H.M.S. Defiant Reviews

For those who have seen and enjoyed ?Master and Commander? or ?Mutiny on the Bounty? here?s another movie on the same theme that?s right up your street. This is a really engrossing story rooted in history with bold characters and lots of naval action; just a rip-snorting good adventure story of a very high calibre. Guinness is up to his usual high standard, abetted by fine work from Bogarde and Quayle. The tension of the dramatic line never lets up until the heroic conclusion. Nigel Stock, Peter Gill and Maurice Denham turned in other notable performances.

Quite good, but dated.

Patrick O'Brians books (and the recent film Master & Commander) have made people more aware of the detail in Napoleonic navies. HMS Defiant looks a bit '50's dated' by comparison, but much of it stands up well without the computer's help.

Dirk Bogarde is a little too outspoken to be a credible First Officer: Jack Aubrey would have clapped him in irons in the first half hour!

Great Classic

If you like nautical stories with a mix of duty, manners, discipline and antagonistic characters...well here you go. Guinness is great as the understated English naval officer - commanding power rather than weilding it and Bogarde the nastier villainous officer who gets his comuppence. A good way to while away a sunday afternoon.

Twenty lashes to boost staff morale.

Not up there with "Mutiny on the Bounty" but not a bad seafaring romp. Dirk Bogarde sneer's his way through the proceedings dispensing rough justice along the way. I am sure social services would like to have a word with him about the cabin boy!

The battle's are pretty well done apart from a couple of dodgy model shots. Alec Guinness might not be Lord Nelson but he tries hard with a real sense of justice. Some familiar faces among the lower decks, and overall an interesting history lesson on ship life in the good old days!

First-class...

A well-scripted film, acted by professionals that have learned the art of diction (in many differing accents), enabling the viewer to listen without requiring a translation!

CLASSIC-SEA STORY

A pretty good film with lots of big names featured.a good illustration of life below decks at the time.

A rousing sea yarn

This movie looks its age, with somewhat faded colour in parts, but has high production values and a stellar cast, including Alec Guinness, Anthony Quayle, Tom Bell, Nigel Stock, Maurice Denham and Murray Melvin. A handsome Dirk Bogarde, doing his best to shake off his Doctor in the House image of the 1950s, plays the evil 1st Lt. Scott-Padget. Having only seen the film in pan and scan TV versions in the past it's good to see it in all its widescreen glory. Recommended.

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Great stuff.

(Yes, truly great stuff!)