Billy Budd (1962)

Herman Melville was one of America's fiercest, most abstruse writers, and the unfinished novella Billy Budd contains many of the author's hallmarks. Like his most famous work, Moby Dick, Budd is an allegory of powerful proportions, based on an actual naval event, and has invited widely disparate interpretations. The fall from Eden, the complications of a society imposing justice, the betrayal of Jesus Christ, and even latent homosexuality are all commonly read into the text. Though many of these shadings are lost in Peter Ustinov's 1962 version of the book, he does manage to capture what is no doubt the heart of the work: the betrayal of innocence by society. Based on a stage version, the movie has a rather static quality, but admirable attention is paid to Melville's fascinating characters. Though Robert Ryan's portrayal of the evil Claggart is excellent, if a bit over-the-top, Terence Stamp's soulful performance as Billy is key to the story's emotional impact. Stamp proved himself a vital talent in the role, which garnered him an Academy Award nomination. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide