Raymond Longford's Mutiny of the Bounty 1916

| Mutiny of the Bounty 1916 | In the Wake of the Bounty 1933 |

1. Introduction

One of the most famous adventure stories of the 18th century was that of the mutiny on board HMS Bounty, involving Lt. William Bligh and Fletcher Christian. It took place on 28 April 1789 and saw Bligh and 18 of his crew cast off the ship and forced to sail a small boat 3,600 west to Indonesia, whilst the mutineers took the Bounty to Tahiti and then on to Pitcairn Island, where it was scuttled and burnt.

Robert Dodd, Fletcher Christian and the mutineers set Lieutenant William Bligh and 18 others adrift, 28 April 1789, aquatint on paper, 1790.

The story of the mutiny spread throughout the Western world and received especial interest in Australia. The first film on the subject was the 5 reel (100 minute long) Mutiny of the Bounty (1916), directed by Raymond Longford and co-written with his wife, the actress Lotte Lyell. The film is now lost, like so many Australian film from that time, though reports of its production and release are known and reproduced below. Another film on the story of the mutiny, though this time a shortened docudrama, was made in Australia Charles Chauvel and released during 1933. It was famous for being the first film to feature Errol Flynn. This was followed by a number of Hollywood productions, all together including the following:

1. Mutiny of the Bounty (1916), directed by Raymond Longford, 100 minutes;
2. In the Wake of the Bounty (1933), directed by Charles Chauvel, 66 minutes docudrama;
3. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), starring Charles Laughton and Clark Gable, 132 minutes;
4. Mutiny on the Bounty (1962), starring Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard, 178 minutes; and
5. The Bounty (1984), starring Australian Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins, 132 minutes.

Wilton Power appeared as Fletcher Christian.

Released from Cousen Spencer's studio.

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2. Longford & Lyell's Bounty 1916

The following is a chronology of the making of the 1916 film, based on newspaper and film magazine reports.

* 11 March 1915, Guyra Argus, Why we don't get Australian pictures. Mentions Raymond Longford, the building of the Mr. Spenser's studio in Sydney for £8000, and the story of Mutiny of the Bounty having been written for film and could be made at a cost of £20,000.

* 24 June 1916, Herald, Melbourne:

Messrs Crick and Jones expect to release shortly a film based on the Mutiny of the Bounty. Mr Raymond Longford, the film's producer, has taken some trouble in examining records in the Mitchell Library, Sydney, which deal with the incidents connected with the mutiny and the subsequent developments at Pitcairn Island. An expedition was despatched to Tahiti where many scenes were secured, in which the Islanders figure. Just now the company, which is headed by Mr George Cross, is at Norfolk Island, for the purpose of getting certain locations. An interesting climax is provided by a flash of two descendants of the original Pitcairn Islanders enlisting in Sydney.

* 27 August 1916, The Sun, Sydney:

"PRODUCED IN AUSTRALIA" Far too rarely is tho above device seen on the title of a film. It Is strange that with all its natural advantages tills country should have lagged so far behind in movie produc tion. As Mr. Eslick pointed out when "The Mutiny of tho Bounty" was privately screened at the Tlvoll on Friday, DO per cent, of the money spent on films liero goes out of the country— no' less than ' £400,000 a year, helping to further swell the profits of what is to-day the fourth . Industry of the' United States. As for "The Mutiny of the Bounty," Messrs. Crick and Jones must bo given every credit; for their plucky endeavor to turn out a real Australian film, and Mr. W. Long ford for his accuracy in dotall und the exacti tude with which ho has followed history, as far as tho exigencies. of, drama, allow. Still, It would perhaps be better were local movie production less ambitious. Tho Industry must walk before it can run, and producer, pho tographer, and actors must become so accus tomed to their medium that they can always carry certainty In their touch— the unerring recklessness of tho muster-hand. If wo re gard "The Mutiny of the Bounty'.' as the first attempt of Australia to turn out an elabo rate picture, 'we must feel well satisfied. But If wo simply regard It us a film to meet tho best imported products on even terms, wo must recognise that we still have much to learn. A few years ago a one-reeler, "The Wire Tappers," with Irby .Murshull In tho stur part, was screened by West's. It was not only creditable;' It was quite equal In production, photography, and acting to any thing of the sort we get from America. Yet for some reason Australia didn't go on turn ing out short meritorious films of this typo. It did nothing for a long time; then aimed high " without huving served the necessary apprenticeship. Possibly the best local film hitherto made was "The Maori Maid's Lovo," also Mr. Longford's work. Apart from .Its historical interest, tho story of the Bounty has little public appeal. The lovo Interest; tho human Interest, is weak. The acting of George Cross us Bllgh, Wilton Power as Christian, and Charles Villlers us Burkitt — especially that of the flrstnamed— Is good, and thero are a number of remarkably well- arranged scenes of Island life. But tho women are weak. Mero Arnohau, tho Maori girl Who marries Christian, is not beautiful; nei- ther can sho act. The photography. In places could bo better: In others, it falls short. That Is the trouble; the Americans have grown so used to. handling their machinery that it never goes wronij. Tliey have done that by working up. to' big. things. . That is what . Australia . must . do. "The Mutiny of the Bounty", will be shown at Hoyts.

