MovieChat Forums > Mutiny on the Bounty (1962) Discussion > Cartoonish Portrayal of Bligh

Cartoonish Portrayal of Bligh

posted 17 years ago by Edward_de_Vere
7 replies | jump to latest

Both Howard and Brando did as good a job that they could given the material that they had, so their performances make parts of this movie worth watching. The trouble is, the script presents a completely cartoonish version of the events and people involved. For one thing, Bligh was not a brutal sadist, just somebody with poor interpersonal skills doing his best to keep order with a crew that wants to fool around in the South Pacific instead of doing their jobs.

The late 80's film with Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson do a lot more justice to the events on the Bounty, particularly the personality of Captain Bligh. He certainly wasn't the monster that we see in the '62 movie.

[–] TorontoJediMaster 16 years ago

I agree.

The real Bligh was a far better leader of men than Fletcher Christian was. Bligh was -as described in a modern history of the Royal Navy- as a brilliant seaman who lacked people skills. However, look at their respective results. Bligh brought the Bounty from Plymouth to Tahiti with the loss of only one man (and that was due to the incompetence of the drunken ship's surgeon). After the mutiny, he was able to get the launch to Timor in forty days time (again, only losing one man; this time to hostile natives when they put in to refill water casks).

Christian, meanwhile, had his followers break apart in Tahiti (where some opted to stay, along with the non-mutineers who were remaining to wait for a ship home). And then, the colony on Pitcairn Island pretty much murdered itself, except for John Adams and Ned Young within three years of arrival. The men clearly needed strong leadership to keep them in line and Christian couldn't provide it.

[–] Edward_de_Vere 16 years ago

If you thought that the potrayal of Bligh in this movie was bad, you should see Charles Laughton's take on Bligh in the 1940's version. For some reason, Bligh is shown to be a weakling and a coward.

Have you seen the 1984 film "The Bounty" with Anthony Hopkins as Captain Bligh? It's a much more accurate portrayal of the man and the events than in either earlier movie.

[–] markslezak 16 years ago

I completely agree that The Bounty was the most accurate portrayal of this one of my favorite historical events. Still I do love the Brando version as the on location settings are the most vivid and beautiful of them all. Yes the original did have a few on location shots.

[–] TorontoJediMaster 16 years ago

Actually, Laughton gave Bligh some good attributes. He's shown to demonstrate good command abilities and excellent seamanship when he takes the launch to Timor after the mutiny. Trevor Howard is never shown on the launch, except at the start.

[–] Mithrandir-Olorin33 14 years ago

I stopped considering accuracy in Historical films a long time ago.

Brando did more then just "as good a job that they could given the material that they had" in my view this is his best performance, yes The Godfather included.

"SLaughter is the best medicine"

[–] streetlegal 14 years ago

At least Bligh isn't portrayed as a sadist in this version-after the first flogging he admits the punishment was too harsh but his theory is the only way to have an obedient crew is to make every man scared of what will happen to them if they step put of line. It's not historically accurate but a much more believable character than Laughton's Bligh who orders dead men to be flogged and genuinely does seem to enjoy inflicting pain. I'm not sure if it's deliberate or not but in the 1962 version, shortly before the mutiny, Christian accuses Bligh of relishing inflicting punisment on the crew-Christian has it wrong because it's pretty clear to me that the Bligh in this film may greadually become a tyrant but he is no sadist.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 12 years ago

I think it helps to separate the real life person from the film character otherwise it's hard to enjoy and appreciate what an actor brings to their film character and the function of that character within the film. I don't think I need to lay out for you Edward the film's overarching themes and how it achives these through the characterisations and their relationships. Suffice to say Howard as Bligh is a fantastic antagonist and never more deadly than when he was threatening Christian after the mutiny. In fact their relationship became all the more interesting at the point they separate. In MotB Bligh serves to show how a combination of power, ambition and sadism/lack of empathy (call it what you will) can produce a monstrous person.

Away with the manners of withered virgins