The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial PG

Adapted for television by author Herman Wouk, THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL recounts the powerful story of Naval trial proceedings against a young lieutenant who relieved his captain of command of the destroyer-minesweeper U.S.S. Caine at the height of a typhoon. This quality telefilm is courtroom drama at its finest.

Director Robert Altman adapts Herman Wouk's 1951 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and play into a thrilling made-for-television courtroom drama. The gripping story recounts the events that preceded the court martial of Navy Lieutenant Stephen Maryk (Jeff Daniels), who led a mutiny against his commanding officer, Captain Queg (Brad Davis) when he became convinced that the Captain had lost a grip on his sanity. His defense attorney, Air Force lawyer Lt. Barney Greenwald (Eric Bogosian), standing apart somewhat as the only Jewish officer, is a seemingly uninterested participant, yet by the time he recalls Queg to testify for the defense, his mysterious tactics gradually make his intentions apparent. Altman's retelling of the classic, true story is an extremely precise and tense drama. He uses the film's one main location to his advantage, employing slow zooms and taut editing in order to create an even more claustrophobic atmosphere. The film, which features an all-star cast--including Altman regulars Gallagher and Michael Murphy--contains a flawless performance by Bogosian as the fish-out-of water Greenwald.