MovieChat Forums > The Caine Mutiny (1954) Discussion > It is TIME for a remake!

It is TIME for a remake!

posted 17 years ago by jmlemt
28 replies | jump to latest

I know others have debated the merits of this, but the time has come for a remake of "The Caine Mutiny".

Hollywood seems to be officially out of ideas these days anyway. Why not make a more detailed version based more on Herman Wouk's novel?

Special effects these days could make the endeavour worthwhile in and of itself.

Another more appealing development would be a STRONG May Wynn/Marie Minotti character, just like in the book. I never liked the wimpy, weepy man-dependent performance by "May Wynn" in the original, and I don't think you could get away with an "I-can't-live-without-my-man" rendition in the 21st century, especially since May/Marie was so gutsy and independent in the book.

It may be a long movie, but you could incorporate more of the book. Like Willie's transition from overweight playboy to barely making it through OCS and subsequent assignment to the Caine; the awful living conditions among the lower echelons and his moves up; the fact that the Caine was sent into battle after the mutiny and before the trial; it could touch on the time that Keefer was Captain and the Kamikaze attack; and, my favorite part, where Willie receives his Silver Star and Official Reprimand at the same time in the mail.

Like I said, it may be long, but it would be doable. Cast whoever you like- a star-studded ensemble like the original, a cast of unknowns or a little of both. So long as the script is based on the novel more than the original movie and it's not dumbed-down like the "Red Scare" cinema of the day.

Plus, this could be a summer season blockbuster.

What do you think?

[–] tobyrclark 17 years ago

Not a bad idea, I was thinking that before when I was watching it. But to adapt the book more closely would take away a lot of sympathy for Queeg and Keith.

Who do you suggest as a modern cast? I'd probably pick Josh Hartnett as Keith, and Kevin Spacey as Queeg.

The Angels Have the Phone Box

[–] elskootero-1 12 years ago

AB-SO-LUTE-LY! But how about doing SEVEN DAYS IN MAY first or at the same time?

[–] ramayana 16 years ago

I could hardly agree more. The movie did hardly do any good to the book and there's enough potential left for a longer character-driven movie. Bogart would be hard to surpass though, but maybe Spacey would love the challenge. And Nicholas Cage could be the perfect Barney Greenwald.

[–] Bernnard_Black 16 years ago

I agree, I'd love to see it re-done, provided they stay true to the book. You'd almost have to make it a mini-series, though; too long to do in one film.

For casting, I had a few ideas.

Queeg: Brad Dourif. To me, he'd make a great Queeg.

Maryk: Michael Chickless. He looks the part (short, broad build, bald) and can pull of the tough but somewhat vulnerable and naive character of Maryk well.

Keefer: Jay Karnes. Yeah, I know, two "the Shield" vets seems a bit much, but Karnes and Chickless have great chemistry, and Karnes can pull off the snotty intellectual like no one else. And, he too is built like the character; a minor consideration, but I like that he fits the part so well.

Willie: Dunno about this one, but I'd go for an unknown.

Captain DeVries: Brendan Gleason. He's just a great actor, and can do the lackadasical, sarcastic side of DeVries really well.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[–] cross-12 16 years ago

The book is altogether too long and psychologically complex for a film. It should be made into a miniseries, as Wouk's Winds of War and War and Remembrance were.

[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 16 years ago

no . . . it could never equal the original . . . it would be senseless to remake so well-done a drama . . . unless they expanded the story, filled it in in other directions . . . otherwise, leave the original . . .

[–] rwsmith29456 16 years ago

For once, I agree that this should be remade. But I'm exceedingly wary of what modern day Hollywood would do to it. I'm sure all the leads would have to be dashing, studly actors. If they can't do better, leave it alone.

[–] TorontoJediMaster 16 years ago

I agree that this would be far better as a miniseries, possibly on HBO, rather than a film.

You would need the time to really bring the novel to life.

I would love to see the later scenes where Willie becomes Captain of the Caine after saving the ship at Okinawa following a kamikaze attack.

[–] JohnBeale 16 years ago

It could be a "good" movie remake if their were any "good" left in hollywood. Their is not. Hollywood would ruin a remake by inserting immorality everywhere.

[–] marcellis_robinson 14 years ago

What would be the point of doing a remake? Are there enough actors or directors around today with the talent to tell this story well? In today's Hollywood they'd probably cast Adam Sandler in the role of Ensign Keith, Jennifer Aniston in the role of May Wynn, and Brad Pitt in the role of Lt. Maryk. And it would really suck.

[–] Hancock_the_Superb 16 years ago

Didn't you see Crimson Tide? Pretty darn close, although obviously more action-packed. Also an excellent film in its own right.

We can't have Arab desperadoes running around kidnapping American citizens!

[–] johnmichael-2 16 years ago

The important thing about a remake (any remake!):

It must add something of its own to the original story.

In other words, it cannot be exactly the same. Shot-for-shot remakes are stupid because they add nothing to the original idea, and you might as well just watch the original. But this could be a re-adaptation of the book. After all, an adaption of a book is in itself a "remake" of the story, only for screen instead of the page. And just as a film must change between book and screen, so must it change again between the original and the remake. Times changes; so must a remake.

That being said, the original was amazing, and I'm not going to be pushing for a remake. After all, I'm too busy pushing a pipe dream re-adaptation and re-imagination of "Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom," transplanted to a different time and place just as the movie was from Sade's original novel.

"Introduce a little anarchy." ~The Joker
"We Fascists are the only true anarchists." ~The Duke

[–] geode 14 years ago

I think remakes of films that were done correctly the first time should be left alone. On just about every message board for a good or popular classic film somebody always routinely makes threads like this one proposing the same nonsense. Let Hollywood find the imagintaion and originality they once foudn a virtue.

Oh Lord, you gave them eyes but they cannot see...

[–] cosmogirly 14 years ago

i couldnt agree with geode more. hollywood has a mindframe of if a movie was good then remake it with a cast of "now" hollywood stars.

i think if a movie was made well the first time then leave it alone.

i've just finished watching the caine mutiny this past weekend and once again marvelled at how brilliant the actors were. maybe the film wasnt as good as the book but the film was still excellent. it's easy to see why it has a 10 star rating.

the only way i think i could watch a remake of this if it was very close to the book and made into a mini series so they could put as much in as possible. without the hollywood stars of the moment in it either. get in some quality actors even if they dont have "famous" names