Damn the Defiant! (1962)

Damn the Defiant! (1962)
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Damn the Defiant! is an 18th-century seafaring drama from director Lewis Gilbert. Alec Guinness plays the stern but compassionate captain of a British warship, engaged in the Napoleonic wars. Guinness is popular with his men, which is more than can be said for his new second-in-command Dirk Bogarde. When Guinness tries to modify Bogarde's sadistic adherence to discipline, Bogarde responds by mistreating Guinness' cabin-boy son, knowing that the captain cannot intervene under the edicts of British maritime law. During an incipient mutiny, Bogarde is accidently killed, and Guinness knows that the crewmen responsible must hang once they reach shore. But after these same men perform courageously in battle, Guinness suffers a crisis of conscience: How can he condemn these fearlessly patriotic men to death, as he knows he must? Based on the novel Mutiny by Frank Tilsley. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Alec GuinnessDirk Bogarde, (more)
Director(s):
Lewis Gilbert
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
NR
Format(s):
DVD  | Digital SD
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Synopsis of Damn the Defiant!

Damn the Defiant! is an 18th-century seafaring drama from director Lewis Gilbert. Alec Guinness plays the stern but compassionate captain of a British warship, engaged in the Napoleonic wars. Guinness is popular with his men, which is more than can be said for his new second-in-command Dirk Bogarde. When Guinness tries to modify Bogarde's sadistic adherence to discipline, Bogarde responds by mistreating Guinness' cabin-boy son, knowing that the captain cannot intervene under the edicts of British maritime law. During an incipient mutiny, Bogarde is accidently killed, and Guinness knows that the crewmen responsible must hang once they reach shore. But after these same men perform courageously in battle, Guinness suffers a crisis of conscience: How can he condemn these fearlessly patriotic men to death, as he knows he must? Based on the novel Mutiny by Frank Tilsley. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
101 mins

Complete Cast of Damn the Defiant!


Director(s):
Lewis Gilbert
Writer(s):
Nigel KnealeEdmund H. North
Producer(s):
Lord John Brabourne
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
NR(Suitable for Children)
Categories:
Action / Adventure
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    WT Y.

    For a war movie, this was real bland. I never understood why the First Officer had such an attitude. And Alec Guiness seemed more like a dandy office manager rather than the Captain of a British war ship.

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    HERB P.

    Consider this one a classic sea warfare story during the Napoleonic era. Interesting film beginning, showing how recruits (a stretch of the word) are impressed for naval service under abusive conditions. Along with the ambitions of their officers. Full screen on one side and wide screen version on the other side of the disc.

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    John B.

    It dosen't get much better than this for an acting performance. Bogarde was OK. Not a lot of swashbuckling, hardly any battle, but a fine character study.

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