, a real-life sea captain who, in 1787, steered The Bounty on a 27,000-mile voyage into danger, chaos and madness. After 31 days of battling severe sea squalls and Bligh's ever-increasing cruelty, the weary crew is relieved to finally land on a remote island. But soon their tyrannical captain wants tosail again, and the desperate men turn to first mate Fletcher Christian (Gibson) to help them take the ship by force or die trying. *Hopkins: Actor, The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Gibson: Director, Producer, Braveheart (1995)

Director Roger Donaldson (Thirteen Days) has breathed vibrant new life into the classic story of the mutiny on the Bounty. With a dream cast--Mel Gibson, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir Laurence Olivier, Liam Neeson, and Daniel Day-Lewis--and a script by Robert Bolt (Doctor Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia), The Bounty takes a revisionist tack through the well-charted waters of an oft-told tale. Hopkins's Captain Bligh is no raving sadist in the Charles Laughton mode. (Laughton played Bligh in the first Mutiny on the Bounty, 1935.) Instead, Sir Anthony plays Bligh as a hard-nosed imperialist explorer simply trying to get the job done in the time-honored manner: on the backs of the poor gobs under his command. Still, when Bligh's suppressed powder keg of rage finally blows, Hopkins is formidable indeed. Mel Gibson gives one of the most soulful performances of his career as mutiny leader Fletcher Christian. He's also at the height of his blue-eyed, buff good looks, and his romance with Tahitian maiden Mauatua (lovely Tevaite Vernette) is decidedly erotic. Liam Neeson is a veritable force of nature as the scrappy seaman Charles Churchill, and Daniel Day-Lewis is sublimely hateful as Master John Fryer, a pompous toady. With special effects to rival those of The Perfect Storm, the alluring eye candy of a tall-masted schooner under full sail, lush tropical greenery, and bevies of bodacious South Sea Islands babes, plus a gripping story line, The Bounty deserves a rescue from undeserved obscurity. --Laura Mirsky

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Brand: GIBSON,MEL
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Original Release Date: 1984-05-04
Actors:

• Mel Gibson
• Anthony Hopkins
• Laurence Olivier
• Edward Fox
• Daniel Day-Lewis

Reviews

Was not expecting to receive item in time for holiday, and was pleasantly (and gratefully) surprised that it arrived in time. Product was in good condition. I am very satisfied with timeliness and service.

(Historical Drama/Adventure) Based upon the true life story of the British ship, the HMS Bounty, this movie adaptation is accurate and balanced. The film shows how a captain, Lt. William Bligh (Anthony Hopkins), comes to lose his ship by his own men after they become too comfortable on the island of Tahiti. The score is done by Vangelis (Chariots of Fire) and is very 80sh but somehow seems to fit the mood of the movie perfectly. Anthony Hopkins & Mel Gibson outperform themselves as they partake in the rich & intelligent dialogue that occurs between Mr. Fletcher Christian and Lt. William Bligh. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson, Daniel Day-Lewis, Liam Neeson and a few other famous actors. Discretion: Non-sexual nudity

Re-watching this 'eye candy' of a movie (as somebody on this page called it), makes me realize how much this 1984 version of the old tale of the mutiny on the British ship Bounty in Tahiti is a revision of the traditional view. I do not recall precisely the previous versions (Laughton as Bligh/Gable as Fletcher, later Trevor Howard with Marlon Brando), but most definitely, Hopkins' Bligh is a decent man and a somewhat overindulgent leader who tries to correct his early easy-going by overreacting in his imposition of discipline. Cheers to Hopkins! Mel Gibson as a young pretty boy was light years away from his aging man idiocies. His Fletcher is a blue eyed romantic, who drifts into something that he didn't really want, and who is lucky to find Pitcairn Island in the end, without which his story would be even more incomplete than it is anyway. My last movie review here (about Seraphim Falls) was making some noise about the Irishness of the lead stars there. What we get in Bounty is more of the same: Neeson as a young rebellious sailor is magnificent, and so is Day Lewis, whom I sometimes dislike for his overacting, here in his part as a slimy incompetent ship's mate. Great fun. We fully agree with Laurence Olivier's court verdict that Bligh was not to blame for losing the Bounty and with the praise for reaching Kupang in Timor on a small boat with the remaining loyal crew. Bligh went on to become a Vice Admiral and a Governor of New South Wales. I know nothing of his later performance. My only doubt for the film is the Dutchness of Kupang. The story is set in the late 18th century. Was West Timor really that much settled by the Dutch at that time? Requires more research.

