Top notch sea-faring drama based on the Herman Melville story. Terence Stamp received an Oscar nomination for his performance as the title character, sweet natured crew mate who literally does not understand malice in the men around him but who nevertheless has a limit to how far he'll let himself be pushed around. Peter Ustinov is the well meaning but somewhat absentee captain who follows rules to the letter with no consideration of what's right or wrong in a given scenario. But it's Robert Ryan, who I never hear mentioned in connection with this movie, who gives the film's best performance as the sadistic master of arms, a man who enjoys the punishment he gets to dole out indiscriminately on the men under his charge.
Ustinov also directed the film, and he takes a low-key approach, devoid of melodrama or histrionics. It makes for an intelligent and complex character study of the way men with different temperaments respond to the same situation. And it also looks terrific in widescreen black and white.
Grade: A.
Ustinov also directed the film, and he takes a low-key approach, devoid of melodrama or histrionics. It makes for an intelligent and complex character study of the way men with different temperaments respond to the same situation. And it also looks terrific in widescreen black and white.
Grade: A.