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'Mutiny on the BOUNTY'

Maker W F Schey Limited

Date1962

Object number00018984

NamePoster

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsImage: 960 x 635 mm
Overall: 1020 x 685 mm, 0.05 kg
Sheet: 1020 x 685 mm

ClassificationsPosters and postcards

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionThis promotional poster was printed for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie 'Mutiny on the BOUNTY'. The poster features an image of the BOUNTY and the pictures of the stars of the film: Trevor Howard and Marlon Brando. The film also starred Richard Harris. The poster was printed by W F Schey Limited in 1962.History'Mutiny on the BOUNTY' was a 1962 movie based on the 1932 Charles Nordhoff and James Norman novel of the same name. It was based on the real life mutiny aboard HMS BOUNTY in 1789. The film starred Trevor Howard as Captain William Bligh and Marlon Brando as Fletcher Christian, the man who led the mutiny against the Captain. The film was directed by Lewis Milestone. HMS BOUNTY was sent from England to Tahiti in 1787 under the command of Lieutenant William Bligh to collect breadfruit trees and transport them to the West Indies, where they could be cultivated as food for slaves. BOUNTY arrived in Tahiti in October 1788 where it anchored at Matavai Bay. The ship's company remained there for six months until April 1789 growing the breadfruit plants and enjoying a lifestyle of leisure, women, a warm climate and ample food. Twenty-four days after leaving Tahiti part of the crew under the leadership of Fletcher Christian mutinied in the early morning of 28 April 1789. Captain Bligh and 18 loyalists were forced into the BOUNTY's boat and set adrift near Tafoa in the Friendly Islands (Tonga). Bligh - in an incredible feat of seamanship - ultimately sailed the boat to Timor and raised the alarm. This was a 6,701 kilometre voyage that took 41 days to complete without navigation equipment. In command of the BOUNTY's cutter with 18 men on board Bligh navigated to Tofua, Tonga for supplies and then on to Timor, losing only one of his crew in the voyage, during an altercation with the Tongans. On arriving at Timor the men were severely dehydrated and malnourished but welcomed with food and drink by the Governor of Timor. Bligh returned to England and after being court martialled in 1790 was cleared of any role in the mutiny and honourably acquitted. In that same year he also released his publication, 'A Narrative of the Bounty'. In August 1791 Bligh would also get a second chance to complete the breadfruit expedition successfully.SignificanceThis movie poster highlights the considerable interest that still exists in the infamous mutiny on the BOUNTY.