Damn the Defiant! is an 18th-century seafaring drama from director Lewis Gilbert. Alec Guinness plays the stern but compassionate captain of a British warship, engaged in the Napoleonic wars. Guinness is popular with his men, which is more than can be said for his new second-in-command Dirk Bogarde. When Guinness tries to modify Bogarde's sadistic adherence to discipline, Bogarde responds by mistreating Guinness' cabin-boy son, knowing that the captain cannot intervene under the edicts of British maritime law. During an ...
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Damn the Defiant! is an 18th-century seafaring drama from director Lewis Gilbert. Alec Guinness plays the stern but compassionate captain of a British warship, engaged in the Napoleonic wars. Guinness is popular with his men, which is more than can be said for his new second-in-command Dirk Bogarde. When Guinness tries to modify Bogarde's sadistic adherence to discipline, Bogarde responds by mistreating Guinness' cabin-boy son, knowing that the captain cannot intervene under the edicts of British maritime law. During an incipient mutiny, Bogarde is accidently killed, and Guinness knows that the crewmen responsible must hang once they reach shore. But after these same men perform courageously in battle, Guinness suffers a crisis of conscience: How can he condemn these fearlessly patriotic men to death, as he knows he must? Based on the novel Mutiny by Frank Tilsley. Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Add this copy of Damn the Defiant! to cart. $9.06, very good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by British Lion Films / Columbia Pictures.
Add this copy of Damn the Defiant! to cart. $666.67, good condition, Sold by Goodwill of Silicon Valley rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from San Jose, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by British Lion Films / Columbia Pictures.
A little misty-eyed romanticism can't get in the way of this brutally honest depiction of life on board a British warship during the Napoleonic Wars. Realistically photographed with some thrilling battle scenes, this historically accurate movie is supported by a glorious musical score and top-notch acting.
The story focuses on the battle of wills between an ambitious Second Officer and his good-natured Captain, with the latter's Midshipman son being treated like a bone between two ravenous dogs. Dirk Bogarde is at his sadistic best as the Second Officer, while Alec Guinness brings both dignity and vulnerability to his role as the Captain.
Fans of movies like "Master and Commander" will love this film. Highly recommended.