Have not seen this film in years but remember Robert Ryan, who could ever forget one of his performances? And Ustinov, I need to look for more of his acting ventures. He was splendid. I am chagrined to recall I assigned this book to one of my boys while homeschooling and neglected to read it myself. I shall do so and recommend it to my grandsons.
What a powerful, sobering story. Strong characters, brisk plot development, nuanced discussion of the competing ethical principles at stake in the court martial.
This story was brand new to me. Thanks so much for sharing these jewels!
What memories! I remember being mesmerized by the relationship between innocent Terrance Stamp and sadistic Robert Ryan. The movie was so powerful; Ryan was unforgettable. As splendid an actor as he was, whenever I saw him in a film my imagination went back to Billy Budd.
Read it as an undergrad - guess it’s about time I give it another look. I recall from those days reading another Melville work that took place aboard a ship - Benito Cereno. If memory serves, the ship’s crew in the story and the reader - well, at least this reader - were fooled by a case of mistaken identity.
I did not realize Ustinov possessed such talent behind the camera as well as in front. Aside from his marvelous acting, I have heard him described as a raconteur. True enough, I suppose, but it seems to downplay his genius, as if he were merely, say, a witty panelist on What’s My Line.
For those of a certain age, a bonus of the film is the presence of David McCallum - pre Great Escape/Man From Uncle.
I love Melville, whose Moby Dick really does qualify as THE great American novel. But his novellas were likewise excellent, and Benito Cereno is quite a story, with an unforgettable ending. But I think that Ustinov's Billy Budd is the best film version of a Melville story.
We have seen Ustinov on What's My Line, and agree whole-heartedly. He was brilliant AND a mensch.
Yes, everybody in the film is exactly right -- no false steps. Ustinov, by the way, was magnificent at adopting accents (as was Stephen Boyd): see his middle-American old man in Logan's Run. Ustinov had brains, plenty. Of course he's also Nero in Quo Vadis?, which is a much underrated film with great performances him and from Deborah Kerr, Finlay Currie, Leo Genn, and Robert Taylor.
I remember reading the story, and really liking it--and whenever I think of Billy Budd, my mind quickly turns to 'The Sea Wolf', by Jack London of 'Call of the Wild' fame...I wrote papers on both of them in HS (the teacher I did the Sea Wolf paper for asked me afterwards if I had read Plato or Aristotle...I had not.)
As I read the write-up, a few elements quickly struck me as being very similar to a film I just watched...Bajrangi Bhaijaan, a Bollywood film, in Hindi, with subtitles---a FANTASTIC film. A grown man, who struggled with education, but a true innocent/pure heart.........we meet him a little ways into the film, as we are introduced first to the other main character, Shahida, a little girl who is mute. Seperated from her mother on a train trip into India from Pakistan, she turns to this man for help...the film develops from there, with him determining to find a way to Pakistan with Shahida, and to find her family. Throughout the film, we see him determined to do what is RIGHT, even though it is often against his best intersts (seemingly).
Another interesting point is that there are a couple of scenes in the film which, if made in Hollywood, would have been THE PRIMARY story elements......which would have destroyed the film
For anyone who has not enjoyed a Bollywood film, I cannot recommend them highly enough...BUT...They are LONG (this one, 2 1/2 hrs.), and many/most have 5-10 song/dance scenes (which I love). I have found the subtitles to work fine--they are not too fast.
Sorry for going on and on......BUT...In case anyone wants to try Bollywood....
Like Stars On Earth (Taare Zameen Par) Starring Aamir Khan, revolves around a young boy with dyslexia
My Name Is Khan (mostly filmed in the US) Starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, about a Muslim, with Asperger's Syndrome (easily as good as Dustin Hoffman's work in Rainman)
3 Idiots, Starring Aamire Khan...3 college students, told in flashbacks
I could suggest many more, but I'll stop. Note: The female leads are more difficult for me to be distinct about films, with one exception, Kajol. Other terrific female leads are Kareena Kapoor, Genelia D'Souza, Depeeka Padukone...
Thank you. If you haven't seen it, you may want to try out The Sea Wolf from 1941. At only 100 minutes, it's worth a look. It stars Edward G. Robinson as Wolf Larsen, along with Ida Lupino, John Garfield, and a great supporting cast. Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, etc.) directs.
Great......I hope you try and enjoy them.......I actually don't personally know anyone who will try them (usually either "too long for me" or "I don't do subtitles")...
And one other thing I didn't mention above--Bollywood films (or at least, those I have seen) are also different from Hollywood in that they are NOT enraptured with blood, gore, sex, nudity and swearing..........it's even rare to see a romantic kiss!
Have not seen this film in years but remember Robert Ryan, who could ever forget one of his performances? And Ustinov, I need to look for more of his acting ventures. He was splendid. I am chagrined to recall I assigned this book to one of my boys while homeschooling and neglected to read it myself. I shall do so and recommend it to my grandsons.
