Billy Budd (1962): movie

[No advance reading is required. Just enjoy the show.]

For this meetup, we will be livestreaming the 1962 British historical drama Billy Budd, produced, directed and written by Peter Ustinov. Adapted from Melville's novella, it stars Peter Ustinov as Captain "Starry" Vere, Robert Ryan as Master-at-Arms Claggart, and Terence Stamp as seaman Billy Budd.

Billy Budd has been adapted numerous times for both the small and large screens. This 1962 epic production was nominated for four BAFTAs, Academy, Directors Guild of America and Writers Guild Awards, and won a Golden Globe for Terence Stamp.

Ustinov's dedication to the film appears to emanate from his identification with the characters in the story. He said, "I am an optimist, unrepentant and militant. After all, in order not to be a fool, an optimist must know how sad a place the world can be. It is only the pessimist who finds this out anew every day."

This meetup is part of a series on Japan Unbolted.