Billy Budd and Master and Commander

[Heather H.]

For those of you who enjoy either reading the books by Patrick O'Brian or obsessing over the film:
check out Herman Melville's Billy Budd.
I just wrote a paper on it for my American Romanticism class, and during our class discussion today,
I realized how fun it is to think about Master and Commander and this story.
Obviously, it takes place on a ship- during the French Revolution. Billy Budd is a 21 year old sailor,
rather innocent at heart, and an all around good fellow.
Captain Vere can see how everyone takes to Billy, The Handsome Sailor, and knows he's a special part of the crew.
So why is it that a certain Lieutenant Claggart is out to get Billy?
Such a great book. It's a fairly short read too.
I would like to see this made into a (modern) film. Again, check it out, I think there might be something here for you
M & C lovers. Or at least people who are into the whole life at sea thing.

Lots of fan fiction ideas . . . it would be cool to see some "mixing" between O'Brian's and Melville's characters.
What would happen if their crew came across each other's paths?

[MandCPhreak]

OMG! I loved Billy Budd. Read it for school this year. Atfirst I was really bored, and I only thought it was "okay" (too many loooooooong descriptions and all), but it was actually good once we got into it. The Movie starring Terence Stamps is pretty good (So reminds me up a future Will Blakeney, the way he looks)

[MaC2003]

Haven't read it, but probably should!

[Heather H.]

I didn't know there was a movie (what year was it released?)- I'll try to check it out! You said Terence reminds you of "Will Blakeney"? Hmmm . . .

And for those of you who haven't read Billy Budd: you should!!!!!!

[MandCPhreak]

Yeah, it's from 1962, directed by Peter Ustinov
www.imdb.com/title/tt0055796/

This is the only color picture of Terry as Billy Budd that I've found:

[Heather H.]

Wow- what an amazing picture!
I want to rent that movie! I tried to see
if my school library had it, but they only had
the opera by Benjamin Britten, and some
weird French movie that's "loosely based" on the book. I really need to see that movie!
And I'm sure it'll be a bonus since it was made in the early 60s (I love the way people
sounded when they spoke back then-
I guess that's the geeky linguist in me!)
Thanks for sharing!