The Billy Budd reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Billy Budd

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Billy Budd is a novel by Herman Melville.

It has been adapted into an opera, first performed in 1951, by Benjamin Britten.

A famous film version, released in 1962, starred Terence Stamp as Billy Budd, Robert Ryan as John Claggart, and Peter Ustinov as Captain Vere. Ustinov also produced, directed, and co-wrote the screenplay. Stamp was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Warning: Plot details follow.

The plot follows Billy Budd, who is a seaman pressed into service aboard the British Navy ship HMS Bellipotent in the year following two major mutinies. Billy (symbolic of Adam before the Fall), because of his complete innocence, openness, and natural charisma, was adored by the crew. However Billy arouses the antagonism of the Master-at-Arms, John Claggart, who charges Billy with mutiny. When brought before the captain, Captain Vere, to answer the charges, Billy is unable to respond, but lashes out at Claggart and kills him. Captain Vere, although convinced of Billy's innocence and moral right, decides after much debate to follow the letter of the Mutiny Act and sentenced Billy to death. Significantly, Billy's last words were "God bless Captain Vere."

Billy Budd was also the name of a song by Morrissey, on the album Vauxhall and I, as a disguised jab against his former friend and Smiths guitarist, Johnny Marr.