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Billy Budd

7.6

1,571

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Original title

Billy Budd

Year

1962

Running time

112 min.

Country

United Kingdom

Director

Peter Ustinov

Screenwriter

Peter Ustinov, DeWitt Bodeen, Robert Rossen, Louis O. Coxe, Robert H. Chapman. Novel: Herman Melville

Cast

Music

Antony Hopkins

Cinematography

Robert Krasker (B&W)

Producer

Allied Artists, Anglo Allied

Genre

Adventure. Drama | Sea Adventures. Courtroom Drama / Lawyers. Army. 18th Century. Napoleonic Wars

Movie Groups

Herman Melville Adaptations

Synopsis

H.M.S. Avenger is headed into battle against the French fleet during the Napoleonic Wars, and the dark shadow of two recent mutinies in the English fleet concern Captain Vere. He relies on his cruel and often sadistic Master-at-Arms John Claggert to maintain what he believes to be tenuous order and discipline aboard the ship. When a new seaman, Billy Budd, is pressed into service from a passing merchantman, his innocent, happy-go-lucky attitude quickly endears him to both his messmates as well as the ship's officers. However, his charismatic naivete seems to bother Claggert, whose perverse depravity makes him resent Billy's good-natured purity, especially after the teenager's promotion to fore-top captain. The mean-spirited Claggert unfairly plots to put him on report and ultimately perjures himself when he accuses Billy of conspiring to mutiny.

Rankings Position

#38 Best British Movies
#60 Best Adventure Movies

Awards: 1962: Oscar: Nominated to Best Supporting Actor (Terence Stamp)

1962: Golden Globes: Most Promising Newcomer - Male (Terence Stamp)

1962: National Board of Review: Top 10 Best Films

1962: BAFTA Awards: 5 Nominations including to Best Film

1962: Directors Guild of America (DGA): Nominated for Best Director

1962: Writers Guild of America (WGA): Nominated for Best Drama Screenplay

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User history

Billy Budd

1962

Peter Ustinov

7.6

(1,571)