Billy Budd

In 1797, under the Rights of War Act, an English warship, Avenger, conscripts a young, good-natured innocent (Stamp) from a merchant ship at sea. Avenger's master at arms (Ryan) is particularly sadistic, even by the standards of the British Navy at the time, whose officers had life and death control over their crews. Outstanding performances from the entire cast are supported by solid direction from Ustinov, who also produced and coscripted, as well as plays the ship's captain. A strong, straightforward story of morality and honor, based on the novella by Herman Melville.