‘The Caine Mutiny Court-Marshal’ - same story, new cast

Category: Television and Streaming

In 1954 The Caine Mutiny captured the imagination of viewers as Humphrey Bogart starred as the commander of the USS Caine who was, to be simplistic about it, a little off balance. The story of the Court-Marshall was redone on film in 1958 and 1988, and now this latest version stars Kiefer Sutherland as Commander Queeg with Jason Clarke as Greenwald, the defender of the Caine’s Executive Officer Maryk, played by Jake Lacy. The entire show takes place in the courtroom as Maryk and Greenwald attempt to show how unstable Queeg’s actions have been over a period of time and how Maryk felt it was imperative for the safety of the ship and the crew to relieve Queeg of his command during a violent storm.

The stakes are high. If Queeg is victorious in proving he is stable and his actions were just, his record will still indicate this incident and if Maryk is proven unjustified in his actions then he will spend time in jail. No one is happy about what happened however what is more important – the reputation of a veteran Naval Commander or the safety of a Navy ship and its crew?

While one after another take the witness stand, the stories come out. Professionals in the medical field do not believe Queeg is unstable, however Maryk’s crewmates relay story after story about some inconsistencies in the Commander’s behavior over the time they spent on board the Caine.

It is evident Maryk was hesitant to take the action he did, yet he is also adamant that he did the correct thing by relieving Queeg of his command. The prosecutor, played by Monica Raymund, tries to rip apart any gains made by Maryk’s team. She is defending the actions of a decorated naval commander.

This story has been played out many times on film and stage, yet it is always interesting to watch – especially the comments about “the strawberries” made famous by Bogart, as well as his playing with the steel balls in his hand. These are classic scenes that are never dull as time and time again viewers are treated to the unraveling of Queeg who earnestly believes his words and deeds are of importance.

The Caine Mutiny Court-Marshall is available on digital October 24, 2023.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.