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Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Have you ever had a boss that you just didn’t want to work for? I’m talking about the type of boss that pushes you and either punishes you harshly or looks so down upon you that you don’t even seem worthy of anything. There are many types of bosses out there. Some are kind and care about their employees. The others rule with an iron fist. What would you do? Would you bounce and find a new job? I freakin’ hope so. Or would you rise up and take the company or whatever the boss’ position was and throw the boss out. Well, ladies and gentlemen, have you ever heard the story of the HMS Bounty. The tale of whether you should treat people right or they will get rid of your ass in a second. The story has been widely told, and there are currently FIVE freakin’ movies made about this tale. We will focus this review on the 1935 version starring Charles Laughton and Clark Gable.
There are a ton of historical inaccuracies in this film, but I am going to let you do your own research. I want this review to be about the film. This isn’t a world geography report. Yet, I will say that this version is one of the best versions of Mutiny on the Bounty. The film starts off one night in Portsmouth, England, in 1787. A press-gang is formed and goes out to local taverns and presses all of the men drinking into naval service. I guess that is one way of getting people to serve. When one of the men asks what ship they will sail on, they state it’s the HMS Bounty. When the men ask who the captain is, they are told it is William Bligh (Laughton). Several men are like naw homie and try to escape. They have heard tales of how brutal of a tyrant Bligh is. A man who routinely administers harsh punishment to officers and crew alike who lack discipline, cause any infraction on board the ship, or defy his authority in any manner. The other commanding officer is Fletcher Christian (Gable), the ship’s lieutenant and a man who believes in order but is far more compassionate to the men and disapproves of Bligh’s treatment. Roger Byam (Tone) is a midshipman who is divided between his loyalty to Bligh and crown as his family has a long tradition of serving in the royal navy and his brotherhood friendship with Christian.
The movie progresses with the Bounty rolling out from England on a two-year voyage over the Pacific Ocean. The ship’s mission is to voyage to Tahiti to collect breadfruit plants for transplantation to Jamaica. The trip to Tahiti is grueling, and most of the men HATE Bligh because everything they do is punished. A dude couldn’t even pass gas without getting in trouble. Here are some examples of how hard it was. Before the ship even departed, Bligh orders the crew to witness a “through the fleet.” The seaman was flogged so bad that he ended up dead. Rather than stopping, Bligh insists that the flogging continue until the number of hits that was set was reached. The men are left starving, and even when they catch a shark, they are punished and ordered to hand it over.
When all hope is lost, the movie shows them arriving in Tahiti, a PARADISE!!! The crew acquires breadfruit plants to take to the West Indies, but Bligh punishes Christian by refusing to leave the ship during their stay. Yet, somehow he gets on land and finds company. The seriousness of the trip and where the mutiny comes into view is when Bligh ratios the water because the trees need it more than the men. When Christian witnesses some crew members shackled in iron chains, he loses his mind and says fuck it, and goes all out with the mutiny until the mutineers throw Bligh and his loyalist in a tiny ass boat where he has to make it back to England while the others live in paradise until one man comes back for vengeance.
Even though he is the villain of the film, Captain Bligh is the main focus of this film and his ways of doing things. He is a man who respects only one law, the “law of fear,” and tolerates no dissent among his crew. The man looks of evil and hatred cruelty. Yet, one must think of two things: was he drunk on power and thought all his men needed to be controlled by fear and abuses his power and position, or is he justified in what he does? One can push men to their limit but can’t break them like dogs. Bligh is a mad tyrant, and the shit he did should be admonished for it. When you beat men to death, don’t feed them properly, and care more about the breadfruit, expect your ass to be beat one day.
Honestly, this movie is only good because of the chemistry between Gable and Laughton. The hatred of one leads you to like the other. Gable as Christian is the cool commander who wants the men to be happy and is definitely employee-centric. Plus, you know Gable has that charming smile. Laughton’s as Bligh is beyond fantastic because you really want to see how far this many cruelties will go. Bligh steals this movie and draws you in with each punishment he gives out.
The visuals of this film are also pretty good for a classic movie. The scenes of the ship being on the high seas are worth noting. The ship doesn’t seem out of place and seems natural. Sometimes the scenes in Tahiti are a little off. Sometimes that doesn’t look natural at all and doesn’t seem like paradise.
This version of mutiny on the Bounty is one of the best. The film revolves around Laughton’s character Captain Bligh and his cruelty. Even though there are four other versions, this one is the best as Laughton steals the show. Yet, Gable does a great job also as he helps build the tension between both men. This is a classic movie to watch and enjoy. All over some damn trees.
