The Bounty (1984)

When you already have a definitive version of a story on film (1935) it's always tough to remake it successfully. To be fair to Roger Donaldson, he has managed to come pretty close - and do far better than the 1962 iteration - with this well cast telling of a story of mutiny and brutality. It's told by way of a retrospective as Lord Hood (Lord Olivier) conducts an investigation into what happened aboard the ill-fated ship. Anthony Hopkins is the disciplinarian Lt. Bligh in charge of the glorified freighter "HMS Bounty" which is charged with heading to Tahiti to secure breadfruit trees that can be used to feed the slaves by the colonies in the West Indies. His second-in-command is the no-nonsense but eminently more fair Fletcher Christian (a competent effort from Mel Gibson) and as our journey progresses, the film takes it's time to develop the gradually building toxicity of that relationship as the former man treats the crew with scant humanity. After a great many trials and tribulations, their relationship is all but shot when they arrive at their destination and we know that the writing is on the wall for Bligh. Unlike the other "Bounty" films, this one spends a bit more time presenting the epic and perilous open-boat journey undertaken by the dispossessed - the high seas, the cannibals, the shortages - and Hopkins holds that together really well. This man may have been an inhumane individual, but he was no mean sailor too. The cinematography is top drawer, well complemented by Vangelis' score and Robert Bolt's adaptation of the story that keeps the dialogue tight and potent - especially from Hopkins. Not quite Laughton and Gable, but then...

**_The most accurate and realistic version of the infamous mutiny_**

The 1935 black & White version of "Mutiny on the bounty" may have won an Oscar for Best Picture at the time, but will likely strike modern viewers as dated and unrealistic. Marlon Brando's 1962 remake is the most epic, captivating and compelling version. But Mel Gibson's 1984 version, simply called "The Bounty," is the most historically accurate and realistic cinematic version of the infamous mutiny.

The Bounty mutiny story is so fascinating because it's TRUE (***SPOILER***): William Bligh, as acting captain, was sent on a mission in December 1787 to bring breadfruit plants from Tahiti back to Jamaica. Bligh intended on circumnavigating the globe in fulfilling the mission. Unfortunately he and his crew failed to get around Cape Horn, South America, and had to go the long way around Africa. It thus took them 10 months to reach Tahiti, wherein they were forced to stay another 5 months due to the breadfruit's "dormant" period. The natives were friendly and the women beautiful. It comes as no surprise that the crew naturally fell under the spell of the Polynesian paradise. But after 5 months they had to get on with their mission and return to Naval discipline and England. Three and a half weeks later on April 28, 1789, Fletcher took over the ship with 18 other mutineers. Twenty-two remained loyal to Bligh and 2 others were neutral. Christian set Bligh and 18 loyalists adrift in the ship's launch and then sailed back to Tahiti where he dropped off 16 men but picked up 6 Tahitian men and 11 native women, including Maimiti. Fletcher then set forth with 8 other mutineers and the Tahitians to elude the Royal Navy, ultimately settling on Pitcairn Island, which was well off the beaten path and misplaced on Royal charts, seemingly a perfect hiding place to live out the rest of their days (***END SPOILER***).

Like I said, this is the most historically accurate version. It also has the most realistic vibe, which isn't to say that the '62 version isn't believable, it's just that this '84 version strikes the viewer as completely REAL. It's almost as if the film takes you back in time to view the actual events.

This version also gives the most balanced and positive portrayal of the infamous Captain Bligh, played by Anthony Hopkins to great effect. Indeed, the film stresses that he was exonerated in the matter. But it also hints of his character flaws that ultimately provoked the mutiny. In real life Bligh had a bad temper and was abusive & insulting to his subordinates. The other two versions show an event that really happened on the Bounty: two big cheeses came up missing on the ship and Bligh unjustly blamed and punished members of his crew even though it was he himself that stole them!

Perhaps Bligh's biggest flaw was that he lacked the ability to inspire loyalty in others; by all accounts he was a real bastage to be around when he was in authority. Lending credence to this is the fact that, even though he was exonerated in the Bounty case, he provoked ANOTHER mutiny years later in New South Wales, Australia!

Despite all this, Bligh was certainly a brilliant seaman and navigator. The film shows this with he and the 18 loyalists on the adrift launch. After failing to settle on nearby islands due to unfriendly natives, Bligh navigates the small craft over 3600 miles to Timor in 47 days on very few provisions. He didn't have any charts or compass. All he had was a sextant and a pocket watch. Although all of the loyalists survived this incredible journey, 5 later died due to ailments sustained in the voyage. The '62 version barely addresses this miraculous event but "The Bounty" devotes quite a few scenes to it.

The score by Vangelis is fitting, but unique (so some people won't like it). The best part of the composition is heard during the end credits. The film shows Fletcher, the mutineers and the Tahitians stranded on Pitcairn as they sadly observe The Bounty go down in flames. They know they can never go home again. Vangelis' unique piece then plays out over the credits. It perfectly captures the mood and setting. It's so magnificent sometimes I just play the end credits sequence.

WHAT DOESN'T WORK: Although Gibson is more realistic as Fletcher Christian than Marlon Brando, especially since Gibson was closer to Christian's real age of 23-25 (Brando was 36-37 during filming), Mel simply lacks Brando's captivating charisma.

The Tahitian scenes lack pizazz and the film almost crawls to a halt (which is the the exact opposite of Brando's version). It doesn't personally bother me because the film is attempting to show us what leads to the mutineers' decision to take the ship, but some viewers may have a problem with it, in particular those with ADHD.

"The Bounty" also fails to give any glimpse of what life would offer the mutineers & Tahitians on Pitcairn Island. The '62 version, on the other hand, devotes a number of scenes to this part of the story. This is not a negative to me, however, since showing subsequent scenes on Pitcairn would ruin the powerful closing sequence noted above.

So, "The Bounty" is the most historically accurate and realistic version of the infamous mutiny even though Brando's version is the most epic and engaging. I recommend seeing both versions back to back, which is what I usually do. Both versions are amongst my favorite films of all time.

It runs 2 hours and 12 minutes. Brando's version with the Overture and Entr'acte runs an hour and 4 minutes longer.

GRADE: A-