The Caine Mutiny (1954)

Ensign Willie Keith (Robert Frances) who is new to the Navy is assigned to the Caine, a ship that has seen better days.  Keith isn't so crazy about the first captain, but then that captain is replaced by Capt.Queeg (Humphrey Bogart) who appears to have what it takes to shape things up.  But soon, it is apparent that not only is Queeg overbearing and unreasonable, but that Queeg may have some mental issues.

Keith and two others, Lt. Maryk (Van Johnson) and Lt. Keefer (Fred McMurray), gather information that they believe will prove that Queeg should not be in charge.  Keefer backs out at the last minute, stating that their accusations might not stick and cost them their careers.  Later, Queeg appears to lose it during a storm, and Maryk takes over.  A mutiny charge is made.  A lawyer, Lt. Greenwald (Jose Ferrer) cautiously agrees to defend Maryk.

I'm not a fan of films about the military or war, but this was one of Bogart's films that I had never seen.  Bogart does a great job showing how tightly wound Queeg is.  I saw similarities between how dry Ferrer plays his role and how his son Miguel ("NCIS: Los Angeles") puts a deadpan spin on a lot of his roles.  The one thing that didn't work for me was a romantic sub-plot involving Ensign Keith and his on-and-off sweetheart May.

James Colburn (In Like Flint), Jerry Paris ("The Dick Van Dyke Show"), E.G. Marshall ("The Defenders), and Claude Atkins ("B.J. and the Bear") all have roles in this as well.

Marty (1955)

Paddy Chayefsky wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for this film. Marty Piletti (Ernest Borgnine) is a lonely, 34 year old Italian-American butcher. He lives at home with his mother Theresa (Esther Minciott), who laments that all her other children are married except for Marty. Marty explains to her that he is not the most attractive guy in the world, and doesn't possess whatever it is that attracts women to men. He spends most of his non-work time hanging out with aimless bachelors, including best friend Angie (Joe Martell) and ne'er do well Ralph (Frank Sutton).

After hearing her nephew Thomas (Jerry Paris) talk about a dance hall he used to go to, Theresa urges Marty to attend. Marty spies plain-looking Clara (Betsy Blair) being brushed off cruelly by her blind date. He dances with her, then they spend the rest of the evening walking and talking. The two take a liking to each other, but are extremely wary of being hurt again.

The work by all of the actors, especially Borgnine and Blair, is extremely good. Much is said just by their body language and facial expressions alone. I liked visiting the world of the working class, New York neighborhood people they inhabited as well. There is a sub-plot that appears not to fit into the story. Theresa is asked by her nephew and his wife (Karen Steele) to take in Catherine, (Augusta Ciolli) the nephew's mom, an irritable sort who is causing trouble in their household and marriage. However, the sub-plot makes sense after Theresa meets Clara, and Catherine's influence causes her to change her mind about Marty's romantic interest in Clara.

Mr. Borgnine won an Oscar for his work in this film. He can play tough guys very well, as displayed in the movie Here To Eternity (1953), but he displays much warmth and tenderness as Marty. He also was the lead on the TV sitcom "McHale's Navy" (1964-1966). Jerry Paris was Rob and Laura Petrie's next door neighbor on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1962-1966), and he was also a TV director. Frank Sutton was Sgt. Carter on the sitcom "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." (1964-1969). Actor Burt Lanchester produced the film. Ed Sullivan, who had a long running variety show on CBS, appears in some footage on a TV in one scene.