Lewis Milestone, of ‘All Quiet on the Western Front fame, directed the 1962 epic historical drama “Mutiny on the Bounty,” which follows an 18th-century voyage with a veteran cast that includes Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard. The crew of HMAV Bounty and their captain get into conflict on the way to Tahiti. Chaos ensues. This film is a lavish remake of the 1935 film of the same title.
Both films are adaptations of the 1932 novel by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. Fletcher Christian leads a rebellion against William Bligh in the film. The movie is largely set on the ship, with some stunning views of the Pacific. Here’s the information you need to find out the location of the second version.
Mutiny on Bounty Filming Locations
Filming of ‘Mutiny on the Bounty was extensive in French Polynesia (an overseas French colony in the South Pacific), which was used extensively. Additional scenes were shot in the USA, particularly in Hawaii and California. Principal photography began in October 1960 and ended in July 1961. Robert Surtees, formerly of ‘The Last Picture Show (and ‘Ben-Hur), joined the team to act as cinematographer. J. McMillan Johnson (of ‘Rear Window”) and George W. Davis (of ‘All About Eve) shared the art direction. Let’s take you to the locations of the Ultra Panavision 70 widescreen movie.
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Moore (French Polynesia)
Several scenes were filmed by the production crew in Moorea or Moorea. This small island is home to jagged volcanic mountains and exotic beaches. It’s part of French Polynesia’s Society Islands archipelago. The island’s north shore has Cook’s Bay. This bay is 3 km long and offers the most stunning view. The crew also visited Temae, which is a popular tourist spot on the island known for its diving and snorkeling activities.
Tahiti, French Polynesia
After the movie’s set, several scenes were shot on location in Tahiti (the largest of the Windward Islands in Polynesia). The film’s first segments show the historic HMAV Bounty arriving at Maatvai Bay (or Matawaii Bay), a bay off the northern coast of Tahiti. The production unit visited Tahiti again for some retakes. Many blockbuster productions were filmed in Tahiti, including ‘Godzilla (2014) and ‘The Bounty (1984), the spiritual successor to ‘Mutiny On the Bounty.
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French Polynesia, Leeward Islands
Some scenes in ‘Mutiny On the Bounty” capture the vast horizon and showcase the tranquil yet unpredictable beauty of the South Pacific region. Filming was done in the Leeward Islands. This is an island group located in the western portion of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. Bora Bora is a luxury tourist spot and hotspot for scuba diving northwest of Tahiti. A few scenes were also recorded there. A turquoise lagoon surrounds the island, and Mt. Otemanu is a 727m dormant volcano that waits in silence.
O’ahu, Hawaii
The movie is set to be shot in the South Pacific, but a few scenes were taped in North Pacific. The team visited the Hawaiian archipelago, where they began filming on O’ahu. This is the most developed island in the state. These scenes were taped in Honolulu (the capital of Hawaii) and are a highlight of the country’s most popular tourist destination.
Honolulu is located at the southern end of O’ahu and features great nightlife, a shopping area, a famous crescent-shaped beach, and luxury high-rise hotels. The city is also the largest by area in the world because the constitution states that every Hawaiian island that is not part of a country belongs to Honolulu.
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Culver City in California
The production team obtained two studio spaces in Culver City, Los Angeles County, California, for logistical and practical purposes. Many interior sequences were shot at the former Hal Roach Studios located at 8822 Washington Boulevard within the Hollywood Studio Zone. It was demolished in 1963. The studio has hosted many famous titles, including ‘Of Mice and Men and ‘How the West Was Won.
Several scenes were also recorded at Sony Pictures Studios, formerly Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, one of the major-five production facilities located in the same area at 10202 West Washington Boulevard. The studio currently houses 16 sound stages that can be used for productions of different degrees.
