Mutiny on the Bounty was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1935 and tells the story of HMS Bounty and the voyage from Portsmouth to the island paradise of Tahiti in the south seas in December 1787. The Bounty's mission was to obtain young and hardy breadfruit trees for transport to the West Indies to be used as a cheap food source for the slaves working on the plantations. However, a mutiny by the crew prevented the mission being accomplished. The mutiny was triggered off by the harsh treatment of the crew and abuse of the 18th-century sea laws by the Captain, William Bligh.
Charles Laughton plays the over-strict Captain William Bligh who has very little regard for his officers and crew, and is determined to get to Tahiti as soon as possible, Clark Gable plays Fletcher Christian, the first mate of the HMS Bounty, Dudley Digges is the ship's drunken surgeon Mr Bacchus, and Franchot Tone plays the mistreated and sympathetic Midshipman Roger Byam.
The voyage out from Portsmouth to Tahiti was a long and dangerous one made all the worse by the harsh and cruel treatment of the crew by Captain Bligh and the bad weather for much of the trip. The harsh treatment of the crew was characteristic of the British Navy at the time. When HMS Bounty arrived in Tahiti the crew had a respite from this cruel treatment for nearly six months. During this time the ship was loaded with young breadfruit trees and re-provisioned for the voyage onward to the West Indies. Not long after sailing from Tahiti the Bounty's crew mutinied as they could not take Captain Bligh's mistreatment any more. Besides, they had just had six months on a paradise island and had become used to the easy going lifestyle and all the comforts a paradise island brings. The temptation to return to Tahiti was too much for them.
Mutiny on the Bounty is based on a true story and has often been considered the greatest sea-going adventure movie ever made. The film gives a realistic portrayal of life at sea at the time and Charles Laughton gives his greatest performance as Captain Bligh.
Film and Movie Information
Mutiny on the Bounty was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1935 and was directed by Frank Lloyd. The prncipal stars were Charles Laughton, Clark Gable and Franchot Tone. The movie was filmed in Black and White, in Tahiti, French Polynesia and California, USA.
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