Mutiny

Mutiny

Year: 1952

Runtime: 77 mins

Language: English

Director: Edward Dmytryk

WarHistoryAdventure

An epic sea adventure set in the early War of 1812. Captain James Marshall must slip past the British blockade to secure a French war loan. He hires former British Navy captain Ben Waldridge, who brings his old gun crew. They plot mutiny when gold arrives, and Waldridge’s former lover Leslie appears, testing loyalties.

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Timeline & Setting – Mutiny (1952)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Mutiny (1952). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1802

Set in the early 1800s, it sits squarely in the Age of Sail during the Napoleonic era. The British Royal Navy patrols strategic Caribbean lanes amid colonial tensions and maritime warfare. The period emphasizes disciplined seamanship, hierarchical command, and the looming geopolitical conflicts of the era.

Location

Kingston, Jamaica, Santo Domingo, Hispaniola, Plymouth, England

The story spans key naval ports and stations in the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Kingston, Jamaica is the base where Hornblower is imprisoned and where Pellew operates, while Santo Domingo represents the Caribbean theatre of conflict with privateers and slave revolts. Plymouth marks the voyage from England as Renown sets out on its mission.

🏝️ Caribbean ⚓ Naval setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:13

Main Characters – Mutiny (1952)

Meet the key characters of Mutiny (1952), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Horatio Hornblower

A thoughtful third lieutenant who questions Captain Sawyer's decisions and becomes a pivotal force for discipline and strategic action. He demonstrates courage and a readiness to challenge flawed leadership, especially when defending the ship and guiding his colleagues toward a lawful course.

⚔️ Courage 🧭 Strategy 🗡️ Duty

Captain James Sawyer

Renown's captain, whose memory loss and erratic behavior destabilize the ship. His harsh discipline and paranoia threaten the crew, pushing officers toward considering mutiny and testing the line between order and tyranny.

🧭 Authority 🗡️ Conflict 🧠 Fragile leadership

Captain Buckland

Takes command when Sawyer is deemed unfit, steering the ship through the mutiny crisis and directing the operation to regain control of Renown.

⚓ Command 🧭 Strategy

William Bush

Second Lieutenant who engages with Hornblower and Kennedy on the mutiny plan, and ultimately faces arrest during the crisis.

🧭 Loyalty ⚔️ Courage

Archie Kennedy

Fourth Lieutenant involved in the group contemplating mutiny; a key ally to Hornblower, torn between duty and camaraderie under pressure.

🧭 Loyalty ⚔️ Courage

Dr. Clive

Physician who helps stabilize the situation and supports Buckland's efforts to protect the crew, providing a rational counterpoint to the captain's instability.

🏥 Medical 🧠 Rational

Midshipman Wellard

Target of Sawyer's punitive actions; his flogging is witnessed by Hornblower, highlighting the captain's brutality and intensifying the crew's tensions.

🛡️ Bravery 🎖️ Honor

Gunner Hobbs

Loyal gunner who reports the absence of the lieutenants and whose allegiance to the captain adds pressure to the mutiny crisis.

🪖 Loyalty ⚓ Duty

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:13

Major Themes – Mutiny (1952)

Explore the central themes of Mutiny (1952), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚓ Leadership Under Strain

Captain Sawyer's increasingly unstable behavior roils the Renown and tests the crew's trust in command. Hornblower must balance duty with pragmatic action as he navigates a captain whose judgment fractures under pressure. The tension reveals how fragile authority can be when leadership loses its bearings.

🗡️ Duty vs Loyalty

The lieutenants weigh obedience to a captain against the ship's welfare and the crew's safety. Hornblower and his allies consider drastic steps to preserve the vessel, forcing a confrontation between allegiance to a commander and fidelity to the mission. The arc probes where true duty lies when leadership falters.

🌊 Sea Risk and Fate

The Renown faces cannon fire and a perilous kedging maneuver that tests seamanship and nerve. The ocean's dangers mirror the crew's mounting tension, underscoring how survival depends on courage, craft, and timely decisions amid crisis.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:13

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Mutiny Summary

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Mutiny Summary

Mutiny Timeline

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Mutiny Timeline

More About Mutiny

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Mutiny (1952) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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Mutiny (1952) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow