Interview during the 80th edition of Venice International Film Festival with Annabelle Dunne, producer of the film out of competition “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial”, directed by late William Friedkin. The movie is based on the play by Herman Wouk, that led to a classical film in 1954 starred by Humphrey Bogart.
During the conversation, the producer remembers her work with Mr. Friedkin (famous by “The exorcist” or “French connection“), how he built up this production after re-discovering the play. She tells us his method of shooting only one take with the actors and how he told them to stay off the book with their lines. The director passed away last August.
“The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial” depicts a military trial against an officer that forced the captain of his ship to step down in the middle of a cyclone. Kiefer Sutherland, Jack Lacy and Lance Reddick are some of the stars in the movie, that revolves around the trial room and will be available in Showtime and Paramount+.
Plot
When a U.S. Naval captain shows signs of mental instability that jeopardizes the safety of his ship, the first officer relieves him of command and faces court-martial for mutiny. Greenwald, a skeptic lawyer, reluctantly defends Maryk, an officer of the navy who took control of the vessel from its dominant captain Queeg whilst caught in a violent sea storm. Greenwald becomes increasingly concerned as the court martial proceeds and questions if the Caine were a true mutiny or simply the courageous acts of a group of sailors that could not trust their unstable leader.