All his world’s a screen
President Trump identifies with villain from Mutiny on the Bounty
Remarking that U.S. President Donald Trump caused a Twitter storm is like noting that Earth’s atmosphere caused some precipitation. It’s just part of what it does. But he puzzled fans and annoyed just about everyone else when he tweeted this week how much he likes Mutiny on the Bounty.
“Tell the Democrat Governors that Mutiny On The Bounty was one of my all time favorite movies,” he wrote. “A good old fashioned mutiny every now and then is an exciting and invigorating thing to watch, especially when the mutineers need so much from the Captain. Too easy!”
No word on whether Trump prefers the 1935 version with Charles Laughton as Captain Bligh, or the 1962 version with Trevor Howard, or maybe even 1984’s The Bounty with Anthony Hopkins. But he was clearly identifying with that character, a cruel and autocratic leader whose unfair treatment of the crew leads to an uprising.
Laughton’s performance landed the character on the evil side of the American Film Institute’s list of 100 heroes and villains, released in 2003 and featuring such obvious baddies as Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmatians and Freddy Krueger of A Nightmare on Elm Street. Bligh was at
No. 19, just after “Bruce,” the shark from Jaws.
It led us to wonder what other movies from that list rank on Trump’s must-see list, and how he might view their famous characters.
NO. 49: AURIC GOLDFINGER GOLDFINGER
Excellent plan to increase his net worth was foiled by British agent who should never have been allowed in the country. Also a great golfer who never cheats!
NO. 48: ROGER (VERBAL) KINT, A.K.A. KEYSER S0ZE THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Clever, thinks on his feet, never admits to anything. And so what if people sometimes spell his name wrong? Melanie Trump would understand.
NO. 46: HANS GRUBER DIE HARD
Keen eye for real estate — Nakatomi Plaza! — and would have got away with those
$640 million in negotiable bearer bonds if not for John McClane. I think that was the name of the guy who stopped him.
NO. 24: GORDON GEKKO WALL STREET
Greed is good! What’s to add?
NO. 20: MAN BAMBI
Reminds me of Don Junior. Now there’s a great hunter! And a conservationist. He conserves everything he kills!
NO. 14: THE ALIEN ALIEN
He was hungry. I get that.
NO. 6, MR. POTTER
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
The man ran a tight ship, and he understood that a Building and Loan should be more about building than loans. Pity George Bailey had to go and be born.
NO. 3: DARTH VADER
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
Cut the kid some slack. He didn’t have a proper father!
NO. 1: HANNIBAL LECTER THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
Why is he even a villain? He co-operated with the FBI. Witch hunt! cknight@postmedia.com