The 1962 remake of 'Mutiny On The Bounty' has received many scathing attacks from some of the most prolific film critics throughout the years. It has been regarded as an overlong, overblown epic, which boasted an outrageous performance from Marlon Brando as the heroic captain's mate, Fletcher Christian. I believe that these initial reviews have been nothing short of harsh.
The 1935 version boasted a superb cast and was then regarded as a epitome of the classic story film-making. It is now regarded as a slackly told adventure, yet highly entertaining. So when the remake was in production in 1960, the critics' began to relish the possibility of another "turkey". The 1935 version was still clear in the memory. The rumours of discontent on the set and other production follies only assisted in tarnishing the reputation of the movie long before it was even released.
This movie is in fact a highly entertaining sea story. It is sweeping and visually beautiful, with a haunting musical score from Bronislau Kaper. It is in my opinion that Brando's performance was a brave if unsuccessful attempt to show a different side of Fletcher Christian. Brando's performance expresses a hero who suffers personal turmoil with the problems he experiences on the HMS Bounty. It is also unfair that many English critics have leapt upon Brando's accent. I am Irish and I have to listen to a multitude of strange Irish accents from many classic movies. It is in my view that Brando's accent seems to be a genuine foppish English accent which may not have been too far removed from the truth. The real Fletcher Christian was only 22 years of age when the Bounty sailed and he was a renowned ladies man.
Trevor Howard's performance of the rogue Captain William Bligh is masterful, even if he was another over-aged star to take on the role (The real Bligh was only 33 years old). The other performances are excellent especially from Richard Harris, Tarita and Hugh Griffith.
This movie is no worse than the 1935 version. It does have faults, but it is a genuinely beautiful movie to watch. The 1962 version of 'Mutiny On The Bounty' is not a testament on the problems of remaking of a classic adventure movie but of the real fact that critics really do get their facts wrong.
The 1935 version boasted a superb cast and was then regarded as a epitome of the classic story film-making. It is now regarded as a slackly told adventure, yet highly entertaining. So when the remake was in production in 1960, the critics' began to relish the possibility of another "turkey". The 1935 version was still clear in the memory. The rumours of discontent on the set and other production follies only assisted in tarnishing the reputation of the movie long before it was even released.
This movie is in fact a highly entertaining sea story. It is sweeping and visually beautiful, with a haunting musical score from Bronislau Kaper. It is in my opinion that Brando's performance was a brave if unsuccessful attempt to show a different side of Fletcher Christian. Brando's performance expresses a hero who suffers personal turmoil with the problems he experiences on the HMS Bounty. It is also unfair that many English critics have leapt upon Brando's accent. I am Irish and I have to listen to a multitude of strange Irish accents from many classic movies. It is in my view that Brando's accent seems to be a genuine foppish English accent which may not have been too far removed from the truth. The real Fletcher Christian was only 22 years of age when the Bounty sailed and he was a renowned ladies man.
Trevor Howard's performance of the rogue Captain William Bligh is masterful, even if he was another over-aged star to take on the role (The real Bligh was only 33 years old). The other performances are excellent especially from Richard Harris, Tarita and Hugh Griffith.
This movie is no worse than the 1935 version. It does have faults, but it is a genuinely beautiful movie to watch. The 1962 version of 'Mutiny On The Bounty' is not a testament on the problems of remaking of a classic adventure movie but of the real fact that critics really do get their facts wrong.