Rewind, Review and Re-Rate: ‘The Caine Mutiny’: A Rich Military Drama Featuring Outstanding Performances

1954 | NR | 2h 4m | Drama, War

Humphrey Bogart basically set the template for the classic film noir private detective in 1941’s “The Maltese Falcon.” Over a decade later, in 1954, he convincingly played a seemingly coldhearted businessman in “Sabrina.” That same year, he again took a risk in playing an unglamorous role, depicting a highly disturbed main character in 1954’s “The Caine Mutiny.” Needless to say, Bogart not only had the gravitas of a heavy hitter but also the ability to play a wide array of characters. It’s no wonder that by the end of the 1940s, he’d already become an American movie icon.

“The Caine Mutiny” was originally a bestselling book published in 1951 that earned its author, Herman Wouk, a Pulitzer Prize in 1952. The novel was such a massive success that it spawned a two-act Broadway play, “The Caine Mutiny Court Martial,” which tasted success in 1954, the same year it was adapted for the silver screen.

It’s loosely based on Wouk’s personal experiences while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, aboard two World War I-era destroyer-minesweepers. The film version, directed by Edward Dmytryk, basically adheres to the same story line, which is a good thing.

A Bad Situation Gets Much Worse

The film opens with fresh-faced Princeton University graduate Willie Keith (Robert Francis) as he receives his U.S. Navy commission of ensign, a junior officer. Although Keith wants to go to a party with other youths and his girlfriend, nightclub singer May Wynn (May Wynn), his mother (Katherine Warren) demands that he attend the party she planned for him instead.

We see through Keith’s interactions with both women that his wealthy mother is overbearing and disapproves of Wynn being with her son.

(L–R) : May Wynn (May Wynn), Ensign Willie Keith (Robert Francis), and Mrs. Keith (Katherine Warren), in “The Caine Mutiny.” (Columbia Pictures)

Keith soon has to report to his duty assignment. However, instead of getting the glamorous duty he’d always dreamed of serving aboard a battleship or aircraft carrier, he is to serve aboard an aging World War I-era destroyer that has been retrofitted as a minesweeper for World War II, a much tamer prospect, indeed.

As soon as Keith boards the shabby minesweeper, the U.S.S. Caine, he’s greeted by Lt. Steve Maryk (Van Johnson) and Lt. Tom Keefer (Fred MacMurray). Keith is immediately taken aback by the appearance and lack of military discipline on display. He sees the crew performing maintenance on the Caine without regard for proper military protocols. Instead, they wear beards and crooked headgear, and walk around bare-chested.

As he passes a couple of sailors, one says to the other, who is scrubbing part of the ship’s hull: “You’re makin’ a mistake scraping this ship. … The only thing that’s keepin’ the water out is the rust.” Since Keith is more of a “by-the-book” type of sailor, this less-than-stellar military protocol disgusts him.

Keith’s heart sinks even further when he is led to the bridge and finally meets the ship’s commanding officer, Comdr. DeVriess (Tom Tully). Keith finds DeVriess reclined in his chair, shirtless, with what looks like some sort of improvised man-girdle on. Keith’s disappointment is evident by his disdainful expression. Unsurprisingly, friction develops between the two men: DeVriess considers Keith a pampered wet-behind-the-ears kid, and Keith dislikes DeVriess’s apparent lack of standards.

Ens. Willie Keith (Robert Francis, L) and Lt. Steve Maryk (Van Johnson) begin to wonder about their commander’s bizarre behavior, in “The Caine Mutiny.” (Columbia Pictures)

But relief may be coming for Keith. DeVriess is getting transferred, and his replacement as commander of the ship is the stern Lt. Cmdr. Philip Francis Queeg (Bogart). From the get-go, Queeg lets his subordinate officers know that he’s a regulations man and won’t tolerate any  deviance from Navy protocols, including messy uniforms and unkempt facial hair.

Keith, sensing a kindred spirit, is thrilled when Queeg assigns him as the ship’s new “morale officer,” since he’ll be in charge of enforcing proper military discipline.

However, Queeg’s behavior soon begins to worry the crew. It begins with a botched training exercise that he later blames on the crew when he has to report to the senior staff. Later, he makes a more serious error when escorting a task force of Marines attempting to land on a Japanese-controlled beach.

Eventually, Queeg’s erratic ways become more than a nuisance and downright dangerous to the lives of everyone on board the vessel. After a speech by Queeg, Keefer is the first to voice his concerns, telling Keith and Maryk that he believes Queeg is suffering from symptoms of “acute paranoia.” It seems like only a matter of time before the crew will have to confront Queeg.

Humphrey Bogart is outstanding as Lt. Cmdr. Philip Francis Queeg in “The Caine Mutiny.” (Columbia Pictures)

A Complex Issue on Display

The film brings up the dilemma of determining when someone becomes unfit for duty, instead of merely suffering from war exhaustion. And you don’t have to have been in the military to appreciate such a conundrum. I’m sure we’ve all seen folks who seem a little off at work from time to time and wonder whether it’s due to something routine, such as a hangover, stress, and fatigue, or something far more serious.

The acting is superb, and it’s no wonder that the movie received no fewer than seven Oscar nominations. Bogart’s performance, in particular, stands out for its complexity. On one hand, his portrayal of Lt. Cmdr. Queeg makes you feel sympathy for the troubled man, but at other times he seems reprehensible. It’s a realistic depiction of a complex issue.

“The Caine Mutiny” is a splendid World War II-era drama that touches on complex issues that weren’t too popular to talk about during the 1950s. Despite its lengthy running time, it’s a fine exploration of how men who are trapped aboard a military vessel with an increasingly unhinged leader deal with their situation. It’s an absolute joy to watch.

(L–R) Lt. Tom Keefer (Fred MacMurray), Lt. Cmdr. Philip Francis Queeg (Humphrey Bogart), and Ens. Willie Keith (Robert Francis), in “The Caine Mutiny.” (Columbia Pictures)

“The Caine Mutiny” is available on AMC, Vudu, and Apple TV.

‘The Caine Mutiny’ Director: Edward Dmytryk Starring: Humphrey Bogart, José Ferrer, Van Johnson MPAA Rating: Not Rated Running Time: 2 hours, 4 minutes Release Date: June 24, 1954 Rated: 4 stars out of 5