Courtroom drama

Originally published in the Ketchikan Daily News, May 2019; written by Pat Tully

I am a old movie buff, and over the past few weeks I have watched several classic films. Watching movies from the 1930s, 40s and 50s is a window into another world, and expands the mind in the same way as travel, reading, and music.

Two of the movies I watched were courtroom dramas. Rashomon, directed by Akira Kurosawa, was released in 1950 to worldwide critical acclaim. It was based on a short story, In the Grove, by Ryunosuke Akutagawa. A bandit is on trial for the murder of a nobleman who was traveling with his wife. But what happened that led to the murder? The witnesses—the bandit himself, the wife, even the murdered man (through a medium)—paint themselves as they would like to be seen—as tough guy, victim, and honorable samurai.

A bystander who witnessed the incident, though, recounts the sorry story of what really happened between the three, while lying about his own actions after the murder. What is truth? When a samurai can lie to save face, what does honor mean? Rashomon has become a byword for the elusive nature of truth, and how easy it is to construct a version of reality that preserves our ideal of ourselves.

The Caine Mutiny was released in 1954, based on the Herman Wouk novel of the same name. During World War II, a group of Navy officers take over a ship from their commander during a dangerous storm, after a series of incidents that destroy their trust in him. There is no question that Commander Queeg is petty, frightened and despotic—but does that justify the officer’s actions in relieving him? That is the question. At the court martial the commander’s own testimony shows him to be weak and ineffective, and the officers are acquitted of the charge of mutiny.

Afterwards, their own attorney rakes the officers over the coals for their mocking, disrespectful behavior toward their commander. Instead of supporting and assisting him to make good decisions—at one point Queeg meets with them to ask for their help—the officers make fun of him and encourage the crew to do so. The officers see themselves as more intelligent and competent than their commander. Commander Queeg sees himself as a victim, surrounded by disloyal and scheming officers. The attorney, who during the trial goads Commander Queeg into demonstrating his paranoia to successfully defend his clients, condemns the officers for their contribution to the mess that led to the mutiny.

The Ketchikan Public Library has The Caine Mutiny in DVD (DVD Caine). The Library does not have the movie Rashomon, but does have a version of story in graphic novel form, by Victor Santos (GRAPHIC NOVELS Santos). The UAS – Ketchikan Campus Library has a collection of short stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa that includes the story on which Rashomon was based (call number: PL801.K8 R3 1959).