Billy Budd (1962)
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- Approved
- 2h 3min
- Adventure, Drama
- 12 Nov 1962 (USA)
- Movie
When a kind-hearted sailor is made to join an English vessel at war, he finds himself caught between devotion to his crew mates and obedience to their hated, cruel master-at-arms.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Robert Ryan | ... |
John Claggart - Master of Arms
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| Peter Ustinov | ... |
Edwin Fairfax Vere - Post Captain Royal Navy
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| Melvyn Douglas | ... |
The Dansker - Sailmaker
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| Paul Rogers | ... |
Philip Seymour - First Lieutenant
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| John Neville | ... |
Julian Radcliffe - Second Lieutenant
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| David McCallum | ... |
Steven Wyatt - Gunnery Officer
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| Ronald Lewis | ... |
Enoch Jenkins - Maintopman
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| Lee Montague | ... |
Squeak - Assistant to Mr. Claggart
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| Thomas Heathcote | ... |
Alan Payne - Maintopman
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| Ray McAnally | ... |
William O'Daniel - Maintopman
(as Ray McAnnally)
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| Robert Brown | ... |
Arnold Talbot - Maintopman
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| John Meillon | ... |
Neil Kincaid - Maintopman
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| Cyril Luckham | ... |
Alfred Hallam - Captain of Marines
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| Niall MacGinnis | ... |
Nathaniel Graveling - Ship's Master, Rights of Man
(as Niall McGinnis)
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Victor Brooks | ... |
Amos Leonard - First Mate, Rights of Man
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| Barry Keegan | ... |
Charles Mathews - Merchant Seaman, Rights of Man
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| Terence Stamp | ... |
Billy Budd - Merchant Seaman, Rights of Man
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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John Hewer | ... |
Dubbing
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Bob Head | ... |
Ship's Cook (uncredited)
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| George Leech | ... |
Marine (uncredited)
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Jack Sharp | ... |
Crewman HMS Avenger (uncredited)
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Ian Whittaker | ... |
Young Rating (uncredited)
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| Fred Wood | ... |
Crewman HMS Avenger (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Peter Ustinov | ... | (directed by) |
Written by
| Louis O. Coxe | ... | (based upon the play: "Billy Budd") and |
| Robert H. Chapman | ... | (based upon the play: "Billy Budd") |
| Herman Melville | ... | (from the novel: "Billy Budd Foretopman") |
| Peter Ustinov | ... | (screenplay) and |
| DeWitt Bodeen | ... | (screenplay) (as Dewitt Bodeen) |
| Robert Rossen | ... | (screenplay) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| A. Ronald Lubin | ... | executive producer |
| Peter Ustinov | ... | producer |
Music by
| Antony Hopkins | ... | (music composed by) |
Cinematography by
| Robert Krasker | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Jack Harris | ... | film editor |
Casting By
| Robert Lennard | ... | (as Robert S. Lennard) |
Production Design by
| Donald M. Ashton | ... | (as Don Ashton) |
Art Direction by
| Peter Murton | ||
Costume Design by
| Anthony Mendleson | ||
Makeup Department
| Bob Lawrance | ... | makeup (as Bob Lawrence) |
| Henry Montsash | ... | hairdresser (as Harry Montsash) |
| Pat McDermott | ... | assistant hairdresser (uncredited) |
| Sidney Turner | ... | assistant make-up (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Albert Jaeger | ... | production supervisor |
| Victor Peck | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Michael Birkett | ... | assistant director |
| Claude Watson | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Stan Gale | ... | construction manager (uncredited) |
| F. Pratt | ... | chargehand prop (uncredited) |
| Francisco Prósper | ... | construction coordinator: Spain unit (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Charles Crafford | ... | sound editor |
| Charles Poulton | ... | sound recordist |
| Len Shilton | ... | sound recordist |
| Dennis Arundell | ... | sound maintenance (uncredited) |
| Keith Batten | ... | sound assistant (uncredited) |
| Tom Buchanan | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
