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 H.M.S. Defiant (DVD)
Description: Genre: Drama / Theatrical Release: 1962 / Director: Lewis Gilbert (II) / Actors: Alec Guinness, Dirk Bogarde ... / DVD ... more  H.M.S. Defiant (DVD) ... released 18 March, 2002 at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / Features of the DVD: PAL, Widescreen / Set in 1797 at the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars, HMS Defiant is an enthralling British naval drama made to capitalise upon MGM's epic remake of Mutiny on the Bounty, also released in 1962. Based on the novel Mutiny by Frank Tilsey and starring Alex Guinness as a fair-minded captain locked in psychological conflict with Dirk Bogarde, his manipulative, coldly malicious first officer, the parallels with the famous true story are clear. However there were many naval mutinies at 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. ITV's recent Hornblower cumulatively offers a more detailed portrait of the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars, though the TV series cannot match the visual scale of this big-screen production. On the DVD: HMS Defiant is presented anamorphically enhanced at 2.35:1, though a little of the original CinemaScope frame is still cropped at the sides. The image is generally very good, though a handful of scenes near the end show considerable print damage and there is an inconstancy of colour grading between some shots. Grain is variable, but not generally a problem, though some unattractive "ringing" from edge enhancement is noticeable, particularly around Alex Guinness when he stands against a bright sky. The sound is in very clear mono with just occasional distortion on the music score. The disc offers the option of watching with dubbed French, German, Italian or Spanish soundtracks. The original trailer is included--under the American title of Damn the Defiant!--as are trailers for three other classic war films. The only other extra features are a small gallery of original publicity materials and three very basic filmographies. --Gary S DalkinNewest Review: ... and this is where the film starts with a press gang collecting men for the next sailing. In charge of the ship is Captain ... more ... Crawford who is brilliantly played by Alec Guiness and in second command of the ship is Lieutenant Scott-Padget who is played by Dirk Bogarde. There is a conflict between these two men who have very different views of how the ship should be run. The film follows the tension between these two men for control of the ship. The whole film is excellently filmed with some terrific battle sequences between the British and the French Navys. As a period drama the costumes and mannerisms of the cast make this an extremely wel...more |
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H.M.S. Defiant (DVD): Give him 24 lashes! (312 words)
by daseaford - written on 03.07.01 (Useful, 105 readings)
Rating:
During the time of the Napoleonic War life on board Royal Navy sailing ships was harsh and brutal. This film follows life on board HMS Defiant, during one of it’s voyages, at a time when the sailors on the fleet’s ships were planning a rebellion in their attempt to get better conditions for the sailors. Most of the sailors on board the naval ships had been press-ganged and this is where the film starts with a press gang collecting men for the next sailing. In charge of the ship is Captain Crawford who is brilliantly played by Alec Guiness and in second command of the ship is Lieutenant Scott-Padget who is played by Dirk Bogarde. There is a ...
