Yes, that was intriguing, the painting of the Bounty from the bow. Because the style appears identical to the painting in the original ad art, I assume both paintings were done by the same artist at the same time ... but they chose the other one back then (perhaps because Tahiti is seen in the background). How much more interesting stuff hides in the vaults?
I too hope the SE DVD includes the first (extended) opening and the first ending (both taking place on Pitcairn). However, I would hope they’re included as separate elements and the final film itself isn’t tampered with. The “Brando” beginning and ending are, I believe, key to interpreting this version. The “Fletcher Christian” we meet in the opening scene is no stock Hollywood “Errol Flynn” type hero, but instead a seemingly negative character, from which point Brando will show us this character’s growth in conscience and action. And Brando’s death scene at the end is, for me, unique. We are not shown a hero simply closing his eyes and, presumably, sailing off to heaven or Valhalla or wherever heroes go. Instead, we are shown the absolute blunt reality of death, of life terminating ... Period. And then the burning ship sinks beneath the black night waters. (A friend of mine watching this film recently ... I believe for the first time ... gasped out loud at this ending.) We are then left to reflect on the film’s final discussion, of whether Christian’s dying has been “useless, pointless.” Brando’s interpretation refuses to let us off with a “happy” or “heroic” ending; rather, he challenges us to remember back across this story and weigh Christian's own crisis of conscience and ask ourselves whether conscience, in and of itself, is worth the candle. Not a comfortable question, with no prospect in sight of being directly “rewarded” for following one’s conscience. (Brando’s interpretation of Christian pointedly gives us the portrait of an “Age of Reason” man who has left medieval superstition behind.) I assume the original beginning and ending were removed when they realized that starting and ending with Brando made the stronger statement. Anyway, that’s how it seems to me. What do you think?
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Tashtago
19 years ago
According to Manso's book Brando only became interested in the movie when he was given a script which included the post mutiny action. The ending is dissapointing in that I just wanted the mutineers to live that island paradise ideal some of us (me ) fantasize about.. frolicing with native girls, drinking cocanut milk etc. However, this ending seems very true to the character Brando has portrayed throughout, it makes sense that he would want to go back to England to seek justice against Bligh. Apparently Brando directed the ending himself when Milestone quit the film. To create accuracy in the death sequence he stripped and had his body engulfed in ice- this apparently to simulate the heat loss which a person undergoes when suffering from severe burns.
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