Strawberries And A Yellow Die Marker

“The Caine Mutiny” (1954) — movie review
Today’s review is for the naval courtroom drama “The Caine Mutiny” (1954), starring Humphrey Bogart as Captain Queeg, a paranoid and increasingly unstable commander whose obsession with discipline and minutiae (notably, missing strawberries) threatens the safety of his ship;  Van Johnson as Lt. Steve Maryk, the loyal but conflicted executive officer who must decide whether to relieve Queeg of command;  José Ferrer as Lt. Barney Greenwald, the sharp defense attorney whose closing arguments cut deeper than any cross-examination;  Fred MacMurray as Lt. Tom Keefer, the cynical intellectual who plants seeds of doubt but shirks responsibility;  and Robert Francis as Ensign Willis Keith, the young officer whose perspective frames the mutiny and its aftermath.  With music by Max Steiner and cinematography by Franz Planer, the film adapts Herman Wouk’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel into a tense meditation on authority, loyalty, and moral ambiguity.
Background:  I saw five GREAT court room dramas / films when I was (a youth and teen) growing up:  “The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell” (review here), “Inherit the Wind” (review here), “To Kill A Mockingbird” (review here), “12 Angry Men” (review here), and this film.  All of them are excellent films which I can still watch to this day and I can honestly say they each influenced how I’ve felt (and feel) about the “LAW“.  This film was released in 1954, and “The Caine Mutiny” was both a box office success and a critical landmark.  It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Bogart), and Best Supporting Actor (Ferrrer), though it did not win in those categories.  Its legacy lies in Bogart’s performance — one of his last and most acclaimed — and in its exploration of military command under psychological strain.  The film remains historically significant as one of the earliest mainstream depictions of mental instability in leadership during wartime.
Plot:  Set during World War II, the story follows Ensign Keith’s assignment to the USS Caine, a dilapidated minesweeper.  Captain Queeg’s rigid and erratic leadership soon alienates his officers.  When Queeg freezes during a typhoon, Lt. Maryk assumes command, supported reluctantly by Keefer and Keith.  The act is deemed mutiny, and the officers face court-martial.  The trial culminates in Greenwald’s blistering defense, which illustrates Queeg’s instability and subtly shifts blame from Maryk to Keefer as it also forces the audience to reconsider the true meaning of loyalty and betrayal.
So, is this movie any good?  How’s the acting?  The filming / FX?  Any problems?  And, did I enjoy the film?  Short answers:  Yes;  exceptional;  restrained but effective;  a few dated elements;  yes.
Any Good?  Yes.  “The Caine Mutiny” is a taut, layered drama that balances naval action with courtroom intensity.  It’s not just about mutiny — it’s about the fragility of command authority, the burden of conscience, and the moral cost of survival.
Acting:  Humphrey Bogart delivers one of his finest performances, portraying Queeg with paranoia, insecurity, and flashes of menace.  His courtroom breakdown is iconic, cementing his place in cinematic history.  Van Johnson anchors the film with quiet integrity, while José Ferrer’s Greenwald provides the moral fulcrum in the final act.  Fred MacMurray plays Keefer with oily cynicism, and Robert Francis brings youthful earnestness to Keith.  The ensemble is uniformly strong, but Bogart dominates.
Filming / FX:  Edward Dmytryk’s direction is deliberate, emphasizing claustrophobic shipboard tension and stark courtroom drama.  Franz Planer’s cinematography captures both the chaos of the typhoon and the sterile intensity of the trial.  Max Steiner’s score underscores the psychological unease.  There are no flashy effects, but the storm sequence is staged with convincing realism for its era.   All of the typhoon scenes look “fake” to modern eyes – but this is 70 years of FX later.  The ship looks like a model / toy and the surging waves are badly done.
Problems:  A few.  The pacing drags slightly in the middle, and some supporting roles are underdeveloped.  The film’s portrayal of Queeg’s instability, while powerful, leans toward caricature at times.  Modern viewers may find the dialogue occasionally stiff.  Still, these are minor quibbles in a film that thrives on atmosphere and moral tension.  My main problem with the film is the order of problems in the typhoon are never addressed in the trial and there is an assumption that just because Queeg has more ship and sea time that he has better experience than his XO (Maryk), which may or may not be accurate.  In any case, while following the fleet orders, the Caine loses one of it’s engine stacks and it’s mast.  It is in danger of floundering and once relieved, the XO takes action which appeared to directly safeguard the ship and prevent floundering.  Also, no mention is made of the actions taken by the other ships.  Did they follow their last orders or did they break formation during the storm.  All we are told is that three of 198 ships were lost in the storm.
Did I Enjoy the Film?  Yes.  “The Caine Mutiny” is gripping, thought-provoking, and emotionally resonant.  Bogart’s unraveling, Ferrer’s moral reckoning, and the film’s layered themes of duty and betrayal make it moving if not unforgettable.
Final Recommendation:  Very Highly to Essential recommendation.  “The Caine Mutiny” is essential viewing for fans of courtroom dramas, naval history, or Bogart’s filmography.  Its historical significance, Academy Award recognition, and thematic depth secure its place as a classic.  Rated PG for thematic elements and wartime intensity, it remains a film that asks hard questions about leadership, loyalty, and the human cost of command.
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Click here (12 December) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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