HMS Defiant

HMS Defiant - 1961 | 101 mins | Adventure | Colour

The Production Team

Director: Lewis Gilbert.
Producer: John Brabourne.
Script: Nigel Kneale and Edmund H. North. (from the novel Mutiny by Frank Tilsley)
Cinematography: Christopher Challis.
Editing: Peter R. Hunt.
Art Direction: Arthur Lawson.
Makeup Department: Gordon Bond and Freddie Williamson.
Sound Department: H.L. Bird, Red Law and Winston Ryder.
Original Music: Clifton Parker.

The Cast

Alec Guinness - Capt. Crawford
Dirk Bogarde - 1st Lt. Scott-Padget
Maurice Denham - Mr. Goss
Nigel Stock - Senior Midshipman Kilpatrick
Richard Carpenter - 2nd Lt. Ponsonby
Peter Gill - 3rd Lt. D'Arblay
Ray Brooks - Hayes
Anthony Quayle - Vizard
Tom Bell - Evans
Victor Maddern - Bosun Dawlish

Plot Synopsis

Lacklustre seafaring tale of action and mutiny set during the Napoleonic wars and beautifully captured by Christopher Challis’ vibrant CinemaScope cinematography.

As commander of the British warship H.M.S. Defiant, the humane Captain Crawford (Alec Guinness) strives to maintain order throughout the ship against the ceaseless brutality of sadistic first officer Scott-Padget (Dirk Bogarde).

After Crawford is wounded in a fiery battle with a French treasure ship in the Mediterranean, angry midshipman Vizard (Anthony Quayle) leads the crew to mutiny when Scott-Padget takes over. Now with Vizard in command, Crawford persuades him to join the British fleet to help fight against France's planned invasion of England in hopes for a mutiny pardon. But when a vengeful sailor murders Scott-Padget, the Defiant crew must decide between saving their country or their own lives.