| Gordon Hooton | ... | sound camera operator (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| George Blackwell | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Fred Heather | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Jim Hole | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Garth Inns | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Curly Nelhams | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Ken Buckle | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Joe Powell | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| John Harris | ... | camera operator (as John S. Harris) |
| Bernard Ford | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
| George Higgins | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Kelvin Pike | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
| Simon Ransley | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Wally Thompson | ... | chargehand electrician (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Ron Beck | ... | wardrobe |
| Laura Nightingale | ... | wardrobe |
Music Department
| Antony Hopkins | ... | music conducted by |
Script and Continuity Department
| June Faithfull | ... | continuity |
Transportation Department
| Eddie Frewin | ... | unit driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Arthur Ferriman | ... | production associate (as Arthur S. Ferriman) |
| A.J. Villiers | ... | technical adviser (as Capt. Alan Villiers) |
| Mary-Ann Ferriman | ... | producer's secretary (uncredited) |
| D. Harrien | ... | nautical rigger (uncredited) |
| Joan Parcell | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
| Bob Webb | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Rank Film Distributors (1962) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Allied Artists Pictures (1962) (United States) (theatrical)
- J. Arthur Rank Film (1962) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Kontinental (1962) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1962) (France) (theatrical)
- Cawall Film (1963) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Parvisfilmi (1963) (France) (theatrical)
- Rank Filmes de Portugal (1964) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Key Video (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan for CBS/Fox)
- Lorimar Television (1985) (United States) (tv)
- Allied Artists Entertainment (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Vidéo (2007) (France) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2014) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
- Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (2018) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Cargo Records (2019) (Germany) (DVD)
- Maritim Pictures (2019) (Germany) (DVD)
- Oy Europa Vision AB (Finland) (video)
- Showtime Networks (Finland) (video)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- The Philharmonia Orchestra (music played by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
H.M.S. Avenger is headed into battle against the French fleet during the Napoleonic Wars, and the dark shadow of two recent mutinies in the English fleet concern Captain Vere (Sir Peter Ustinov). He relies on his cruel and often sadistic Master-at-Arms John Claggert (Robert Ryan) to maintain what he believes to be tenuous order and discipline aboard the ship. When a new seaman, Billy Budd (Terence Stamp), is pressed into service from a passing merchantman, his innocent, happy-go-lucky attitude quickly endears him to his messmates as well as the ship's officers. However, his charismatic naivete seems to bother Claggert, whose perverse depravity makes him resent Billy's good-natured purity, especially after the teenager's promotion to fore-top Captain. The mean-spirited Claggert unfairly plots to put him on report and ultimately perjures himself when he accuses Billy of conspiring to mutiny. Written by Gabe Taverney (duke1029@aol.com) |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The Men!.. The Mutiny!...The Might!... The Magnitude Of Herman Melville's Classic Adventure of the High Seas! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Herman Melville had been writing poetry for thirty years when he returned to fiction with "Billy Budd" in late 1888. Still unfinished when he died in 1891, it was forgotten. Melville's biographer accidentally stumbled upon it when going through a trunk of Melville's papers in his granddaughter's New Jersey house in 1919. Melville's widow worked to help complete it, and it was finally published in 1924. Over the years, other unsatisfactory versions were published, but it wasn't until Melville's original notes were found that the definitive version was ultimately published in 1962. Coincidentally, Sir Peter Ustinov's movie version was released the same year. See more » |
| Goofs | When Budd is removed by a sentry after his trial in the captain's quarters a sheathed knife is clearly visible on his hip. Since he is being tried and held for murder it would be absurd to allow him to keep a deadly weapon on his person. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | As the cast is listed onscreen, the actors are heard stating their characters' names and ranks. See more » |
| Quotes |
Billy Budd:
There are many ways to lie, Mr. Claggert, but there is only one way to tell the truth. See more » |