This early Mel Gibson film features him as Fletcher Christian, the leader of the famous Mutiny on the Bounty. Anthony Hopkins is excellent as Captain Bligh, the moralistic seaman who cannot abide Fletcher's passionate relationship with a "savage" young woman. The film stresses the ambiguous character of both men, neither of whom are all good or all evil. Gibson's Fletcher Christian is an independent man who feels alternating pangs of guilt over his mutiny, coupled with a fierce desire to leave the shipboard life under Bligh that has become for him, a living hell. A good seafaring drama, showcasing both Hopkins' dramatic skills and Gibson's early image as a sensitive, passionate actor.

This is one of my favorite films, ever since I first saw it in the 1980's on video not long after it was released. But it does have its faults. For starters, Gibson really doesn't get a chance to shine in this movie, Anthony Hopkins more or less has the larger role and handles it well, but even he seems subdued at times. There was considerable more interaction between Gable and Laughton in the original. The person I had the most sympathy for was Greek composer Vangelis. I've been a fan of this guy's music even before "Chariots of Fire", but here, he too seems restrained. Much of the score fits nicely with the visuals, nearly etheral and dream-like at times, but occasionally you get the feeling he really wanted to cut loose with something a little more sweeping and dramatic, ala "Blade Runner", but it would have been out of context with the core of the movie. Even after all these years, Tevaite Vernette is still a sight to behold. It's a shame this Tahitian-born beauty was a one-hit wonder, only doing this single film before returing to a normal life. I can certainly understand any man's fascination with her, as well as other topless island lovelies, but it would have been nice if the director had shown us more of the incrdeible beauty of Tahiti. As another reviewer said, this is a lush and well-photographed film, albeit with some faults. It's still better than the majority of what Hollywood is turning out now and well worth a look.

Mutiny on the Bounty (Two-Disc Special Edition) List Price: $26.98 Sale Price: $6.55 Used From: $6.39 Average Rating:

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MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1962) SPECIAL EDITION (DVD/2

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip.... Based on the classic novel by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall, this magnificently-photographed three-hour tour charts the tortuous and tragic course of the Bounty, which, in 1787, sailed from England to Tahiti on a "grocer's errand" to transplant breadfruit plants in Jamaica. As the voyage progresses, tensions mount between the heartless disciplinarian Captain Bligh (a commanding Trevor Howard) and his chief officer, Fletcher Christian (Marlon Brando), who does not subscribe to Bligh's philosophy that cruelty with cause is not cruelty. Richard Harris costars as John Mills, an abused crewmember who plants the seeds of treason against Bligh. Mutiny on the Bounty is a see-worthy saga that boasts a provocative Brando performance (his Christian is initially so foppish he makes Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow look like Errol Flynn in The Sea Hawk) and great action set pieces (a raging storm as the Bounty attempts to navigate Cape Horn). And in how many did this film inspire dreams of sailing away to Tahiti? Brando was among them. He married his ravishing costar Tarita, and later bought himself a French Polynesian island. This "Special Edition" replicates the film's original prestigious road show presentation, complete with Overture, Intermission, Entr'acte, and Exit music. --Donald Liebenson

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 2.55:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Brand: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Original Release Date: 1962-11-08
Actors:

• Marlon Brando

Features

• This grandiose, self-important, often ludicrous remake manages to be thoroughly entertaining almost in spite of itself. Lush tropical locations help as does Brando's campy, bemused performance. Howard plays the sadistic Capt. Bligh with tremendous relish. The two stars reportedly disliked each other, leading to on-set confrontations that rivaled those aboard the Bounty. Format: DVD MOVIE

