Get the MovieNight app
Add it to your home screen — faster & full screen
Get the MovieNight app
Add it to your home screen — faster & full screen
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Not part of a collection.
The mightiest excitement that ever swept across the sea or the screen!
The Bounty leaves Portsmouth in 1787. Its destination: to sail to Tahiti and load bread-fruit. Captain Bligh will do anything to get there as fast as possible, using any means to keep up a strict discipline. When they arrive at Tahiti, it is like a paradise for the crew, something completely different than the living hell aboard the ship. On the way back to England, officer Fletcher Christian becomes the leader of a mutiny.
Wuchak
Sep 17, 2025 · via TMDB
**_The most captivating and compelling version of The Bounty story_** The three versions of The Bounty story are **1.** The 1935 black & white version with Clark Gable; **2.** This 1962 Marlon Brando version; and **3.** The 1984 one with Mel Gibson, simply titled "The Bounty." The mutiny story is TRUE (***SPOILER***): William Bligh was sent on a mission in 1787 to pick up breadfruit plants from Tahiti and bring them back to England. He intended to circumnavigate the globe, but unfortunately failed to make it around Cape Horn, South America, and had to take the long way around Africa. It thus took them 10 months to reach Tahiti, where they were forced to stay another five months due to the breadfruit's "dormant" period. The natives were friendly and the women beautiful. With the exception of Bligh, the crew fell under the spell of the Polynesian paradise. But after five months they needed to complete their mission and return to England. Three and a half weeks later Fletcher took over the ship with 18 other mutineers. Christian set Bligh and 18 loyalists adrift in the ship's launch. He then returned to Tahiti where he dropped off 16 men, but picked up 6 Tahitian men and 11 women. Christian 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, a fine hiding place (***END SPOILER***). Mel Gibson's version is the most accurate, but Brando's is the most epic, as well as the most compelling despite its 3-hour length. The 1935 black & white version is disappointing. It's a fine film for its day, but it'll likely seem dated and fabricated to modern viewers. Nitpickers grumble about historical inaccuracies, but the entire gist of the story is accurate: Fletcher was born to an aristocratic family who were losing their wealth (why do you think he takes the mission?); two cheeses did come up missing and Bligh was the culprit who unjustly blamed others; they did fail to sail around Cape Horn after only going 85 miles in a month; they did spend five months on Tahiti and Fletcher did fall for Maimiti; after the mutiny Fletcher and his crew did end up stranded on Pitcairn where they set The Bounty ablaze; and Christian did die on the island, although in real life he lived for another three and a half years before being killed by one of the Tahitian men in a conflict that broke out. However, Christian was only 23 years old when the mission started, whereas Brando was about 37; Bligh knew Fletcher and actually sailed with him twice before, whereas the film shows Bligh meeting Christian for the first time; the mutiny itself took place at night not in the daytime over a ladle of water; and, lastly, Fletcher didn't die due to wounds received from his burning ship. WHAT WORKS: Brando as Christian is captivating and Trevor Howard works well as Bligh. The viewer observes their relationship get worse over the course of the story culminating in the mutiny. Although Bligh is depicted as an authoritarian, one gets the picture that he did what he did mostly to fulfill his mission. Fletcher points out that the Admiralty would likely consider Bligh's actions justifiable. Bligh obviously had some character flaws and became known in the fleet as "that Bounty bast@#d." In fact, he later suffered ANOTHER mutiny in New South Wales, Australia! Although a brilliant seaman, he was by all accounts an unlikable bastage. His arrogant, abusive nature destroyed loyalty and drove people from him. Still, I respect the fact that the film doesn't depict him as a villain dripping with evil, like the 1935 version. Not long after the mutiny, Bligh and his loyalists sit in the launch trying to figure out what to do. Bligh decides to sail to Timor, which was 3600 miles away, rather than strand themselves on some uncivilized island. Bligh's mad decision is driven by his desire for revenge. When some of the loyalists object he picks up a sword and states, "It would be a mistake to assume that I am