MovieChat Forums > H.M.S. Defiant (1962) Discussion > Let's Hear It for Mr. Guiness, Lads!!

Let's Hear It for Mr. Guiness, Lads!!


Just finished watching "Defiant" from a recording I made off TCM earlier in the week. I hadn't seen it since sometime in the very early 80's on a late show airing. I'd forgotten almost all of the plot and didn't see it on a color set originally. TCM aired it in letterbox format which worked very well. Anyway, it was alot of fun to see again, especially for the first time in color. I've become a fan of Alec Guinness, especially after seeing a recent documentary on him on the Biography Channel. I've seen only a few of his films over the years so I'm trying to catch up, "Our Man in Havana"(1960)being especially good, which I saw about a year ago, and which rejuvenated my interest in him. Mr. Guinness is perfectly cast in "Defiant" as the ship's strict, but not harsh, captain. Dirk Bogarde, another British actor I've recently taken quite an interest in, is excellent as the sadistic and despicable Scott-Padgett. Everything's presented very authentically, the early press gang scenes being especially good. The most impressive thing about the film, though, are the naval battles. I was astounded at how realistic they look in this film. The ships don't look like models, with the gunfire and synchronized sounds equally quite impressive. Even the waves of the ocean look totally believable! While some process and matte shots occasionally are evident while the Defiant's at sea, these are smoothly integrated and used sparingly. The background footage doesn't look grainy, jerky, or lifted from old movies of a similar theme. Most of the scenes, in fact, appear to have been filmed on the deck of an actual sailing ship of the period. Alot of care was taken with making this film one of high quality and realism. Technically it's all very well done--quite surprising for even as "modern" a year as 1962. The only drawback to "Defiant" is the same drawback shared by all movies with an historical naval theme--that of officers yelling out commands all the time. Although megaphones sometimes are shown being used, one wonders that the officers weren't totally hoarse and/or continuously afflicted by laryngitis. Such barking of orders gets a little tiresome and/or tedious at times. This is a minor criticism, though, and one that can't be avoided in such a film as "Defiant". In short, it's a good, rousing Napoleonic sea adventure, smartly done by all concerned. Now, let's have the men put their backs into it, Mr. Christian! Oh, sorry--that was another film!

reply

Wholeheartedly agree with your comments about the battle scenes, the ships looked very realistic as they blasted each other, far better than expected.
I also loved some of the interior shots. There is one scene where Alec Guinness is recovering from his 'operation' and is having a conversation while propped in a chair with (I think) a pewter tankard and a candle by his elbow. It looks like a painting, and reminded me of Barry Lyndon, which is full of such scenes.

reply

Not only that, Barry Lyndon has Wagstaffe as well.

Never be complete.

reply