Damn the Defiant!
starring: Alec Guinness, Dirk Bogarde, Maurice Denham, Nigel Stock, Richard Carpenter
directed by: Lewis Gilbert (II)
directed by: Lewis Gilbert (II)
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Set in 1797 at the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars, Damn the Defiant! (also known as H.M.S. Defiant) is an enthralling British naval drama made to capitalize on MGM's epic remake of Mutiny on the Bounty, also released in 1962. It's based on Frank Tilsey's novel Mutiny and stars Alex Guinness as a fair-minded captain locked in psychological conflict with his manipulative, coldly malicious first officer (Dirk Bogarde), and the parallels with the famous true story are clear. However, there were many naval mutinies during this period, and this large-scale saga, which includes some spectacularly staged widescreen naval battles, offers a realistic depiction of life in the British navy at the time--from the press gangs and floggings to the appalling food and living conditions.
Director Lewis Gilbert--who previously helmed Sink the Bismarck! (1960)--strikes a good balance between the personal drama and sweeping maritime adventure. Guinness successfully varies his firm-but-fair officer from The Bridge on the River Kwai, Bogarde is chillingly hateful, and Anthony Quayle gives strong support. --Gary S. Dalkin
Set in 1797 at the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars, Damn the Defiant! (also known as H.M.S. Defiant) is an enthralling British naval drama made to capitalize on MGM's epic remake of Mutiny on the Bounty, also released in 1962. It's based on Frank Tilsey's novel Mutiny and stars Alex Guinness as a fair-minded captain locked in psychological conflict with his manipulative, coldly malicious first officer (Dirk Bogarde), and the parallels with the famous true story are clear. However, there were many naval mutinies during this period, and this large-scale saga, which includes some spectacularly staged widescreen naval battles, offers a realistic depiction of life in the British navy at the time--from the press gangs and floggings to the appalling food and living conditions.
Director Lewis Gilbert--who previously helmed Sink the Bismarck! (1960)--strikes a good balance between the personal drama and sweeping maritime adventure. Guinness successfully varies his firm-but-fair officer from The Bridge on the River Kwai, Bogarde is chillingly hateful, and Anthony Quayle gives strong support. --Gary S. Dalkin
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Great Classic
Who doesn't like a good naval battle?
Good story
I liked it alot
Forrest Gump
Rating: 
- interesting british naval drama
Interesting, yes. Fine performances. Good direction from Lewis Gilbert. However, pretty atrocious remastering. Full of aritifact and dust specks.
Rating: - Great actors, great movie
Alec Guinness gives a great performance as an humanitarian captain during a very interesting period of history. This 1962 movie shows undoubtedly a good achievement in visuals, even according to present standards, despite the deficiency (or absence) of FX.
Rating: - Damn the Defiant Review
An excellent film about the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, which shows great details of life on an 18th century war ship.This war drama has great acting by all, particularly Alec Guinness and Dirk Bogarde, with fine dialog and well-staged naval battles.The 2.35:1 widescreen DVD (CinemaScope) is enhanced for 16:9 TVs and of high quality.
Rating: 
- Not Exactly a Classic
I purchased this on a friends recommendation who seemed to have similiar likes in other movies. Alec Guinnes is great. My wife and I were expecting something along the lines of Horatio HornBlower. Horatio it wasn't.
Ok to watch once however it will gather some dust in our library before its next viewing.
- Great ClassicWho doesn't like a good naval battle?
Good story
I liked it alot
Forrest Gump
- interesting british naval dramaInteresting, yes. Fine performances. Good direction from Lewis Gilbert. However, pretty atrocious remastering. Full of aritifact and dust specks.
- Great actors, great movieAlec Guinness gives a great performance as an humanitarian captain during a very interesting period of history. This 1962 movie shows undoubtedly a good achievement in visuals, even according to present standards, despite the deficiency (or absence) of FX.
- Damn the Defiant ReviewAn excellent film about the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, which shows great details of life on an 18th century war ship.This war drama has great acting by all, particularly Alec Guinness and Dirk Bogarde, with fine dialog and well-staged naval battles.The 2.35:1 widescreen DVD (CinemaScope) is enhanced for 16:9 TVs and of high quality.
- Not Exactly a ClassicI purchased this on a friends recommendation who seemed to have similiar likes in other movies. Alec Guinnes is great. My wife and I were expecting something along the lines of Horatio HornBlower. Horatio it wasn't.
Ok to watch once however it will gather some dust in our library before its next viewing.
