The Caine Mutiny (1954)

Director:

Edward Dmytryk

Writers:

Herman Wouk (novel)
Stanley Roberts (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

24 June 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

As big as the ocean!

Plot:

When a US Naval captain shows signs of mental instability that jeopardizes the ship, the first officer relieves him of command and faces court martial for mutiny.

Plot Keywords:

Mutiny | Naval | Court Martial | Yosemite California | Paranoid Psychosis

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Humphrey Bogart	...	Lt. Cmdr. Philip Francis Queeg
José Ferrer	...	Lt. Barney Greenwald (as Jose Ferrer)
Van Johnson	...	Lt. Steve Maryk
Fred MacMurray	...	Lt. Thomas 'Tom' Keefer
Robert Francis	...	Ens. Willis Seward 'Willie' Keith
May Wynn	...	May Wynn
Tom Tully	...	Comdr. DeVriess
E.G. Marshall	...	Lt. Comdr. Challee
Arthur Franz	...	Lt. JG H. Paynter Jr.
Lee Marvin	...	Meatball
Warner Anderson	...	Capt. Blakely
Claude Akins	...	Horrible
Katherine Warren	...	Mrs. Keith (as Katharine Warren)
Jerry Paris	...	Ens. Barney Harding
Steve Brodie	...	Chief Budge
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Alpert	...	Engstrand (uncredited)
Don Anderson	...	Radarman (uncredited)
Herbert Anderson	...	Ens. Rabbit (uncredited)
James Best	...	Lt. JG Jorgensen (uncredited)
Whit Bissell	...	Lt. Comdr. Dickson M.D. (uncredited)
Robert Bray	...	Court-Martial Board Member (uncredited)
Ted Cooper	...	Sergeant-at-Arms (uncredited)
Don Dillaway	...	George - Chauffeur (uncredited)
Don Dubbins	...	Seaman 1st Class Urban (uncredited)
Johnny Duncan	...	Sailor (uncredited)
James Edwards	...	Whittaker (uncredited)
Joe Haworth	...	Ens. Carmody (uncredited)
Roy Jenson	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Todd Karns	...	Petty Officer 1st Class Stillwell (uncredited)
Don Keefer	...	Court Stenographer - Yeoman 1st Class (uncredited)
Edward Laguna	...	Winston (uncredited)
Frank Losee Jr.	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Dayton Lummis	...	Uncle Lloyd (uncredited)
Kenneth MacDonald	...	Court-Martial Board Member (uncredited)
Paul McGuire	...	Court-Martial Board Member (uncredited)
Tyler McVey	...	Court-Martial Board Member (uncredited)
Patrick Miller	...	Movie Operator (uncredited)
Richard Norris	...	Court-Martial Board Member (uncredited)
Steve Pendleton	...	Court-Martial Board Member (uncredited)
Jay Richards	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Gene Starns	...	Bosun's Mate (uncredited)
James Todd	...	Comdr. Kelvey (uncredited)
John Tomeck	...	Court-Martial Board Member (uncredited)

Directed by
Edward Dmytryk

Writing credits
Herman Wouk		(novel)
Stanley Roberts		(screenplay)
Michael Blankfort		(additional dialogue)

Produced by
Stanley Kramer	....	producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Franz Planer		(as Frank Planer)

Film Editing by
Henry Batista
William A. Lyon

Production Design by
Rudolph Sternad

Art Direction by
Cary Odell

Set Decoration by
Frank Tuttle

Costume Design by
Jean Louis		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Clay Campbell	....	makeup artist
Helen Hunt	....	hair stylist
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carter De Haven Jr.	....	assistant director (as Carter DeHaven Jr.)
Irving J. Moore	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Lambert E. Day	....	sound engineer (as Lambert Day)

Special Effects by
Lawrence W. Butler	....	special effects

Stunts
Richard Farnsworth	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Hennesy	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ray Cory	....	photographer: second unit

Music Department
Murray Cutter	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Jo Ann Greer	....	singing voice: May Wynn (uncredited)

Other crew
Francis Cugat	....	technicolor color consultant
Commander James C. Shaw	....	technical advisor (as Comdr. James C.Shaw)
Frank Coghlan Jr.	....	naval liaison (uncredited)
Sally Hamilton	....	executive secretary (uncredited)
Lee Marvin	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Walter Shenson	....	unit publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Stanley Kramer Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1954) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Film-Verleih (1954) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia Films (1955) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Columbia Films (1954) (France) (theatrical) (as Columbia Films S. A.)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (VHS)
• Egmont Entertainment (2000) (Finland) (DVD)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1991) (Finland) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Nordic (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1969) (1970) (1996) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

Authority and Rebellion (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

124 min | Spain:125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 (2003) | Finland:K-11 (2007) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 (1955) | Ireland:G | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #16627) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Trivia:

The following is engraved on a plaque in the officers' wardroom. The lines on the plaque are centered: U.S.S. CAINE DMS 18 / This ship is named for / Arthur Wingate Caine / Commander U.S. Navy / who died of wounds received / in running gun battle / between submarine and / vessel he commanded, / U.S.S. Jones. / The submarine was sunk in / the engagement.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When singing in the nightclub, supposedly in 1944, May Wynn sings into a 1950s-design hand-held microphone.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Admiral: And so today you are full-fledged ensigns. Three short months ago you assembled here from all parts of the nation, from all walks of life: field, factory, office and college campus. Each of you knew what the fighting was about, or you wouldn't have volunteered...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Wednesday Play: Stand Up, Nigel Barton (#1.41)" (1965)

Soundtrack:

YELLOW STAIN BLUES

The Caine Mutiny (1954) Humphrey Bogart, Van Johnson

In what would be one of Humphrey Bogart's last motion pictures before his death in 1957, one of the most sterling actors of all time gives a poignant and most memorable performance as a lonely, broken commander of a naval mine-sweeping ship who desperately seeks the acceptance and loyalty of his otherwise uncaring, subordinate officers.

The perpetrator of this treachery is the Communications Officer, Lt Tom Keefer (Fred MacMurray). A cynical know-it-all who actually knows nothing, he plots a course of deception and cowardice to convince Captain Queeg's first officer, Lt Steve Maryk (Van Johnson) to believe that the Captain is unstable and that he (Maryk) should step in and "relieve" the Captain of his duties. The first officer tells Lt Keefer in no uncertain terms that he will not be a party to his suggestions, but only after several unsavory incidents from the Captain, does he take Lt Keefers suggestions to heart.

Meanwhile, Ensign Willis Keith (Robert Francis), a Princeton graduate is emotionally involved not only with the affairs on ship, but with a pretty night club singer, May Wynn (her name in real life). Through out the movie, at least where "Willie" is concerned, its a see-saw scenario between military protocol and romance. Add to this the obsessive, compulsive nature of Willie's mother and things become very interesting.

This motion picture differs in most in the fact that it has two climaxes which work together. The typhoon and the court martial. These two integral elements help explain the other parts of the movie.

Based on the novel by Herman Wouk and directed by Edward Dmytryk (Till The End Of Time, The Young Lions) The Caine Mutiny bridges the gap between staunch patriotism and heart felt emotion. It is by far Humphrey Bogart's last tribute to the motion picture industry and everyone who loved him.

(Special note: Almost everyone, as of this writing, who appeared in this motion picture has passed away except for Van Johnson, who will turn 89 late this summer. Robert Francis who played Willis Keith, died in a plane crash not long after this film was made).