Damn the Defiant!

Original title: H.M.S. Defiant

1962
Approved
1h 41m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

3.1K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer3:13

1 Video

59 Photos

Period Drama Sea Adventure Action Drama History War

On the H.M.S. Defiant, during the French Revolutionary War, fair Captain Crawford is locked in a battle of wills against his cruel second-in-command Lieutenant Scott-Padget, whose heavy-hand... Read allOn the H.M.S. Defiant, during the French Revolutionary War, fair Captain Crawford is locked in a battle of wills against his cruel second-in-command Lieutenant Scott-Padget, whose heavy-handed command style pushes the crew to mutiny.On the H.M.S. Defiant, during the French Revolutionary War, fair Captain Crawford is locked in a battle of wills against his cruel second-in-command Lieutenant Scott-Padget, whose heavy-handed command style pushes the crew to mutiny.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

3.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 3:13

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Photos59

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Sir Alec Guinness and Sir Anthony Quayle made this movie during the two-month break in the shooting of Lawrence of Arabia (1962), when the production moved from Jordan to Spain. Upon finishing this movie, both returned to Lawrence of Arabia (1962).

Goofs
In the last scene, Sir Alec Guinness orders all larboard (port side) guns to bear on the fire ship. In the next shot, the starboard cannon fire. Ironically, the term "larboard" was changed by the navy into the current term "port" precisely because it was too easy to mistake it for starboard.

Quotes
Lieut. Scott-Padget: [Scott-Padget turns back to the Captain as he begins to exit] You may have the power of life and death over every man about this ship, sir, but I warn you: if we come through this voyage safely...
Captain Crawford: [Crawford looks up from his work] Yes? If?
Lieut. Scott-Padget: To have followed Admiralty instructions may not be quite be enough.
Captain Crawford: [Crawford smacks his desk, jumps up and approaches Scott-Padget] I will say this to you only once, sir: I will not be bullied or threatened and I intend to be obeyed! Your friends in London mean nothing to me! I assure you that while you serve aboard this ship, they will mean absolutely nothing to you! You can go now.

Crazy credits
Opening credits prologue: SPITHEAD, ENGLAND 1797

Connections
Featured in The Nelson Affair (1973)

User reviews39

Review

Featured review

10/10

Wooden World

This movie is an excellent exploration of the effect that a divided command structure has on the workings of a ship. The characters are well cast and fully developed. We are taken into the workings of the ship and see more idyllic view of life in the wooden world that we saw in the Gregory Peck, Hornblower.

The plot line is good and for people like me who love wooden ships, the scenes of the ships and the naval battles are supurb. If one likes Hornblower or Maturin this is a movie you need to own. The transfer to DVD came out well (I also owned this one on a beta tape) and it is one of those core movies for the history buff.