Billy Budd (1962)

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Average Rating: 7.1/10
Reviews Counted: 7
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 0

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Release Date: Nov 12, 1962 Limited

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Average Rating: 4.1/5
User Ratings: 367

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Movie Info

Herman Melville's short novel Billy Budd is adapted for the screen, distinguished by Robert Krasker's expressive black-and-white cinematography and Peter Ustinov's crisp direction. Terence Stamp is Billy Budd, a seaman forced to serve in the British Navy during the war between England and France in 1797. Billy looks upon all men as inherently good and, although his crewmates are initially skeptical about this sailor who appears too good to be true, he proves his mettle by his skills as a sailor

Unrated, 2 hr. 3 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

Directed By: Peter Ustinov

Written By: Louis O. Coxe, Robert H. Chapman, Peter Ustinov Herman Melville, Peter Ustinov, De Witt Bodeen

In Theaters: Nov 12, 1962 Limited

On DVD: Mar 6, 2007

Allied Artists Pictures

Cast

Robert Ryan
Master-at-Arms Claggart
Peter Ustinov
Capt. Edward Fairfax Ve...
Melvyn Douglas
The Dansker
Terence Stamp
Billy Budd
John Neville
Lt. John Ratcliffe
Ronald Lewis
Jenkins
David McCallum
Lieutenant Wyatt
Paul Rogers
Lieutenant Philip Ratcl...
Thomas Heathcote
Payne
Ray McAnally
O'Daniel
Robert Brown
Talbot
John Meillon
Kincaid
Cyril Luckham
Hallam
Niall MacGinnis
Capt. Graveling
Barry Keegan
Charles Mathews
Lee Montague
Squeak
Victor Brooks
Amos Leonard

Critic Reviews for Billy Budd

All Critics (13) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (9) | Rotten (0) | DVD (6)

It's Robert Ryan that really makes this movie good.

July 22, 2008 Full Review | Comment

Austin Kennedy

Sin Magazine

Director Ustinov indulges his own performance, but otherwise, it's a great yarn well told.

August 14, 2003 Comment

Nick Davis

Nick's Flick Picks

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Audience Reviews for Billy Budd

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a faithful adaptation of melville's powerful last work. i liked it slightly better than huston's moby dick, tho to be fair, no one could faithfully adapt that behemoth. terence stamp in his film debut is a real charmer and robert ryan has never been quite so flinty-eyed and evil. ustinov's direction outshines his acting

August 14, 2010