The annual "season" for the markets or congresses held in Cannes each year and centered in and around Le Palais du Festivals was kicked off last year once again by The Cannes International Boat & Yacht Show, held from the 12th to the 18th of September 2006.

Yacht life.

These markets — encompassing some 20 weeks of each year — represent industries such as film, television, photography, and music. These expensive (often gaudy) sales extravaganzas are crowned each May by the world famous Cannes Film Festival.

At this Cannes Yacht Show there were 476 exhibitors with 560 boats in the water in the Vieux Port. Everything relating to yachts from insurance to engines was available for inspection and purchase.

Harbor at Monte Carlo.

Immediately following the Cannes Yacht Show is the Monaco Superyacht Show where the show’s director proudly proclaims: "We are the top niche of the top end of luxury yachts!" Both show directors maintain proudly that the south of France drives the big yacht business.

Attendance at these shows by many of the worlds multibillionaires in turn attracts heads of corporations that cater to the needs of the ultra-rich — helicopter and jet manufacturers, jewelry and art dealers, interior designers, architects – the list goes on.

Many of these super yacht owners are now in their 20’s – more than a handful and, as a group, growing. So the beat continues here on the Cote d’Azure, with many, many rich people spending lots of money and (presumably) having lots of fun.

I have a friend in Cannes who owns and charters a yacht for a considerable fee to those well heeled enough to afford his prices ($2000 euros per day plus gasoline) but not wealthy enough to outright own such a vessel. He has promised me a day on the bounding sea when he is free.

Luxurious yacht, moored by the Palais.

I have another friend in Cannes who, while strolling together along the Croisette yesterday, pointed to an obviously super-expensive and trendy yacht that my friend claimed was owned by one of the premier arms dealers in the world – here for the Yacht Show! Apparently also the site of nightly parties of wild exuberance and indulgence, excessive even by Riviera standards. Of course, once again, I’m never invited!

So what movie comes to mind? A disaster epic, such as “The Titanic” or “The Poseidon Adventure” – or its even more woeful remake? Take your pick! No, the movie that comes to mind is “Mutiny on the Bounty,” a famous naval adventure on the High Seas of the 18th century, based upon actual events and made notorious by the performance of its star Marlon Brando.

Movie Review:

Mutiny on the Bounty

Directed by Carol Reed and Lewis Milestone— MGM 1962
Starring: Marlon Brando, Trevor Howard, and Richard Harris

In 1789, a famous mutiny took place in the South Pacific aboard the HMS Bounty – a British merchant vessel whose mission was to transport breadfruit plants from Tahiti to Jamaica. The story of this mutiny is so compelling that it as been made into a movie three times!

Tahitians welcome the Bounty and its men.

The 1962 version is, by far, the most elaborate with the largest budget and, as far as I know, the production that went to the most trouble to be authentic – but, it is generally thought to be a failure. This, largely due to the strange or curious acting decisions of Marlon Brando, upon whom, in the end, everything depended.

Actually, I like the film very much and, of the three, it is my clear favorite. But I love the work of Brando and sure, you can question the accent and foppishness that he takes on in his portrayal of Fletcher Christian, the Bounty’s First Officer who leads the mutiny against the tyrannical and infamous Captain Bligh. However, when he strikes Bligh and sets in motion events that will eventually consume him and his soul, I was figuratively struck dumb at the enormity of the act!

The moment of truth when Christian assumes control of the Bounty,
thus dooming him to the status of a traitor.

When, after the blow is struck, Bligh says to Christian: “What a big price to pay for such a little show of temper,” we can scarcely comprehend what Fletcher Christian has done. Christian has been portrayed as an aristocrat, somewhat of a fop and a ladies man; not the red-blooded hero of the Clark Gable version or even Mel Gibson’s strong interpretation. When he decides to mutiny, his life is gone forever! He has thrown in his lot with the ordinary seamen of the Bounty. Ill-treated as they are, they are still scoundrels and criminals at worst and, at best, the inhabitants of a different universe than Fletcher Christian.

These are the men with whom Fletcher Christian will spend his final days.

Surely, this is the dramatic point of the story. A man’s comfortable and privileged existence disappears within an instant – and why? Because this man, for a moment, steps outside of his quite prescribed but cozy and vested position in life to help , in an unlawful manner, those in need. This moment on the decks of the Bounty continues to affect me in a cathartic wave with each viewing. It’s not there, for me, in the other versions.

Fletcher Christian alone in his new world.

Marlon Brando’s genius and recklessness as an actor allowed this to happen, and as a movie lover, I am forever indebted. Oh yes, the movie was way over budget, some producers “walked the plank” and the studio lost a lot of money. Brando had only disdain for the Hollywood system and, in that, he was a bit “nuts” but he gave us several, defining performances that remain unmatched. His portrayal of Fletcher Christian may not be his “finest” moment but I can’t think of many better ways to spend three hours than watching him construct it.

Overall the film is excellent, if not a little long, with great performances from Trevor Howard as the notorious Captain Bligh who was stern, even brutal, but this was the British Navy of the 18th century – not a nursery school! Richard Harris was more than adequate as the rugged leader of the mutinous sailors and the film features stunning location photography in Tahiti. “Mutiny on the Bounty” also introduces Tarita, the beautiful Tahitian with whom Marlon Brando fell in love, married and had children.

Actually, as virtually everyone knows, Brando bought an island in Tahiti and lived there much of the time with Tarita and their children. 

At one point in my documentary career, I was involved in discussions around directing a “project” with Mr. Brando. During these discussions, my colleague traveled to Brando’s island in Tahiti for more “discussion.” Upon arrival at the tiny island, Marlon Brando immediately instructed my colleague to step into a very small skiff or dinghy which was sitting half in the water. Leaving his luggage on the sand, he sat down in the boat while Brando doffed all of his clothes, walked into the water to his shoulders and, by means of a stout rope, began to tow my associate around his island showing him the sights with only his (Brando’s) head floating above the water. 

A truly bizarre but charming moment for my friend, a legacy of “Mutiny on the Bounty” and a testament to the childlike simplicity, eccentricity and authenticity of a great man and artist.