Billy Budd (play)

Set aboard the British naval vessel HMS Indomitable at sea in 1798, Billy Budd is a handsome, young, pure hearted and impressionable man who is the representation of good in the play.

[3] Although the crew comprehend that Claggart's death was not motivated by murderous intent, under the law Budd is guilty of killing a superior officer and is condemned to be hanged.

[4] Directed by Norris Houghton, the original cast included Charles Nolte in the title role; Peter Hobbs as John Claggart, Master-at-Arms; Tom McDermott as Captain Fairfax; Martin Brandt as Dansker; Winston Ross as First Officer Michael Seymour; Preston Hanson as Lieutenant Ratcliffe; Robert McQueeney as Lieutenant Wyatt; Carl Shelton as the Surgeon; Lee Marvin as Quartermaster Payne; John Fisher as Midshipman Gardiner; Everett Dwight as Midshipman Rea; Paul Anderson as Jenkins; Anthony Carr as Kincaid; Sherman Lloyd as O'Daniel; Guy Tano as the Butler; and Wynn Handman as Sentry Hallam.

[10][11] New York Times critic Brooks Atkinson wrote, Mr. Coxe and Mr. Chapman have written an extraordinarily skillful play that begins casually enough with the gossip and groaning of the crew.

But gradually it moves out of familiar things into the tension of a moral problem that tightens the whole ship and challenges the universe ... Billy Budd has size and depth as well as color and excitement.

[16][17] Peter Ustinov adapted the play into a film in 1962; penning the screenplay, producing, directing, and starring as Captain Fairfax.