H.M.S. Defiant
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| H.M.S. Defiant | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Lewis Gilbert |
| Produced by | John Brabourne |
| Written by | Frank Tilsley (novel) Nigel Kneale Edmund H. North |
| Starring | Alec Guinness Dirk Bogarde Maurice Denham Nigel Stock Anthony Quayle |
| Music by | Clifton Parker |
| Cinematography | Christopher Challis |
| Editing by | Peter R. Hunt |
| Distributed by | Columbia TriStar |
| Release date(s) | April 15, 1962 (UK) Sept. 19, 1962 (USA) |
| Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
H.M.S. Defiant (released as Damn the Defiant! in the United States) is a British film released in 1962 about a mutiny aboard the fictitious ship of the title at around the time of the Spithead Mutiny, starring Alec Guinness and Dirk Bogarde. It was directed by Lewis Gilbert, with a screenplay by Nigel Kneale from the novel Mutiny by Frank Tilsley.
[edit] Plot summary
The humane Captain Crawford (Guinness) is in command of the warship HMS Defiant during the Napoleonic wars. He soon finds himself in a battle of wills with his second in command, the sadistic and supercilious first lieutenant, Mr. Scott-Padget (Bogarde). The Lieutenant believes that Crawford is too soft on his crew, and also disagrees with the captain's decision to proceed with orders to sail to Corsica despite word that Napoleon has overrun much of Italy. Scott-Padget has powerful family connections, which he has used in the past to "beach" two previous commanding officers with whom he has come into conflict. Knowing Crawford is helpless to intervene, Scott-Padget subjects the former's son, Midshipman Harvey Crawford (David Robinson), to excessive daily punishments so as to gain leverage over the captain.
Meanwhile, some of the crew, led by seaman Vizard (Anthony Quayle), are organizing to strike for better conditions, in conjunctions with similar efforts throughout the British fleet. They eventually pledge virtually the entire crew.
In the Mediterranean, the Defiant encounters a French frigate escorting a merchant ship. After a sharp engagement, a boarding party from the Defiant captures the French ship, and the merchantman surrenders. Crawford dispatches his son as part of the skeleton crew tasked to send the captured Merchantman back to a British port, thereby placing him out of Scott-Padget's reach. He tells Scott-Padget that bringing his son with him was a mistake, but now he's "put it right!" He further vows to take actions that will "amaze" his second in command. Before long, Scott-Padget is confined to quarters as punishment for insubordination. His humiliation is compounded by the requirement that he appear on deck every two hours in full dress uniform - a punishment usually reserved for young midshipmen.
Soon, Defiant fights and captures a Venician frigate. Crawford is severely wounded; he would eventually lose his arm. Discovered among the prisoners is a key aide to Napoleon, from whom it is learned important information about a planned invasion of Britain.
With Crawford temporarily out of way, Scott-Padget takes command, but his brutality goads the crew into prematurely mutinying. Appealing to their patriotism, Crawford convinces Vizard and the other mutineers to sail for the main British fleet blockading La Rochelle in order to warn them of the invasion. Crawford promises to intercede for the crew as best he can - on the condition that none of the officers are harmed.
As the Defiant reaches the fleet at La Rochelle, they receive word that the main British fleet has already struck, with the naval high command agreeing to most of the sailors' demands. The crew's jubilation at the news is cut short when the hot-headed seaman Evans murders Scott-Padget. Realizing that they are now all doomed to punishment as mutineers, an enraged Vizard kills Evans. Their only course now is to try to escape with the ship.
Just then, the French fleet sorties from port. A fireship is sighted heading straight for the British flagship. As the only ship under sail, the Defiant is only vessel able to save the flagship. Once again, Crawford appeals to the crew's patriotism, convincing them to intersept the fireship. Vizard is killed in the ensuing action, living just long enough to hear a message from the British admiral thanking Defiant for their gallant actions.
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