The Caine Mutiny Quotes

Court-Martial Board Member: Proceed carefully, Mr. Greenwald. You are questioning the reputation of a long serving officer in the United States Navy.
Lt. Barney Greenwald: It is not my intention to question the courage of Lt. Commander Queeg. No man who is a coward rises to the command of a naval warship. The question is rather if Commander Queeg showed the judgement suited for command at that specific time and if Lt. Maryk was justified in relieving him.

Movie: The Caine Mutiny
Ens. Willis 'Willie' Seward Keith: How do we plead?
Barney Greenwald: Your case depends on Maryk.
Lt. Steve Maryk: Well then how do I plead?
Barney Greenwald: [oozing sarcasm] Not guilty, of course. You're a great naval hero!

Movie: The Caine Mutiny
Lt. Barney Greenwald: Now you're learning, Willie. You don't support your captain because you like him; you support him because he's got the job or you're no good!

Movie: The Caine Mutiny
Lt. Commander Philip Francis Queeg: Get that red-headed fellow over there, that one there!
Lt. Keith: Sir, it's impossible to tell which one is red-headed. They're all wearing their helmets.
Lt. Commander Philip Francis Queeg: Keith - you're an idiot!

Movie: The Caine Mutiny
Lt. Keefer: [Lt. Keefer to Ensign Keith while giving him a tour of the Caine] The first thing you've got to learn about this ship is that she was designed by geniuses to be run by idiots.

Movie: The Caine Mutiny
[Greenwald staggers into the Caine crew's party, inebriated]
Lt. Barney Greenwald: Well, well, well! The officers of the Caine in happy celebration!
Lt. Steve Maryk: What are you, Barney, kind of tight?
Lt. Barney Greenwald: Sure. I got a guilty conscience. I defended you, Steve, because I found the wrong man was on trial. [pours himself a glass of wine]
Lt. Barney Greenwald: So, I torpedoed Queeg for you. I *had* to torpedo him. And I feel sick about it. [drinks wine]
Lt. Steve Maryk: Okay, Barney, take it easy.
Lt. Barney Greenwald: You know something... When I was studying law, and Mr. Keefer here was writing his stories, and you, Willie, were tearing up the playing fields of dear old Princeton, who was standing guard over this fat, dumb, happy country of ours, eh? Not us. Oh, no, we knew you couldn't make any money in the service. So who did the dirty work for us? Queeg did! And a lot of other guys. Tough, sharp guys who didn't crack up like Queeg.
Ensign Willie Keith: But no matter what, Captain Queeg endangered the ship and the lives of the men.
Lt. Barney Greenwald: He didn't endanger anybody's life, you did, *all* of you! You're a fine bunch of officers.
Lt. JG H. Paynter Jr.: You said yourself he cracked.
Lt. Barney Greenwald: I'm glad you brought that up, Mr. Paynter, because that's a very pretty point. You know, I left out one detail in the court martial. It wouldn't have helped our case any. [to Maryk]
Lt. Barney Greenwald: Tell me, Steve, after the Yellowstain business, Queeg came to you guys for help and you turned him down, didn't you?
Lt. Steve Maryk: [hesitant] Yes, we did.
Lt. Ba

Movie: The Caine Mutiny