MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1936) The Gable version

Was ever a tale better fitted for film – the real-life 1789 mutiny aboard the Royal Navy ship Bounty led by Fletcher Christian against the ship's captain, William Bligh, as were ever two actors better fitted for their roles: Charles Laughton as the sadistic Bligh, and Clark Gable the heroic Christian? MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY was one of the biggest hits of its time and remains a classic today. Its historical accuracy is in question, but there's no question among critics that this is the best of five films based on the event. A 1962 remake, starring Marlon Brando as Christian and Trevor Howard as Bligh, sunk in critical and financial waters at the time, but has come to be reevaluated by critics. A lavish remake in 1984 titled simply THE BOUNTY starred Mel Gibson as Christian opposite Anthony Hopkins as Bligh. It is considered to be the closest to historical events and gives a far more sympathetic view of Bligh. But in this reviewer’s opinion, while both remakes are well worth seeing (especially Brando’s in which he plays Christian as a total fop), neither tops the Gable-Laughton version, which itself was preceded by two films based on the novel (1916, 1933). (Trivia note: In the '36 film, actors James Cagney and David Niven, and singer Dick Haymes, appeared briefly as uncredited extras.)