If you've never seen one of the three major film versions of the famous mutiny-and therefore have no knowledge of the plot-the opening credits of the 1935 film will give you a pretty fair warning of what is about to happen. I've seen all three versions, 1935, 1962, and 1984, and this version has quickly become my favorite. Charles Laughton, the famously strict Captain Bligh, leads a two-year voyage from England to Tahiti to procure breadfruit plants and bring them back. His second-in-command, Fletcher Christian, is played by an un-mustached Clark Gable. At first, Gable supports his captain and tries to get the crew to behave and obey their commanding officer to avoid his horrible punishments. But when Laughton repeatedly brutalizes his men for small or nonexistent infractions, Gable leads a mutiny and takes over the ship. I know Clark Gable was called "The King", but he really wasn't a good actor. Please, nobody throw anything at me, and hear me out. He was very handsome, made girls swoon by taking his shirt off in most of his movies, and had a powerfully confident presence onscreen. But his acting consisted of shouting or smirking, with exception to The Misfits. When you watch Mutiny on the Bounty, it's as if you're watching Rhett Butler on a boat. He's exactly the same. My criticisms of Clark Gable aside, the rest of the movie is very good! The character of Captain Bligh has to be so much more than just strict and unreasonable. He's obviously a mass of problems, otherwise he wouldn't act the way he does, and in Charles Laughton's interpretation, those problems are written on his brow. He broods, wants to be better than he is, and craves order and respect for deep reasons, and it's obvious without being melodramatic. But it's Franchot Tone who steals the show in his performance. He's the most likable character, and he delivers so much passion into his lines, whether he's interacting with Tahitians and creating a dictionary, falling in love, or finding a balance between loyalty to his captain and to his friend. I like him anyway, but I've never seen him pour so much of himself into a role as in this film. All three leads were nominated for Best Actor in 1936, since the Academy hadn't created the Supporting Actor category yet, and the vote split between them. The only nominee who wasn't in Mutiny on the Bounty took home the gold that year, but at least the film won Best Picture. The sea scenes were pretty remarkable for 1935, so keep that in mind when you watch it.If you can, keep an eye out for James Cagney, David Niven, and Dick Haymes, as one of the dozens of extras in the film. I never found them, but you can give it a shot. This is very much a man's movie, but I enjoyed it immensely. The characters and production values kept me riveted even past the end!

To put it simply, Frank Lloyd's "Mutiny on the Bounty" has the word 'classic' stamped in every inch of celluloid. In 1935, it was the kind of escapist entertainment no viewer would refuse, no critic would dare to minimize, it set the tones of swash buckling adventures, by MGM and other studios… but a few of them to raise above. You would indeed expect a film from 1935 to have aged a little, it aged even by the standards of 1962 when Lewis Milestone directed the remake, but the two films haven't aged the same and there are many aspects where 1935 Best Picture winner is actually superior.But before unveiling the strength and flaws of the first movie made about one of the most famous mutinies in history (if not the most), let's just examine what makes the story so cinematically appealing. Beyond the usual archetypes of the costume dramas and adventurous overseas journeys, with their share of brutish seamen, romantic heroes and insular paradises whose female natives welcome visitors with garland of flowers and tempting hips, there's –on the field of storytelling- a clear and captivating antagonism. There are basically two images instantly associated with the Bounty: Tahiti and its Christopher-Columbus like mission involving a mysterious breadfruit and the rivalry between Captain Bligh and… "Mister Christian!" (shouted with Laughton's fiery voice).One who had a mild interest in the story knows that it's not black-and-white, Bligh was an authoritarian, by the book, ruler who never accepted his orders to be discussed, and Christian was an idealistic young officer who didn't approve Bligh's overuse of flogging as means of punishment. But who in 1935 asked for complexity and cared to discuss the flogging (a myth according to history), those were the glorious days where the casting had to includes a comic relief played by Herbert Mundin, and a wise drunkard played by Dudlee Dinges, from their very introduction, you know there won't be much room for subtlety. There will have to be reasons to justify these big and angry close-ups on the sailors, to see Christian boiling from inside and making the mutiny not just inevitable, but believable… and acceptable.The 1935 film then takes an angle that couldn't have been less ambiguous: Bligh is the villain (he was the nineteenth entry in the American Film Institute's Top 50) and Christian is the romantic hero. Charles Laughton is obviously having fun adding an extra-sinister dimension to his Bligh, with these bushy eyebrows and sneaky look, he can only appear accidentally sympathetic while Gable, more dashing and handsome than ever, gets too perfect for our cynical modern taste. This is one of the paradoxes of the movie, it insists so much on making Bligh evil that it actually does a disservice to everyone else, heroes included.It all comes down to Bligh being a sadistic monster, flogging a dead man or keelhauling one to his death and showing not a bit or sympathy toward any of his subordinates. Meanwhile, Christian and Bryam (Franchet Tone) are the noble carriers of the flag of justice, they're young (actually, Bligh wasn't that old), they're handsome, and since they're right from the start, they don't provide the same kind of genuine excitement when they're on screen. Worse, they inherited from the most cringe-worthy romantic interludes ever, with girls