![]() ![]() The scenes of sailors pursuing women get a little silly, such as when Fletcher Christian is in the bushes with Maimiti when Bligh wanders by, and the rapidity with which Maimiti later picks up English is surprising. Aside from the beauty, the Tahitians were for the most part extremely friendly. The world these men landed in may seem idealized, but if you read other informed or first-hand accounts (such as Herman Melville's 'Omoo'), it's accurate. Her hip shaking is mesmerizing, and her smile enchanting. The scenes in Tahiti are gorgeous, and Tarita is stunning. The two of them express their opinions and disdain for one another in deliciously restrained British dialogue. Christian understands duty, and while he has his personal opinions, is a model of behavior until the actual mutiny. Bligh gets the chance to explain that he's driven by duty above all else, and that the crew need to fear the captain and his officers. The difference between the two men is clear from the beginning, and I appreciated the film's balanced presentation of them over the first hour or so. Trevor Howard turns in a fantastic performance as Bligh, and while Brando's foppish and almost effeminate Fletcher Christian had me scratching my head in the beginning, it really grew on me, and he's strong as well. It's also a little unbelievable in its depiction of the love Christian had for Princess Maimiti (played by Tarita Teriipaia), but the gist is accurate, and it's a fascinating story. The film is loose with the facts, most notably in the treatment of natives and the final outcome on Pitcairn Island, which may put off viewers. The cinematography is beautiful, showing a replica Bounty on the ocean, sailing into sunsets or brutally rough seas, as well as the natural beauty of the islands in the south Pacific. The film has an epic feel, but even at three hours long, didn't feel padded at all. One of the issues is that it was being compared to the 1935 version with Charles Laughton and Clark Gable another was that stories of Brando's difficult behavior while filming were followed by filmgoers seeing his unconventional portrayal of Fletcher Christian. Whatever the reason, Bligh and those who took his side were put into a small, open boat, with minimal provisions and navigational tools, and set adrift, probably to die.A strong film, and it's surprising that it was panned when it came out in 1962. And when you compare the two - life aboard a cramped, smelly English sailing ship, complete with no privacy and a distinct lack of haute cuisine, or a South Seas paradise with fresh food, ocean breezes, loving companionship - is anyone surprised? Still others suggest that Christian and Bligh had experienced a falling-out: that their shipboard relationship was more than professional, and life on Tahiti had given Christian other - okay, we'll say it: romantic - opportunities, as hypothesized in Richard Hough's Captain Bligh and Mr. ![]() ![]() ![]() Some suggest that the thought of leaving Tahiti and its very, very friendly people was too hard - some of the sailors had formed actual relationships and partnerships with Tahitian women, including Christian. Some suggest that Bligh was too harsh on his crew, but comparisons with other British naval commanders show he was nothing out of the norm. What drove the men to take such a remarkable step? If the mutiny failed and they were caught, they'd be tried and, if convicted, hanged. But now a mutiny was in progress - the sailors were taking control from the ship's captain, a truly heinous act by the standards of the time (or any standards, before or since). Which seems odd, on the surface of it - they'd all just spent over six months on what was generally considered an island paradise in the South Pacific, inhabited by generous, friendly - very, very friendly - people. But as History tells us, at dawn he was awakened by five members of his crew, including one of his Master's Mates, Fletcher Christian. He was leader of a successful mission so far - sailing from England to Tahiti to gather up bread plants, which would then be taken to grow and inexpensively feed workers (read: slaves) on plantations in the West Indies. It's safe to say that April 28, 1789, was not Lieutenant William Bligh's best day ever. ![]()
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