Mutiny on the Bounty (1962 film) was announced Paramount would make a rival Bounty film to be written and directed by James Clavell called "The Mutineers", which would focus on the fate of the Muntineers on Pitcairn Island. However this project was not made. Brando eventually was signed, with Carol Reed to direct. It was decided to shoot the film in Tahiti itself to take advantage of color and widescreen, being shot in Cinema 65. Robert Surtees would be the cinematographer, The film was to start 15 October 1960 and the film was called "MGM's "Ben Hur" of 1961." A replica of the "Bounty" was built
Bounty Bible due to discontent and disorder fuelled by home-distilled alcohol and disputes over women that eventually led to the deaths of all but two of the mutineers; the survivors being Ned Young and John Adams (also known as Alexander Smith). Young was an educated man and had been accepted as the leader of the island with Adams as his friend and deputy. He taught Adams to read using a Bible from HMS "Bounty", which had been presented to the ship by the Naval and Military Bible Society (now the Naval Military & Air Force Bible Society) prior to sailing from England.