Mutiny
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Edward Dmytryk
Mark Stevens
Angela Lansbury
Patric Knowles
Gene Evans
Rhys Williams
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
On June 18, 1812, when America declares war on the British, Capt. James Marshall is ordered to prepare his ship, the Concorde , for a dangerous mission to procure a loan of ten million dollars in gold bullion from France. Upon hearing that the assignment will involve crossing the British battalion both in American and French waters, Jim enlists the help of Ben Waldridge, a captain forced to leave the British Navy in disgrace after stealing the ship's payroll to pay the debts of his wife, Leslie. When Ben discovers he will be demoted to first officer, however, he refuses, agreeing only when he realizes that the voyage will allow him to visit Leslie, who left him and now lives in Paris. Ben hires his old gunnery crew, lead by Hook and Redlegs. As soon as the Concorde sets sail, a British ship approaches and Jim sends a crew member into the water to disable the British ship's rudder. The sailor succeeds, but as he swims back to the Concorde , more enemy ships close in. Jim insists on waiting for the sailor, and after a narrow escape, Ben chastises him for endangering the mission for one man. Days later, Hook and Redlegs eavesdrop on Jim and Ben as they discuss the voyage, and the lure of millions in gold leads them to hatch a plan with the rest of the gun crew to take over the ship. When they finally reach the French port, Jim and Ben go ashore, leaving the other men onboard. Soon, the gun crew is betting thousands of dollars in raucous card games. The other sailors send a spy, Andrews, to learn their secret, but Hook finds Andrews and kills him. Jim and Ben return soon after, with Leslie, who fawns over Ben until she discovers that he is only first officer. Hook and Redlegs attempt to force her to reveal where the gold is, and when she realizes what they are looking for, she ascertains that the gold has been painted and disguised as the ship's anchor. As the Concorde sets sail, it is spotted by the British, and Ben devises a plan to lure the enemy's heavier ship onto the rocks. During the risky maneuver, they bump a rock and Ben is propelled into the water. Jim saves Ben, after which the British ship hits a crag and sinks. That night, Leslie convinces Ben that he can either lose everything, or lead the mutiny, thus winning both the gold and her love, and he reluctantly schemes with Hook and Redlegs. As the mutiny approaches, Jim innocently informs Ben that they will ride into Boston harbor as co-captains so they can both receive credit for the victorious voyage. Ben is guilt-stricken but forced by the murderous gun crew, takes control of the ship, then secretly lets Jim escape with a paddle, plank and compass. Paddling in the sea for days, Jim almost dies but finally reaches the coast, where he quickly regains his health. The American Navy allows Jim to set chase, and he tracks Ben's every move as the new captain sails to the Caribbean. When he has the Concorde in sight, Jim pays a merchant sailor to sell its crew barrels of grog. Soon Ben's sailors are drunk, allowing Jim's men to board the ship and overwhelm them. During the fray, Ben grabs Leslie and threatens to blow up the ship by holding a flame over a barrel of gunpowder. Jim offers to set Leslie free if Ben will surrender, and Leslie begs Ben to sacrifice himself for her. Disgusted, he gives up, just as they learn that a British ship is attacking. As Jim turns, Leslie grabs one of Ben's guns to kill Jim, but Ben shoots her to save his friend. Hours later, Jim desperately prepares to sink the Concorde to avoid being caught. From the brig, Ben reminds Jim that the ship contains a small submersible boat which only he can pilot, and Jim releases him. Together, they sail the sub toward the British ship and sink it with a torpedo. As they return, however, the sub begins to fill with water, and only Jim makes it out alive. As the Concorde heads towards Boston, Jim informs the crew that Captain Waldridge died as an honorable patriot, and they agree.
Director
Edward Dmytryk
Cast
Mark Stevens
Angela Lansbury
Patric Knowles
Gene Evans
Rhys Williams
Robert Osterloh
Peter Brocco
Emerson Treacy
Morris Ankrum
Todd Karnes
Norman Leavitt
Gene Roth
Walter Sande
Clayton Moore
Louis Jean Heydt
Robin Hughes
Crane Whitley
Harry Antrim
Crew
Leon Charles
Jack Cosgrove
Francis Cougat
George C. Emick
Arthur Gardner
Lloyd Garnell
Samuel Gordon
Stanley Harmon
Edward S. Haworth
Frank Heath
Frank S. Heath
John Kean
Frank King
Herman King
Maurice King
Ernest Laszlo
A. J. Lohman
Arnold Loven
Fred H. Messenger
Jay Morley [jr.]
Commander K. D. Ian Murray
Buddy Myers
Charles O'neal
Robert Priestly
Norman Pringle
Frank Sullivan
Dimitri Tiomkin
Philip Yordan
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to news items in Hollywood Reporter and Los Angeles Times, Kippee Valez was originally signed for one of the lead roles. Los Angeles Examiner reported in June 1951 that all of the underwater scenes were to be filmed off the coast of California. A June 1951 news item stated that technical advisor K. V. Ian Murray, who acted under the name Kenneth D. Murray, was also part of the cast, but his appearance in the final film has not been determined. Mutiny was the first Hollywood production for director Edward Dmytryk following his one-year incarceration as a member of the Hollywood Ten, a group of writers, a producer and director jailed for contempt in 1947 by the Senate House Committee on Un-American Activities. For additional information on Dmytryk and the Hollywood Ten, see entry for Crossfire in the AFI Catalog of Feature Films; 1941-50. In August 1951, Hollywood Reporter announced that the King Brothers were screening Mutiny for RKO, hoping the studio would purchase or distribute the film.
