I had always hopes for this movie since it's considered by many among the best war movies from the 1950s. But as I referred in the summary above, this is more a trial movie (and a bit the predecessor of 1992's A FEW GOOD MEN).
For the first half is about seaman Willis Seward Keith's (Robert Francis) enrollment in the Caine minesweeper. At first Keith is always criticized by Captain DeVriess, and after he is transferred he is replaced by Philip Francis Queeg (Humphrey Bogart). While Keith is happy after seeing Queeg scolding a sailor because of his uniform in disorder, Lieutenants Steve Maryk and Thomas Keefer (Van Johnson and Fred MacMurray) are a bit perplessed. And trouble is in the air: after a wrong naval maneuver because Queeg had to scold another sailor, all the crew hates Queeg and Maryk and Keefer think that it's because Queeg suffers of mental disorders. After some other troubles aboard they go to court and since all the eight judges retired, Lieutenant Barney Greenwald (Josè Ferrer) offers to help Maryk and Keefer in prooving their innocence. I won't tell anything more as there are lots of twists and turns in this part and I would only spoil the suspense.
This movie's greatest asset is the acting, exceptional by the leads: Humphrey Bogart gives one of his best performances ever as the apparently sane commander. Josè Ferrer (who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor) is very effective as the prosecutor who, during a drunken stupor, reveals that Lt. Keefer was a coward and has to be blamed. Robert Francis (in one of his few movies before his death) is very wholesome.
However, one of the best war movies of its time and one of the best trial movies of all time (second only to TWELVE ANGRY MEN). Highly recommended.
For the first half is about seaman Willis Seward Keith's (Robert Francis) enrollment in the Caine minesweeper. At first Keith is always criticized by Captain DeVriess, and after he is transferred he is replaced by Philip Francis Queeg (Humphrey Bogart). While Keith is happy after seeing Queeg scolding a sailor because of his uniform in disorder, Lieutenants Steve Maryk and Thomas Keefer (Van Johnson and Fred MacMurray) are a bit perplessed. And trouble is in the air: after a wrong naval maneuver because Queeg had to scold another sailor, all the crew hates Queeg and Maryk and Keefer think that it's because Queeg suffers of mental disorders. After some other troubles aboard they go to court and since all the eight judges retired, Lieutenant Barney Greenwald (Josè Ferrer) offers to help Maryk and Keefer in prooving their innocence. I won't tell anything more as there are lots of twists and turns in this part and I would only spoil the suspense.
This movie's greatest asset is the acting, exceptional by the leads: Humphrey Bogart gives one of his best performances ever as the apparently sane commander. Josè Ferrer (who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor) is very effective as the prosecutor who, during a drunken stupor, reveals that Lt. Keefer was a coward and has to be blamed. Robert Francis (in one of his few movies before his death) is very wholesome.
However, one of the best war movies of its time and one of the best trial movies of all time (second only to TWELVE ANGRY MEN). Highly recommended.