Mutiny On The Bounty

I figured I should get my Navy movie out of the way while I was still in the Navy. (50 working days and counting down!) Mutinty on the Bounty is the 1935 Academy Award winner for best picture. It features the only time in history that 3 actors from one film have all been nominated for Best Actor, which led to the creation of the Supporting performance awards. None of them won, which is a shame, because all the leads gave award worthy performances. Franchot Tone and Clark Gable star as two Roayl Naval officers abourd the Bounty, commanded by Captain Bligh, played by Charles Laughton in one of the greatest villianous roles I've ever seen. Laughton commands the screen and permiates evil as he flaunts his power in the name of " discipline" , stilling the spotlight from the better looking Gable. Laughton's Captain Bligh is a sadist of the highest level. He doesn't seem to have emotions. It's an amazing performance that will surely be one of my favorite from the films this year. There are actual people in the Navy who abuse rank or power, but not at all to this degree. Gable is very good as Fletcher Christian, the leader of the mutiny. He is the type of leader who shows that he actually cares instead of leading by fear. He "leads from the front" and does not ask anything of his men that he would not be willing to do. Franchot Tone played a very junior officer on his first voyage who, despite his close relationship with Fletcher, refuses to take part in the mutiny. He puts duty above all else and is the most noble of the three leads. The film does not have any slow moments. It is pretty action packed and the special effects were pretty impressive for 1935. I was also surprised to see that many of the traditions of the navy are the same today. Mutiny on the Bounty is the perfect film to watch as my time in the Navy winds down.