Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
Average Rating: 8.2/10
Reviews Counted: 29
Fresh: 27 | Rotten: 2
The historical inaccuracies in this high-seas adventure are more then offset by its timeless themes, larger-than-life performances from Clark Gable and Charles Laughton, and Frank Lloyd's superb direction.
Average Rating: 7.5/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 1
The historical inaccuracies in this high-seas adventure are more then offset by its timeless themes, larger-than-life performances from Clark Gable and Charles Laughton, and Frank Lloyd's superb direction.
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Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 7,579
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Movie Info
The 1932 publication of Charles Nordhoff and James Norton Hall's Mutiny on the Bounty sparked a revival of interest in the titular 1789 ship mutiny, and this 1935 MGM movie version won the Oscar for Best Picture. Clark Gable stars as Fletcher Christian, first mate of the infamous HMS Bounty, skippered by Captain William Bligh (Charles Laughton), the cruelest taskmaster on the Seven Seas. Bligh's villainy knows no bounds: he is even willing to flog a dead man if it will strengthen his hold over
Jan 1, 1935 Wide
Feb 3, 2004
MGM
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Clark Gable
1st Mate Fletcher Chris... -
Charles Laughton
Capt. William Bligh -
Franchot Tone
Roger Byam -
Dudley Digges
Bachus -
Herbert Mundin
Smith -
Donald Crisp
Burkitt -
Eddie Quillan
Ellison -
-
Francis Lister
Capt. Nelson -
Henry Stephenson
Sir Joseph Banks -
Spring Byington
Mrs. Byam -
Ian Wolfe
Samuel -
Ivan Simpson
Morgan -
DeWitt Jennings
Fryer -
Stanley Fields
Muspratt -
Wallis Clark
Morrison -
Vernon P. Downing
Hayward -
Dick Winslow
Tinkler -
Lionel Belmore
Innkeeper -
James Cagney
[uncredited] -
Maria [Movita] Castaneda
Tehani -
Mamo Clark
Maimiti -
Marion Clayton
Mary Ellison -
Harry Cording
Soldier -
Alec Craig
McCoy -
Pat Flaherty
Churchill -
Mary Gordon
Peddler -
Winter Hall
Chaplain -
John Harrington
Mr. Purcell -
Charles Irwin
Byrne -
Crauford Kent
Lt. Edwards -
Robert Livingston
Young -
Doris Lloyd
Cockney Moll -
David Niven
(uncredited) -
William Stack
Judge Advocate -
Will Stanton
Portsmouth Joe -
David Thursby
McIntosh -
David Torrence
Lord Hood -
Douglas Walton
Stewart -
Percy Waram
Coleman -
Eric Wilton
Captain of Board -
Byron Russell
Quintal -
Harold Entwistle
Capt. Colpoys -
King Mojave
Richard Skinner -
Nadine Beresford
Ellison's Mother -
Hal LeSueur
Millard -
John Powers
Hillebrandt
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All Critics (29) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (28) | Rotten (2) | DVD (17)
Despite the efforts of Producer Irving Thalberg, Director Frank Lloyd, three scenarists and $2,000,000 to give it balance, polish and direction, the picture lacks all three.
Top CriticThere's nothing to stand in the way of Mutiny qualifying for box office dynamite rating.
The story is spellbinding, the acting lusty and the spectacle everything you could expect from a Golden Age MGM production -- though sometimes it's a bit too much on the monumental side.
It's tainted by a fair amount of middlebrow stuffiness, but it's a fleet piece of storytelling and serves to enshrine one of the great ham performances of all time, Charles Laughton's Captain Bligh.
An exotic and gripping piece of Hollywood mythology, made with all the technical skill and gloss one associates with Irving Thalberg's MGM.
It is superlatively thrilling.
An unequivocal success upon its 1935 release, Frank Lloyd's big, astute spectacle can now be seen as a Swiss clock-type example of screenplay structure and a showcase for adventure unencumbered by beasts, blood, or much romance.
Oh yeah--Laughton and Gable--pour me another one bartender.
Its theme of rebellion against that which binds us resonates today. Mutiny on the Bounty is well acted and well scripted.
The first and best of the three versions of the famous mutiny is a big budget production, a stirring sea adventure praised at the time for its narrative pull, great acting of the three leads, and exotic locales.
True MGM classic with memorable Gable and Laughton. Fine production overall.
One of Hollywood's best achievements.
Not as good as it's rep.
Laughton & Gable! What a team!
It may not be history, but with Laughton out of control and Gable as the hero, who cares?
Historically accurate or not, the movie works as a seagoing adventure; and the performances by [Clark] Gable and Charles Laughton are terrific.
An exciting, perfectly executed production that features Gable at his most magnetic and Laughton at his most commanding.
It's an epic adventure that's still imitated today.
Audience Reviews for Mutiny on the Bounty
Super Reviewer
The performances from Laughton and Gable are awesome. Gable looks weird clean shaven, but that's actually something the film gets historically accurate. The rest of the cast isn't too shabby either, even though the time period kept more "authentic" people getting cast as islanders.
This must have really been something of a spectacle when it came out. It's impact isn't quite as grand as it once was, but it still packs a punch, reminding modern viewers of how to make a compelling epic the old fashioned way.
Give this one a shot. It isn't perfect, but it has a reputation for being one of the better film versions of the story, and I can see why.
Super Reviewer
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- Capt. William Bligh: Mr. Christian!
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Foreign Titles
- Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) (DE)
- Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) (UK)
The at-sea photography is extraordinary, with expert direction from Frank Lloyd. Also beautiful is the photography on what was supposed to be Tahiti, but which was probably Hawaii.
The pristine restored print that was pressed on DVD (and which is available from Netflix) gives you the chance to see this top-notch production in all its glory. It feels as if it could have been directed last year -- it isn't dated in the slightest. It's as crisp, taut and emotionally engaging as it was back in '35.