who've been probably cast for their ability to maintain a dazed enamored smile for more than five minutes… not to mention the Chief whose phony accent doesn't fool anyone.The Tahitian parts makes the mutiny believable, after having lived five months in paradise (the Hays Code prevents any mention of… fooling around) the men have to undergo an even more angry and severe Bligh. But the writers again try too hard, Bligh, instead of maintaining his men in good spirit, cut their ration of water (because the plants needed more), he accuses Christian of stealing and many other provocation. The mutiny could just had been a case of sailors who wanted to get back to their island because the taste of idleness was just too good to endure Bligh more months. Bligh had to be made a bad guy in a way that felt too forced for believability, but then, just when I thought the film was slipping, something happened… a little detail was explored, one that even the 1962 version overlooked.When you look at the real story of the Bounty, there's this magnificent subplot about Bligh leading 18 men on an overcrowded ship (seven meters long) to the island of Timor (3600 miles away), an exploit even by today's standards. That episode says a lot about Bligh's determination, leadership and sailing abilities. Laughton is given his one redeeming moment, as the man who beats the sea itself. It is a credit to the writers to have allowed this to be shown. And when the story cuts to Fletcher and Bryam and their mundane little Tahitian life, the excitement is gone again, and Gable never seems to be in danger anyway, we're somewhat glad for him, but retrospectively, we never pinpoint a moment where his life was in any danger. At least, Blight had that moment.So, when the film makes a villain out of him again in the final trial, I was perplex, sure it looked like a good ending, with all the message about how to manage people, but anyone who'd read the story of the Bounty know whatever happened to the mutineers after that, made Bligh's point. It doesn't make Bligh right of course but it did call for other more subtle portrayals. 1935 was only the start, and quite a good one, with all the deliberate flaws and accidental bits of genius.On a side note, it's also the film that convinced the Academy to add the Best Supporting Actor category; the one Franchet Tone's nomination belonged to. There can't be a movie with three leading actors, although technically, they were.

Based on a famous incident in the history of British Navy, Mutiny on the Bounty is the cinematic representation of the famous mutiny against Captain Bligh led by Fletcher Christian. It has brilliant production values. Without any special effects, it nicely develops the feeling of the extremely exhausting and troublesome journey. From the beginning, it develops the sparks of the revolt. It nicely shows how all the small incidents and different thinking led to such a big revolt.The most and possibly only notable flaw with the film is its historical accuracy. Being a mainstream film, the characterization is binary. Captain Bligh is painted as antagonist and every action of Fletcher Christian is glorified in the film. The film has been made from the perspective of mutineers, considering this there isn't any big flaw in this film. However, I felt the role of Charles Laughton is not utilized properly.Apart from that I liked editing and entire production. The film stands tall when it comes to performances. The heat between Bligh and Christian is quite amusing to see. Charles Laughton is fantastic once again with his brilliant ascent. He brilliantly portrayed ruthless and inhuman actions of Bligh at the same time his character is a great seaman. On the other hand, it was quite an experience to see Clark Gable at his peak. His character is a good combination of a wise gentleman and an angry young man. Franchot Tone was also good. Movie has good dialogues and some fine monologues.Apart from being little partial towards a few things, It is a great adventure film.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios' Best Picture till date.HMS Bounty is all set to sail from Portsmouth to Tahiti lead by Captain Bligh. The ship is need for a few workers and everyone is intimidated when they get to know the ship will sail under the command of Captain William Bligh. Captain Bligh, played by Charles Laughton, is a ruthless man who doesn't share a camaraderie with the crew as Captain Fletcher, played by Clark Gable, does. The conflict starts when Captain Bligh punishes a man to get on top of the ship despite the inclement weather in the sea. The captain-crew relation further strains when the workers are ill-treated by the Captain and those loyal to him. The mutineers, lead by Captain Fletcher, jettison Captain Bligh and those loyal to him and they carry on their voyage to Tahiti. Captain Bligh and his acolytes venture the sea, and after more than a month of starvation with nothing but water in the vicinity, the emaciated men reach shore. Captain Fletcher and his men reach Tahiti, trade with the local people, make settlements and even marry the women of the country. In the meanwhile, Captain Bligh and his men get aboard another ship and are on a pursuit to incarcerate Captain Fletcher and the mutineers and bring them to the book in England. Captain Fletcher and his men spot the ship when it's a more than a day's sail away and flee from Tahiti. Captain Byam and a few men who are neutral on the mutiny wish to stay back only to be taken to England for prosecution. The men are sentenced to Capital punishment. Captain Byam is proved not guilty and is promoted in rank. Fletcher and his men inhabit a deserted island.Charles Laughton portrays Captain Bligh as a tyrant, care-for-nothing, petulant captain who expects to be revered and feared by his crew. Never does he grin nor smile and carries a straight-face throughout the movie. Charles Laughton has made Captain Bligh one of the greatest on-screen villains with ease. Clark Gable and Franchot Tone have performed really well.A true epic that is far ahead of its times by several "nautical miles".