Echoes of cinematic mutiny on decks of HMS Bounty in St. Augustine

Echoes of cinematic mutiny on decks of HMS Bounty in St. Augustine

The tall ship that sailed through St. Augustine's Bridge of Lions at noon Wednesday looks quite historic.

But the 50-year-old HMS Bounty has more cinematic history as the three-masted square rigger from the classic movie "Mutiny on the Bounty."

The ship will open for Friday through Sunday tours in America's oldest city to commemorate its 450th anniversary as well as the 223rd anniversary of the real ship's mutiny on April 28, 1789.

Teaming up with St. Augustine's Pirate Museum for the "Mutiny with the Bounty" event, visitors can trod the decks where Marlon Brando, as 1st Lt. Fletcher Christian, mutinied against a cinematic Capt. William Bligh, played by Trevor Howard, in the 1962 MGM film.

"There are other ports we could have gone to, but I liked the charm of the city and knew that the pirate museum was there, a perfect fit," said Tracie Simonin, director of the nonprofit HMS Bounty Organization.

Tall ships abound this week. The Coast Guard's Eagle is at Mayport Friday through Thursday. The French Navy's Etoile and Belle Poule moor near The Jacksonville Landing Monday through Wednesday to celebrate the 450th anniversary of French Capt. Jean Ribault's arrival at the St. Johns River.

As St. Augustine begins its Commemorative Celebration to honor Ponce de Leon's discovery of Florida, the arrival of the Bounty is a great addition, said Dana Ste. Claire, director of the city's Department of Heritage Tourism and Historic Preservation.

"To have that piece of cinematic history is significant in its own right, and for it to be here during the anniversary celebration is fortuitous," Ste. Clair said. "... The Bounty at one level is a prelude to the celebration of our rich maritime history, which will be a principal component of our commemorative celebration through 2015."

The original Bounty sailed to Tahiti in 1787 with Bligh pushing his crew hard to get there quickly. Resenting the living hell on the ship, Christian and the crew led the mutiny that forced Bligh off.

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Echoes of cinematic mutiny on decks of HMS Bounty in St. Augustine