Reviews

As I was viewing this movie (on my HD DVD player) it became obvious that video and audio were out of sync. I checked on other (HD)DVD's and everything was perfect, wich made me to believe that the problem was related to this particular DVD. I brought this to the attention of Amazon and they immediately corrected the situation by sending me another DVD. However, this one also exhibited the same lack of synchronisation between video and audio. What a shame, cause this movie belongs to my alltime favorites. So, two stars for the video part, wich was excellent, but minus three for the audio that was not able to keep up with the action.

As many times as I have watched this movie, it never fails to entertain. Trevor Howard is perfect as Blight, and never has Fletcher Christian, been better portrayed, as by Brando. Really beautiful cine-photography. I should mention that the "shorts" enclosed with this movie, are very informative and interesting also!

The movie was top-notch. A great story, and beautifully filmed on location in Tahiti. Definitely one of Marlon Brando's best films. Picture and sound quality are excellent. There is a second disc of interesting "extras". If you prefer real story, real acting, and real photography over today's computerized techno-garbage, then I highly recommend this movie.

I've been looking for this product for months. Should have known to come here first. Product was shipped promptly and in good shape.

I wonder if they made more three-hour-plus films in the 1960s than any other decade? It seems that way. Here is another one. This also is a re-make from a 1935 version of the famous story I liked this 'Mutiny On The Bounty' better than the national critics did, who got annoyed at Marlon Brando's British accent. I found nothing wrong with it. In fact, Brando gave a solid performance. I'm glad to see fellow Amazon reviewers agreeing with me; it's an underrated film. (Note: I actually have a "deluxe widescreen" VHS of this film, which isn't even listed here.) Trevor Howard was convincing as the sadistic "Captain Bligh" and Tarita was fair as the love interest "Maimiti." The cinematography might have been the best feature of the film, a definite movie for widescreen as a lot of these mid '50s-to-mid '60s films were. There are some beautiful shots in here, beginning with those Tahiti sunsets. The color in this movie is magnificent. The adventure, acting and photography were all top-notch and the three hours went by fairly fast.

Mutiny on the Bounty List Price: $19.97 Sale Price: $5.95 Used From: $4.25 Average Rating:

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First officer Clark Gable and tyrannical captain Charles Laughton powerfully clash in this vigorous retelling of a true historic incident about a British ship commandeered from its brutal master. Franchot Tone also stars in 1935's Best Picture Academy Award(R) Choice.

The highlight of Mutiny on the Bounty is undoubtedly Charles Laughton's bracingly evil performance as Captain Bligh, a man so mean that he insists on having a dead sailor flogged. Bligh pushes his men beyond physical endurance, slashes their rations for his own profit, and drastically cuts down their frolicking time with scantily clad Tahitians. Finally, the moment everyone has been waiting for arrives: first mate Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable) hits his limit and all hell breaks loose. Gable holds doggedly onto his American accent through the entire movie, but in a way it makes Christian come off as a Regular Guy in opposition to Bligh's institutionalized cruelty. Once you get past the hurdle of his diphthongs, Gable makes an excellent Fletcher Christian--strong, fair, and noble, and he effectively conveys the struggle of a man who loathes the idea of mutiny but can't stand see his men mistreated. And Charles Laughton is just superb. His Bligh is thoroughly appalling, yes, but it's far from a one-note performance--when he is cast adrift on the open sea in a lifeboat and tries to make an impossible journey to land, you can't help but root for him. Mutiny on the Bounty won the 1935 Academy Award for Best Picture and picked up a Leading Actor nomination for each of its male leads. Check it out or be tied to the mizzenmast. --Ali Davis

