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H.M.S. Defiant

H.M.S. Defiant

Adventure · History · War · 1962

Defiant's crew is part of a fleet-wide movement to present a petition of grievances to the Admiralty. Violence must be no part of it. The continual sadism of Defiant's first officer makes this difficult, and when the captain is disabled, the chance for violence increases.

Movie details

H.M.S. Defiant

“The cry was MUTINY... and the decks ran red!...”

1962 Adventure · History · War 1h 41m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.5 / 10

Community rating

Defiant's crew is part of a fleet-wide movement to present a petition of grievances to the Admiralty. Violence must be no part of it. The continual sadism of Defiant's first officer makes this difficult, and when the captain is disabled, the chance for violence increases.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over H.M.S. Defiant?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Lewis Gilbert

Written by

Nigel Kneale · Edmund H. North

Alec Guinness

Alec Guinness

Captain Crawford

Dirk Bogarde

Dirk Bogarde

Lieut. Scott-Padget

Anthony Quayle

Anthony Quayle

Vizard

Maurice Denham

Maurice Denham

Mr. Goss (Ship's Surgeon)

Nigel Stock

Nigel Stock

Senior Midshipman Kilpatrick

Tom Bell

Tom Bell

Evans

Richard Carpenter

Richard Carpenter

Lieut. Posonby

Court is in session

Put H.M.S. Defiant on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.