* 1 December 1916, The Argus, Melbourne:

Paramount Theatre
Commencing MONDAY NEXT, DECEMBER 4,
The Greatest of All Australian Pictures,
THE MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.
THE MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.
THE MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.
THE MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.
THE MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.
THE MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

A Page In Duly History of Enthralling Interest to Every Australian.

Every Phase of a Great Adventure Graphically and Thrillingly Portrayed.

A Photo-Play taken at great cost and with great attention to detail, upon the exact locations on which the story was created.

THE MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

Our maritime history has been often illustrated by tales of fortitude and endurance, and it would be difficult to discover a parallel to those which are to be found in the episode recorded in the narrative of "THE MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY." The story is one of brutal tyranny and oppression, of violent passion, of murderous revenge, of masterful ascendancy, of unions begun of lust, and ending in pure affection; of a community originating in crimes and nursed in lawlessness giving to the world the one and only real example of a golden age.

The Mutiny, originating as it did, must be attributed to the character and conduct of William Bligh (her commander). With many fine qualities, he had in him some repulsive defects. His later career as Governor of New South Wales showed that even when his object was excellent, his method of obtaining it was bad. Fletcher Christian's starting a Mutiny was undoubtedly an act of madness - the act of a man maddened by the conditions. Awful as the Mutiny was, there is some reason to believe that there was no deliberate intention of depriving Bligh and his l8 companions of their lives. Food sufficient for five days was put into the boat, and it would have been sufficient to have allowed them lo reach one of the neighbouring islands. But on reaching Tofoa the natives attacked the boat's crew, killing one of the men, and Bligh hastily put to sea, and started on that most marvellous of all voyages of shipwrecked mariners of 3,618 nautical miles in a small open boat, which feat he accomplished in 41 days after leaving "The Bounty", arriving at Timor on Sunday, 14th June, 1790.

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3. References

Chauval, Charles, In the Wake of "The Bounty" - To Tahiti and Pitcairn Island, Endeavour Press, Sydney, 1933, 157p.

From the Archives, 1933: In the Wake of the Bounty, Sydney Morning Herald, 17 March 2023.

Wikipedia, Errol Flynn, Wikipedia, accessed 30 May 2026.

-----, Fletcher Christian, Wikipedia, accessed 2 June 2026.

-----, In the Wake of the Bounty, Wikipedia, accessed 30 May 2026.

-----, Mutiny of the Bounty (1916), Wikipedia, accessed 30 May 2026. Stars: George Cross and Wilton Power. Produced by Raymond Langford.

-----, Mutiny on the Bounty 28 April 1789, Wikipedia, accessed 30 May 2026.

-----, Mutiny on the Bounty (novel 1932), Wikipedia, accessed 2 June 2026.

-----, Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), Wikipedia, accessed 30 May 2026. Stars: Charles Laughton and Clarke Gable.

-----, Mutiny on the Bounty (1962), Wikipedia, accessed 30 May 2026. Stars: Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard.

----- The Bounty (1984), Wikipedia, accessed 30 May 2026. Stars: Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins.

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| Mutiny of the Bounty 1916 | In the Wake of the Bounty 1933 | 

Last updated: 26 June 2026

Michael Organ, Australia