no longer in command here." Bligh succeeded in taking the launch to Timor despite having no charts or a compass! It took them 47 days to sail 3618 miles with few provisions on an overcrowded craft. Although they all survived, five died in the ensuing weeks. The film unfortunately doesn't depict this incredible journey. Gibson's version does, however. This 1962 version also depicts Christian's depression after the mutiny. He locks himself up in his cabin while the rest of the crew celebrates on the mainland. He knows he can never go home again. This is a great scene. Maimiti visits him in his cabin but can't shake him out of his depression; she says: "You either eat life or life eats you!" Another positive aspect is that the picture reveals what life promised the mutineers on Pitcairn; neither the '35 or '84 versions do this. WHAT DOESN'T WORK: Parts of the initial 10-minute dock sequence are stagy and dated. The other problem, as already noted, is that Bligh's brilliant trip to Timor in the launch is not depicted. FINAL ANALYSIS: Despite the few inaccuracies, Brando's version is the most engaging version of the famous mutiny IMHO. This is a sign of a great film. Gibson's 1984 "The Bounty" is a worthy rendition as well; it's historically accurate but not as compelling. I recommend watching both films back to back. It runs 3 hours, 16 minutes. GRADE: A
CinemaSerf
Jul 8, 2024 · via TMDB
For me, this was never going to be better than the Laughton/Gable version from 1935, but despite the rather hammily over-cooked effort from Marlon Brando, it does make for a decent enough version of the story of HMS "Bounty". It's a small ship with a big task. Sail round the world to Tahiti and procure some breadfruit trees then take them to the Caribbean for use a fodder for the slaves. Right from the outset, we realise that Captain Bligh (Trevor Howard) is not a man to mess with. He is a brutal authoritarian who punishes the slightest of misdemeanours from his crew mercilessly. As the voyage proceeds, fresh water runs short and the food starts to move about the plate by itself, the men turn to Lt. Christian (Brando) for some sort of relief. The two officers are pretty much at odds from the start with the flamboyant subordinate quite a contrast to the ship's more hardened master. It's their arrival on the island that finally causes the men to reach breaking point and for Christian to execute the unthinkable in maritime law. The story is history, so we now what happens as Howard turns in a remarkably convincing effort - his deep and gravelly voice helps too - as the commander who would rather water the trees than his men. Richard Harris, Hugh Griffith and a face of recognisable Britons pad out the crew effectively and the aesthetics of the production, especially at sea, are powerfully illustrative of the dangers to the sailors of the sea and their taskmaster. It does fall away a little towards the Pitcairn aspects of the story, and I just didn't love Brando's accent/overly theatrical effort - but is still well worth a watch.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
YouTube TV
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Spectrum On Demand
Marlon Brando
First Lieutnant Fletcher Christian
Trevor Howard
Capt. William Bligh
Richard Harris
Seaman John Mills
Hugh Griffith
Alexander Smith
Richard Haydn
William Brown
Percy Herbert
Matthew Quintal
Gordon Jackson
Seaman Edward Birkett
Chips Rafferty
Michael Byrne
Noel Purcell
Seaman William McCoy
Eddie Byrne
John Fryer
Tim Seely
Midshipman Edward Young
Tarita
Maimiti
Frank Silvera
Minarii
Antoinette Bower
Lady Gwendenare (uncredited)
Lisa Simone
Bit Part
Torin Thatcher
Staines
Roger Ward
Minor Role
Henry Daniell
Court-martial Judge (uncredited)
Duncan Lamont
John Williams
Ben Wright
Graves (uncredited)
Robert Surtees
Director of Photography
William Tuttle
Makeup Designer
Paul Baxley
Stunt Coordinator
Lewis Milestone
Director
Irene Howard
Casting
Bronislau Kaper
Original Music Composer
A. Arnold Gillespie
Visual Effects
Charles Lederer
Screenplay
Under Strange Flags
Rear Window
Once Upon a Time in the West
Pride & Prejudice
Amadeus
Lawrence of Arabia
Barry Lyndon
Jurassic Park
Rope
Gone with the Wind
Dances with Wolves
Rio Bravo
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Papillon
Jánošík
A Matter of Life and Death
Jaws
Cast Away
The Wizard of Oz
Spartacus
The French Revolution
Woodstock
Bonnie and Clyde
The Favourite
The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Interview with the Vampire
The Mission
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
The African Queen
The Quiet Man
Billy Budd
The Aristocats
Deliverance