What a powerful, sobering story. Strong characters, brisk plot development, nuanced discussion of the competing ethical principles at stake in the court martial.
This story was brand new to me. Thanks so much for sharing these jewels!
What memories! I remember being mesmerized by the relationship between innocent Terrance Stamp and sadistic Robert Ryan. The movie was so powerful; Ryan was unforgettable. As splendid an actor as he was, whenever I saw him in a film my imagination went back to Billy Budd.
Tony and I were just talking today about Robert Ryan and his intensity on film. Remarkable actor.
Read it as an undergrad - guess it’s about time I give it another look. I recall from those days reading another Melville work that took place aboard a ship - Benito Cereno. If memory serves, the ship’s crew in the story and the reader - well, at least this reader - were fooled by a case of mistaken identity.
I did not realize Ustinov possessed such talent behind the camera as well as in front. Aside from his marvelous acting, I have heard him described as a raconteur. True enough, I suppose, but it seems to downplay his genius, as if he were merely, say, a witty panelist on What’s My Line.
For those of a certain age, a bonus of the film is the presence of David McCallum - pre Great Escape/Man From Uncle.
I love Melville, whose Moby Dick really does qualify as THE great American novel. But his novellas were likewise excellent, and Benito Cereno is quite a story, with an unforgettable ending. But I think that Ustinov's Billy Budd is the best film version of a Melville story.
We have seen Ustinov on What's My Line, and agree whole-heartedly. He was brilliant AND a mensch.
Yes, everybody in the film is exactly right -- no false steps. Ustinov, by the way, was magnificent at adopting accents (as was Stephen Boyd): see his middle-American old man in Logan's Run. Ustinov had brains, plenty. Of course he's also Nero in Quo Vadis?, which is a much underrated film with great performances him and from Deborah Kerr, Finlay Currie, Leo Genn, and Robert Taylor.
I remember reading the story, and really liking it--and whenever I think of Billy Budd, my mind quickly turns to 'The Sea Wolf', by Jack London of 'Call of the Wild' fame...I wrote papers on both of them in HS (the teacher I did the Sea Wolf paper for asked me afterwards if I had read Plato or Aristotle...I had not.)
As I read the write-up, a few elements quickly struck me as being very similar to a film I just watched...Bajrangi Bhaijaan, a Bollywood film, in Hindi, with subtitles---a FANTASTIC film. A grown man, who struggled with education, but a true innocent/pure heart.........we meet him a little ways into the film, as we are introduced first to the other main character, Shahida, a little girl who is mute. Seperated from her mother on a train trip into India from Pakistan, she turns to this man for help...the film develops from there, with him determining to find a way to Pakistan with Shahida, and to find her family. Throughout the film, we see him determined to do what is RIGHT, even though it is often against his best intersts (seemingly).
Another interesting point is that there are a couple of scenes in the film which, if made in Hollywood, would have been THE PRIMARY story elements......which would have destroyed the film
For anyone who has not enjoyed a Bollywood film, I cannot recommend them highly enough...BUT...They are LONG (this one, 2 1/2 hrs.), and many/most have 5-10 song/dance scenes (which I love). I have found the subtitles to work fine--they are not too fast.
Sorry for going on and on......BUT...In case anyone wants to try Bollywood....
Bajrangi Bhaijaan (this film), Starring Salman Khan
Like Stars On Earth (Taare Zameen Par) Starring Aamir Khan, revolves around a young boy with dyslexia
My Name Is Khan (mostly filmed in the US) Starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, about a Muslim, with Asperger's Syndrome (easily as good as Dustin Hoffman's work in Rainman)
3 Idiots, Starring Aamire Khan...3 college students, told in flashbacks
I could suggest many more, but I'll stop. Note: The female leads are more difficult for me to be distinct about films, with one exception, Kajol. Other terrific female leads are Kareena Kapoor, Genelia D'Souza, Depeeka Padukone...
Thank you. If you haven't seen it, you may want to try out The Sea Wolf from 1941. At only 100 minutes, it's worth a look. It stars Edward G. Robinson as Wolf Larsen, along with Ida Lupino, John Garfield, and a great supporting cast. Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, etc.) directs.
Thanks...I was not aware the book had been made into a film--and I love Edward G. Robinson....
Wow -- you're introducing me to a whole new genre of art! I will keep these in the hopper -- they sound not only terrific, but DIFFERENT ...
Great......I hope you try and enjoy them.......I actually don't personally know anyone who will try them (usually either "too long for me" or "I don't do subtitles")...
And one other thing I didn't mention above--Bollywood films (or at least, those I have seen) are also different from Hollywood in that they are NOT enraptured with blood, gore, sex, nudity and swearing..........it's even rare to see a romantic kiss!