During the years when my interest in films was developing, two films dominated the news: "Cleopatra" and "Mutiny on the Bounty". Both films were draining the coffers of their studios - 20th Century-Fox and MGM, respectively. Fox managed to produce four films in 1962, although the studio released titles from independents. And production on the lot completely shut down. Things got so bad that Darryl Zanuck, a major stockholder who had once run the studio but who went out on his own in 1957 and produced movies that Fox later released, went to a stockholders meeting in New York and powered his way back into control, deposing Spyros Skouras who had led the studio while "Cleopatra" nearly ruined it. His production of "The Longest Day" saved Fox from total bankruptcy and his leadership helped bring the studio back into the black.
MGM, however, had seen the remakes of "Cimarron" and "The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse" fail at the box office, and their musicals "Bells Are Ringing" and "Billy Rose's 'Jumbo'" weren't strong enough at the boxoffice to offset the drain on its coffers that Marlon Brando's epic was causing.
"Mutiny on the Bounty", however, was more successful in retrospect. It had cost $30 million, but it was the 5th highest grossing film of the year. It lost the studio money, however, because it did not earn back half of the money it needed.
Some critics were quite generous with their praise of the film, but Brando had been generating negative press for two years of production and his interpretation of Fletcher Christian was far different from the performance Clark Gable had given in the 1935 film. Brando had a different vision...and it is that vision that we see today. Personally, I think it vastly underrated performance in a vastly underrated film. It never lags, has magnificent production values and is blessed with one of THE greatest scores ever written. It was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Original Score and Best Song. It won no Oscars.
The MGM Records LP of the soundtrack was good but was specially recorded for the LP. FSM issued an end-all, be-all 3-CD set of the film's original recordings...the ones we heard with the final cut, the ones that had been scored for an earlier cut, and the LP presentation...all in clean, dynamic stereo.
It is a prize in my collection and one of the great soundtrack presentations of all time.
I love Kaper's Mutiny on the Bounty. So much bombast and lovely beautiy at the same time.
Trevor Howard is magnificent, and for me the most interesting character in the film. Howard tried to make Bleigh less unsympathetic, but "they" wouldn't let him. After all, the Captain was not an idiot in his line of work, even if he is depicted that way in the film.
Follow me, is such a beautiful song I never tire listening to it.
The storm
Maeve, maeve / girls and sailors
I've only seen the film on TV unfortunately. But even in such minimized format I think the film is interesting to watch.
Brando's role was quite oberblown and should have been toned down.
Regarding the presentation of the soundtrack/score as done by FSM: I think this would be produced differently today, in a better structure that might require a 4-disc release including the restored LP sequencing.
Never seen the film but love the score. My first experience was when the album was released on a budget MCA cassette tape probably in the 80's. I think I was in a Camelot store. Purchasing the FSM release was a no braining. The liner notes are fasinating.
Yup, I love it. That massive overture, it's almost overwhelming, but the whole thing is just fantastic, one of FSMs best releases. Good film too, Brando's been criticized for his "posh" English accent, but it works for me. The Warner Blu-ray looks good, but with a new scan from the original negatives it could look so much better.
Since I had lost my own FSM set-I was very lucky to get a brand new sealed set from Lukas Kendall back up archive facility at his Mom's place this week (actually SAE facilitated the whole deal- Thanks Katie! )
This set is a joy to behold and doesn't get comprehensive than anything other than the fabulous BEN HUR set.
This one still sells for big $$$ - I am hoping that it will get a re-issue someday, but as I'm typing I realized it's Warner - so probably not happenign anytime soon. I'm sure many of the labels we support have tried.
Since I had lost my own FSM set-I was very lucky to get a brand new sealed set from Lukas Kendall back up archive facility at his Mom's place this week (actually SAE facilitated the whole deal- Thanks Katie! )
This set is a joy to behold and doesn't get comprehensive than anything other than the fabulous BEN HUR set.
Classic SAE. They are so helpful. I almost thought you were going to say it was Craig. But a few years back I realized I was missing Lalo Schifrin collection with the Cincinnati Kid. I had everything else related from FSM and Craig felt well you’re gonna be paying too much online for it. Let me dig up a copy for you. And he found me one which I bought at a reasonable price. Good to see that Katie is continuing the tradition. I have found her very helpful as well.
This is Kaper's magnum opus and one of my favorite 1960s scores. I owned MCA's reissue of the MGM album and it was good. But FSM's is the definitive version.
Since I had lost my own FSM set-I was very lucky to get a brand new sealed set from Lukas Kendall back up archive facility at his Mom's place this week (actually SAE facilitated the whole deal- Thanks Katie! )
This set is a joy to behold and doesn't get comprehensive than anything other than the fabulous BEN HUR set.
Classic SAE. They are so helpful. I almost thought you were going to say it was Craig. But a few years back I realized I was missing Lalo Schifrin collection with the Cincinnati Kid. I had everything else related from FSM and Craig felt well you’re gonna be paying too much online for it. Let me dig up a copy for you. And he found me one which I bought at a reasonable price. Good to see that Katie is continuing the tradition. I have found her very helpful as well.
Good to know. Incidentally during a hard time I had lost interest in THE CINCINNATI KID so I decided to have it sell to SAE. If Craig arranged that for you then possibly you have my copy.
Katie is the Ace in customer service and she even managed to give me $20 discount on the offered price when I couldn’t up the initial price.
I agree with everything that's been said about this truly magnificent score. The CD set is a must-have with terrific widescreen sound. The only niggling issue I have with it, minor though it is, is the fact that the choral track on the wonderful main title doesn't seem to be synchronised correctly at around 1:48, where the chorus comes in a beat too soon before the orchestra.
I found this rip of the Overture and MT (probably taken from the DVD) with the chorus coming in at the correct point (6:25):
Sorry if I sound like an old misery guts, but I've always loved this rousing main title and was so excited to finally have the OST version where the chorus adds a spine-tingling dash of epic exuberance. I was just a little disappointed to find the FSM track didn't quite match the film, especially after having worn out my tape of the music from the TV! But I wouldn't be without the set; all that other wonderful material and a superb booklet.
(actually SAE facilitated the whole deal- Thanks Katie! )
