Alec Guinness stars as the humane Captain Crawford, skipper of H.M.S Defiant with sealed orders to cruise the Mediterranean during the Napoleonic Wars. Before undertaking his mission, his crew must be replenished; therefore, the press gangs go out to "recruit" sailors.
First officers do not usually accompany the press gangs, but the newly assigned Lieutenant Scott-Padgett does, and Captain Crawford notes this as he accepts his orders from the Admiralty. It is interesting to note that Crawford makes a statement to the effect that sailors should be better treated to the Admiral, even as his press gangs pass outside the window of the comfortable parlor where the two officers enjoy their Madeira. The admiral also tries to say a word about Scott-Padgett to Crawford but Crawford asks him to let him find out for himself…
Crawford takes his orders and goes home to take leave of his wife. He does not like long goodbyes, so he tells her not to come to the ship, he will say goodbye now. His young son Harvey, about 12 years old, is going to accompany his father as midshipman to gain his sea legs. At the ship's gangplank, the father tells son that he will no longer be able to have personal conversations with him once aboard. Harvey is assigned to the midshipmen's quarters, under the tender care of the senior officers and midshipmen, particularly Mr. Kilpatrick. As he enters the ship for the first time Harvey is surprised to see carousing among sailors and their "wives" below decks. He also is shocked to see the impressed sailors in the hold. Mr. Scott-Padgett has the women put ashore using a cargo net and the Defiant weighs anchor and gets underway.
Captain Crawford orders the newly enlisted recruits to stand inspection. The Surgeon says they are a fine lot and that is all the Captain has to hear. He instructs Kilpatrick to read the crew the articles of war…
Villainous Scott-Padgett, deliciously portrayed by Dirk Bogarde, is a sadistic brute, willing to abuse the crew and wreck a Captain's career. The surgeon informs Crawford that Scott-Padgett has connections back in Parliament and is more than willing to use them.
The first time on deck, the captain and first officer come into conflict. Scott-Padgett wants to give a sailor 6-dozen lashes while Crawford lessens the punishment to 2-dozen. You can see Scott-Padgett rankle under this undermining of his authority. Later, the captain orders full sails, which Scott-Padgett countermands. The captain puts him under arrest. Scott-Padgett says he will get even, so Crawford makes him report for inspection every two hours around the clock. Finally, he seems to have learned his lesson and Crawford lets him back on deck.
Scott-Padgett uses his influence on Mr. Kilpatrick, seemingly doomed to be a perpetual midshipman, by dangling the hope of a commission in front of him. Kilpatrick eagerly takes to the task of punishing young Harvey for every offense, real or imagined.
Meanwhile, the Defiant comes up against a French Man o' War. Scott-Padgett's gunnery training has enabled the crew to overcome the French battleship. They also capture a high member of Napoleon's government who knows the date for the French invasion of England. Since they have been unable to rendezvous with their original escort, they decide to return to the squadron with this vital information.
There is also a nice plot twist where the crew has their own ideas about the destination of the ship, and also its command. It seems there has been a mutiny brewing throughout the entire British fleet. Ringleader of this faction aboard Defiant is Vizzard, well played by Anthony Quayle. His main supporter, Evans, (Tom Bell) is more of a thorn in his side than a help, but the interplay makes for an interesting twist at the end.
Suffice it to say that the mutiny occurs, the fleet is saved and Scott-Padgett gets his well-deserved comeuppance. The ending of the movie neatly ties up all the loose ends.
Damn the Defiant has some of the nicest production values of any sea story. The ships and sets appear real. The action is also frighteningly real as the wood sides splinter and give way from the broadsides. The costumes and lighting are also well photographed giving it an authentic look and feel of the eighteenth century. With a stable of stalwart British actors to flesh out the story, how could this movie lose? My answer, it can't.
For those of you who are fans of the sea, I also recommend Captain Horatio Hornblower, The Sea Hawk, Captain Blood, The Long Ships, and Moby Dick.
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