The highlight of Mutiny on the Bounty is undoubtedly Charles Laughton's bracingly evil performance as Captain Bligh, a man so mean that he insists on having a dead sailor flogged. Bligh pushes his men beyond physical endurance, slashes their rations for his own profit, and drastically cuts down their frolicking time with scantily clad Tahitians. Finally, the moment everyone has been waiting for arrives: first mate Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable) hits his limit and all hell breaks loose. Gable holds doggedly onto his American accent through the entire movie, but in a way it makes Christian come off as a Regular Guy in opposition to Bligh's institutionalized cruelty. Once you get past the hurdle of his diphthongs, Gable makes an excellent Fletcher Christian--strong, fair, and noble, and he effectively conveys the struggle of a man who loathes the idea of mutiny but can't stand see his men mistreated. And Charles Laughton is just superb. His Bligh is thoroughly appalling, yes, but it's far from a one-note performance--when he is cast adrift on the open sea in a lifeboat and tries to make an impossible journey to land, you can't help but root for him. Mutiny on the Bounty won the 1935 Academy Award for Best Picture and picked up a Leading Actor nomination for each of its male leads. Check it out or be tied to the mizzenmast. --Ali Davis

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Brand: WARNER HOME VIDEO
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Original Release Date: 1935-01-01
Actors:

• Charles Laughton
• Clark Gable
• Franchot Tone
• Carey Wilson
• Edward Christian

Reviews

This movie was a delight to watch and will be a part of our permanent collection.

This is by far the best version of this great classic movie. The acting is great, the cinematography is good, and even the island scenes look good. If you are interested in viewing a great old movie, go no further than this!!

The product was wrapped and the box was very secure. There wasn't any rattle or anything wrong with the box. The video's are both in good condition and play on my dvd with no problems. Would recommend to anybody you wants an unusual dvd.

To my knowledge there are three movies made about the mutiny on the bounty. There is this one, a remake starring Marlon Brando and another remake starring Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins as Capt. Bligh. I've seen all three and enjoyed them all, but I lean toward this one being the best due to Charles Laughton's take on Capt. Bligh. Cold, cruel and brutal Laughton's Bligh keeps you glued to the screen easily stealing the movie right out from under Clark Gable. If you don't know the story or have never seen any of the Bounty movies this is where you want to begin. The cover art makes you think this will be in color but its not it's in black and white and the movie has not been remastered for DVD. It still looks and sounds pretty good so do not let that stop you from seeing it. If you enjoy this one, take the time to seek out the remakes too. The story is timeless and the original movie is a classic.

I hate adventure movies and got this when I only had four minutes to pick something off the shelves of the public library. I watched two of them before I got down to this--not really expecting to see it through. So, imagine my surprise when I, not only sat through the whole thing, but actually enjoyed it. It's a great story---who cares if it's not historically accurate--we can Google for that. It moves along quickly. We see the horrible stuff but somehow it gives us enough happy scenes so you don't just want to turn the film off. The stay in Tahiti is a rest, not just for the sailors but for the viewers. It is a terrific story and it does help to know that it actually happened, more or less. What really brings it home is the acting. As everyone here has said, Charles Laughton, as Captain Bligh is a most despicable hero--not just hideously cruel but there's something about his pudgy body and puffy, pouty mouth that really gives you the creeps. His perfect counterpart, the gorgeous, hunky, dimpled Clark Gable is endearing from the opening scene in which we see he is a man's man, but has a heart. Oh, those dimples! He truly deserves the heart of the beautiful native girl who falls in love with him. The plot twists a bit, holding your interest, as Gable as Christian, the hero, has to make some heavy decisions. Even though the film is a bit long by our standards, it held my interest to the end. Then, there is an incredible short added to the DVD which was made in the style of the newsreel features of the time. It shows what happened to the group that Christian led to Pitcairn Island. We always wonder what happened to folks after the end of the film, and this fills us in. What is really strange is the tone of this feature which emphasizes the terrible crime of the mutineers, and the unhappy moody character of Christian. It's a total flip from the tone of the movie but it is interesting to see actually footage of the inbred people who populated the island at the time of the film. One wonders where they got the starchy nice clothes that they wear to the three church services that are held every Sunday and why they choose to remain there...that would be a good subject for another film.