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Persuasion
West Side Story
Dangerous Liaisons
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
The Caine Mutiny
Persuasion
A Star Is Born
Napoleon: Destiny and Death
Crimson Tide
Peter Pan
Adam Bede
Murder on the Orient Express
Les Misérables
Magnum Force
Fahrenheit 451
Tabu: A Story of the South Seas
The Wild Child
Moby Dick
The Great Race
Quo Vadis
From Russia with Love
American Graffiti
Bambi
Meet Me in St. Louis
The Crimson Pirate
Amistad
Run Silent, Run Deep
The Scarlet Pimpernel
The King's Pirate
Evirati
Dr. No
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
Amazing Grace
Dovbush
Battle of the Bulge
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
1776
Heaven Can Wait
55 Days at Peking
A Tale of Two Cities
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Reign of Terror
Battle of Britain
Scrooge
The Bounty
Danton
Born Free
El Cid
Swiss Family Robinson
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
Captain
Steptoe & Son Ride Again
Brotherhood of the Wolf
Rob Roy
The Railway Children
Step Up 2: The Streets
Henry V
In Which We Serve
Valmont
Moran of the Lady Letty
Escapade in Florence
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
Street Kings
Around the World in 80 Days
Mississippi Mermaid
Goya's Ghosts
The Sugarland Express
War and Peace
Play Misty for Me
Mackenna's Gold
Mysterious Island
El vent de l’illa
The Devil's Bath
The Inheritors
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Treasure Island
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Angel in Green
Airport
That'll Be The Day
The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth: Molar Island
From Beyond the Grave
THX 1138
A Man Called Horse
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Wild Things
The Lady and the Duke
Lord of the Flies
Escape to Witch Mountain
Joe Kidd
Chevalier
The Vourdalak
The Testament of Ann Lee
Captain Kidd
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
The Black Tulip
Play Dirty
Khartoum
Chaar Sahibzaade
The Moon and Sixpence
The Royal Exchange
Loving You
Camelot
$
Bird of Paradise
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny
The Sea Wolf
Pacifiction
Jurassic Park III
The Omega Man
Battle for Terra
Titanic
A Tale of Two Coreys
This Island Earth
Topaz
Under Capricorn
Barbarella
Beneath the 12-Mile Reef
Hell and High Water
Love & Friendship
Monte Carlo or Bust!
Tom Jones
The Snows of Kilimanjaro
Blackbeard, the Pirate
Secrets of Palace coup d'etat. Russia, 18th century. Film №2. Testament of the Empress
Cutthroat Island
Airport 1975
Krakatoa, East of Java
Interlude in Prague
La Dernière Reine de Tahiti
Lt. Robin Crusoe U.S.N.
Genghis Khan
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Gauguin: Voyage to Tahiti
The Gadfly
The Amazing Captain Nemo
Jet Pilot
Captain Lechi
El conde de Maravillas
Revolution
Charro!
Change of Habit
Cobra Woman
Black Snake
The Bridge of San Luis Rey
Out of Singapore
Noa Noa
Captain America
Fanny Hill
Devil Monster
Red Sky, Black Snow
Smuteční hudba za padlé hrdiny
Vera
Zbojníci
Emília Galottiová
Dumas: Black Devil
Shoveling
Elijah and George: A Revolutionary Tale
Angel Lust
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Palestine 36
The Count of Monte Cristo
Cast Away
A Night to Remember
The Magnificent Seven
Mutiny on the Bounty
The Last of the Mohicans
The Guns of Navarone
The Poseidon Adventure
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Moby Dick
News of the World
Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N.
The Count of Monte-Cristo
Bilal: A New Breed of Hero
In the Heart of the Sea
Squanto: A Warrior's Tale
Rob Roy
Lord of the Flies
The Finest Hours
Dark of the Sun
Unconquered
The Wind and the Lion
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
Anne of the Indies
A High Wind in Jamaica
The Other Side of Heaven
Black Sea
China Seas
Return to the Blue Lagoon
The Monuments Men
Jamaica Inn
The High and the Mighty
Against All Flags
Robinson Crusoe
100 Rifles
Cave Rescue
Queen of the Desert
Wake of the Red Witch
Nov 8, 1962
© 2025-2026 MovieNight. All rights reserved.
Versus
Sign in to play →
What a Carry On!
1973
Beautiful Noise
2014
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
What is your favorite movie genre?
Versus
Sign in to play →
What a Carry On!
1973
Beautiful Noise
2014
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
What is your favorite movie genre?
We use essential cookies to run MovieNight, plus analytics (Google Analytics) and advertising (Google AdSense) cookies. By continuing to browse, you agree to this — or click No and we won't. See our Terms & Privacy Policy to learn more.