Tuesday, September 4, 2012

#142 Mutiny on the Bounty (BBC)

Mutiny on the Bounty! The BBC adaptation is based on the Nordhoff-Hall novel that loosely chronicles the actual historical events of Captain Bligh, Mr. Chistian and the HMS Bounty during the late 1780s. First aired on radio in 1996, Mutiny on the Bounty is BBC radio drama at its best. First class acting and classic storytelling highlight this fine production.

In 1787 the HMS Bounty set sail from England for Tahiti under the command of William Bligh to bring back breadfruit. Bligh is a brutal authoritarian. He metes out harsh punishment to officers and crew alike for the slightest infraction of any rule or regulation. Enmity between Fletcher Christian, the ship's lieutenant, and Bligh quickly grows when Christian openly contests Bligh's harsh treatment of the crew. Tensions escalate when Bligh's decision to sail the shorter western route around Cape Horn proves to be a failure and they must backtrack east costing them precious time. To make up for his error Bligh pushes the crew harder.

When the Bounty finally reaches her destination the crew indulges in the carefree life of paradise surrounded by the beautiful and amorous Tahitian women. While the crew become smitten with island life and island women Bligh becomes increasingly agitated as he's forced to wait until the breadfruit plants can be transplanted. The men aren't keen on the idea of leaving their new found tropical paradise and as departure day nears three men attempt to desert but are quickly caught. Shortly after leaving Tahiti Bligh's harsh discipline and limited water rations has the crew talking insurrection. And before long... It's mutiny Mr. Christian!

From the BBC:
High seas adventure from the trilogy of novels by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. Adapted and produced by the legendary Burt Coules.

Starring
Oliver Reed (The Three Musketeers, Gladiator, Return to Lonesome Dove)
Linus Roache (Batman Begins, Riddick, Law & Order)
Lionel Jeffries (Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang, Camelot)
Roger Daltrey (The Who, Tommy, Highlander)
Directed by Adrian Bean


http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1900912155/bertcoules-21