Fine performances distinguish this solid version of Herman Melville's stern allegory of good versus evil on board a British navy ship in 1797, headed by Terence Stamp's Oscar-nominated portrayal of the naive and incorruptible seaman whose clash with sadistic master-at-arms Robert Ryan ends in tragedy.

Peter Ustinov co-wrote the screenplay with Robert Rossen, and directs and stars as Captain Vere.

While his direction is somewhat unambitious (the focus is more often than not on his players in a manner more suited to television than to the cinema), there is no denying the film's cumulative power.

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