H.M.S. Defiant

1962 101 min ★ 6.5 Adventure, History, War

Defiant's crew is part of a fleet-wide movement to present a petition of grievances to the Admiralty. Violence must be no part of it. The continual sadism of Defiant's first officer makes this difficult, and when the captain is disabled, the chance for violence increases.

Cast

Alec Guinness

Captain Crawford

Dirk Bogarde

Lieut. Scott-Padget

Anthony Quayle

Vizard

Maurice Denham

Mr. Goss (Ship's Surgeon)

Nigel Stock

Senior Midshipman Kilpatrick

Tom Bell

Evans

Richard Carpenter

Lieut. Posonby

Ray Brooks

Hayes

Robin Stewart

Pardoe

Murray Melvin

Wagstaffe

Details

Director

Lewis Gilbert

Screenplay

Nigel Kneale

Tagline

"The cry was MUTINY... and the decks ran red!..."

Status

Released

Original Language

EN

Production

Columbia Pictures

Reviews

J

John Chard

June 17, 2019

★ 8/10

Spithead Mutiny Avast. It is the Napoleonic Wars and Captain Crawford takes command of the H.M.S. Defiant and sets off with his orders to Corsica. His second in command is Lt. Scott-Paget, a vindictive and bullying man who has moved through the ranks on account of his higher echelon connections. The two men don't see eye to eye from the off, which only compounds the many problems that are reach...