The Caine Mutiny (1954)

Ensign Willie Keith (Robert Frances) who is new to the Navy is assigned to the Caine, a ship that has seen better days.  Keith isn't so crazy about the first captain, but then that captain is replaced by Capt.Queeg (Humphrey Bogart) who appears to have what it takes to shape things up.  But soon, it is apparent that not only is Queeg overbearing and unreasonable, but that Queeg may have some mental issues.

Keith and two others, Lt. Maryk (Van Johnson) and Lt. Keefer (Fred McMurray), gather information that they believe will prove that Queeg should not be in charge.  Keefer backs out at the last minute, stating that their accusations might not stick and cost them their careers.  Later, Queeg appears to lose it during a storm, and Maryk takes over.  A mutiny charge is made.  A lawyer, Lt. Greenwald (Jose Ferrer) cautiously agrees to defend Maryk.

I'm not a fan of films about the military or war, but this was one of Bogart's films that I had never seen.  Bogart does a great job showing how tightly wound Queeg is.  I saw similarities between how dry Ferrer plays his role and how his son Miguel ("NCIS: Los Angeles") puts a deadpan spin on a lot of his roles.  The one thing that didn't work for me was a romantic sub-plot involving Ensign Keith and his on-and-off sweetheart May.

James Colburn (In Like Flint), Jerry Paris ("The Dick Van Dyke Show"), E.G. Marshall ("The Defenders), and Claude Atkins ("B.J. and the Bear") all have roles in this as well.