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Billy Budd
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Synopsis
Herman Melville's short novel Billy Budd is adapted for the screen, distinguished by Robert Krasker's expressive black-and-white cinematography and Peter Ustinov's crisp direction. Terence Stamp is Billy Budd, a seaman forced to serve in the British Navy during the war between England and France in 1797. Billy looks upon all men as inherently good and, although his crewmates are initially skeptical about this sailor who appears too good to be true, he proves his mettle by his skills as a sailor and gains the respect of the crew -- all except for the ship's reviled master-at-arms John Claggert (Robert Ryan), who attempts to poison Billy's reputation by accusing him of instigating a mutiny. When the ship's captain, Edward Vere (Peter Ustinov), questions Billy about the charges, Billy reacts by striking Claggert, who falls over and dies from a blow on the head. A court-martial is called and Vere has to determine whether Billy should be hanged or acquitted. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Cast

Melvyn Douglas The Dansker
Thomas Heathcote Payne
Ronald Lewis Jenkins
Cyril Luckham Hallam
Niall MacGinnis Capt. Graveling
Ray McAnally O'Daniel
David McCallum Lieutenant Wyatt
John Meillon Kincaid
John Neville Lt. John Ratcliffe
Paul Rogers Lieutenant Philip Ratcliffe
Terence Stamp Billy Budd
Peter Ustinov Capt. Edward Fairfax Vere
Robert Ryan Master-at-Arms Claggart
Robert Brown Talbot

Production Crew

Herman Melville Book Author
Robert Krasker Cinematographer
Anthony Hopkins Composer (Music Score)
Anthony Mendleson Costume Designer
Peter Ustinov Director
Jack Harris Editor
Louis O. Coxe Play Author
R.H. Chapman Play Author
Peter Ustinov Producer
Don Ashton Production Designer
Peter Murton Production Designer
DeWitt Bodeen Screenwriter
Peter Ustinov Screenwriter
Robert Rossen Screenwriter
Year: 1962
Runtime: 123
Country: UK
MPAA Rating:
Category: Feature

Genre
Drama

Produced by
Allied Artists

Release
by Allied Artists

Awards
1962 - Best Picture - National Board of Review
1962 - Best Film - Both Any Source and British - British Academy Awards
1962 - Best Film - Any Source - British Academy of Film and Television