August 28 - Billy Budd

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 28. I hope you enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

BILLY BUDD

The HMS Avenger, commanded by Captain Edward Vere, impresses Billy Budd off of a merchant ship.  Budd is an optimistic, naïve and humble man who stutters when he is agitated. The master-at-arms on the ship John Claggart is the exact opposite. He is cruel and violent. He and Budd clash over Claggart’s practice of using flogging to discipline the crew. The crew all hate Claggart, but they refuse to speak against him for fear of retaliation. Only Budd dares to questions Claggart’s actions. Claggart is incensed when the captain promotes Budd. On August 28, 1797 [1:20:44 to 1:49:28] Claggart implicates Budd is planning a mutiny. Budd unfortunately stutters in trying to reply to the charges. Budd strikes Claggart and accidentally kills him. Budd is court-martialed. The Captain convinces the court to find Budd guilty as he feels that the striking of an a superior by an inferior can never be tolerated. The verdict almost does incite a mutiny by the crew, as Budd had become very popular. Budd is hung from the yardarm.  Now the crew does refuse to obey orders, but just as the ship’s marines are about to fire on the crew, a French ship appears and opens fire. The crew does return fire on the French ship. In the battle a piece of rigging falls on the Captain and kills him.

A very interesting, but overlooked film. It is the story of two men with opposite worldviews who come into conflict, eventually resulting in both of their deaths. The Captain promotes the idea that the letter of the law is more important than justice, while our sympathies are obviously directed to support for the opposite proposition. 

Date given in film at 1:55:41 –45

Producer - Peter Ustinov

Director - Peter Ustinov

Screenplay - Peter Ustinov

Awards – The movie was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor (Stamp).

Runtime – 1 hour 34 minutes

Released - November 12, 1962

Starring –

Terence Stamp as Billy Budd

Robert Ryan as John Claggart, Master d'Arms

Peter Ustinov as Edwin Fairfax Vere, Post Captain

Melvyn Douglas as The Dansker, sailmaker

Paul Rogers as Philip Seymour, 1st Lieutenant

John Neville as Julian Radcliffe, 2nd Lieutenant

David McCallum as Steven Wyatt, Gunnery Officer

Ronald Lewis as Enoch Jenkins, maintopman

Lee Montague as Squeak, Mr. Claggart's assistant

Thomas Heathcote as Alan Payne, maintopman

Ray McAnally as William O'Daniel, maintopman

John Meillon as Neil Kincaid, maintopman

Cyril Luckham as Hallam, Captain of Marines

Niall MacGinnis as Captain Nathaniel Graveling

Robert Brown as Talbot