I rented The Caine Mutiny on a whim. Rather boring movie, consisting of several amazing performances. McMurray's bad guy is kind of de rigeur until you realize that he pretty much defined the standard for "snake in the grass". Van Johnson always surprises me at how well he plays military men. Jose Ferrer is solid, too.
But the reason to check it out if it ever shows up on TV again is for Humphrey Bogart, who pretty much defines bravery as an actor by taking on the part. And he is rewarded for his courage--it's a brilliant, sad performance.
The major flaw in the film is the time it wastes on the Young Officer, Robert Francis, ex-mama's boy, torn between grasping mama and good girl nightclub singer. It was so bad that I angrily looked up Francis in the IMD, to see if he had a deservedly short career.
He died in a plane crash.
Heavens, my punishment would have been milder.
