JohnHowardReid Copyright 21 April 1937 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp. A Victor Fleming Production. New York opening at the Astor, 11 May 1937. U.S. release: 25 June 1937. 12 reels. 116 minutes.SYNOPSIS: After he falls overboard from an ocean liner, a rich boy is rescued by a fishing dory.NOTES: Academy Award, Spencer Tracy, Best Actor (defeating Charles Boyer in Conquest, Fredric March in A Star is Born, Robert Montgomery in Night Must Fall and Paul Muni in The Life of Emile Zola). Also nominated for Best Picture (The Life of Emile Zola); Screenplay (. . . Zola); Film Editing (Lost Horizon).3rd Best Film of 1937 (after . . . Zola and The Good Earth) — annual poll of U.S. film critics conducted by The Film Daily. Photoplay Gold Medal Award — Best Picture of 1937 — as voted by America's cinema- going public.COMMENT: Definitely not a picture to see on a queasy stomach, "Captains Courageous" is as real and immediate as a documentary, yet stylishly and attractively photographed. The story is a simple one, crammed with incident and interest. True, it is a little mawkish and sentimental for modern tastes — but that's what these stubborn, superstitious fishermen were like back in 1897 — yet no-one will complain about the movie's great pace and cinematic values. Havens' 2nd unit footage is doubly exciting because it's so deftly integrated with the studio material. In fact, Captains Courageous is edited with superb skill (the opening sequence with its sharp cuts as the news is read to Douglas while he is eating; the fishing episode which very sharply and adroitly inter- cuts both process and studio shots with actuality footage). Admittedly some of the process work is obvious, but few members of a 1937 audience would have detected it. Production values are extremely lavish, with nothing scrimped on sets and players.Lionel Barrymore's hearty performance recalls his later Down To The Sea In Ships. Carradine is excellent, and so is Mickey Rooney in a small part. Jack LaRue has an odd role as a priest.Tracy's portrayal is somewhat hammy for Academy Award recognition. The Portuguese accent is so obviously feigned, it makes the whole impersonation seem artificial. Bartholomew too is a bit over-eagerly amateurish — though both performances seem to improve on a second viewing.Some long takes between Tracy and Barrymore are not characteristic of Fleming. No doubt Conway was responsible for these scenes, including the moving episode in which Tracy talks of his father and Christ. The actor handles this sequence with an assured skill sometimes missing in other scenes where he is obviously a trifle uncomfortable with his make- up, his accent, and his lines. (All this fisher lore reminds the modern viewer of Tracy's later The Old Man and the Sea). Music is used sparingly but most effectively.OTHER VIEWS: I used to pray that something would happen to halt production. I was positive I was doing the worst job of my life. — Spencer Tracy

secondtake Captains Courageous (1937)You might think this movie will come off as old-fashioned and stale, a old Kipling yarn filmed in the 1930s in black and white. Well don't pre-judge this! It's really good. Fast, energetic, touching, and filled with good acting and great filming. It even has a moral tale that doesn't smack you as sentimental, but is a good reminder of what counts in life.The main character is a rich boy who obviously needs to learn some lessons in humility and honor. And he's played with real perfection by the young English actor Freddie Bartholomew who had a five year heyday of great roles and great performances with classic adventure stories told on film. And there are parallels here of bigger tales like "Kidnapped" (1938) and "David Copperfield" (1935), with a child intersecting the world of adults and its perils. His adult friend is the bigger star, Spencer Tracy, who does a good job though I've never quite loved his style of acting. Here he plays a Portuguese sailor with a half an accent and it's the one problem in the film. Next to him in a big role is Lionel Barrymore, who recognizably makes for a quirky captain of the fishing boat. He's great. And so are the other side characters, including a whole slew of big names from the time (John Carradine and Mickey Rooney are probably most famous now). Much of the film is a low key adventure film. It's aimed at kids the way "The Wizard of Oz" is aimed at kids—meaning it's great for adults, too, and there are a few things snuck in to keep older viewers attuned. Director Victor Fleming went on to direct "Oz" and much of "Gone with the Wind" in two years, and you can feel his Hollywood expertise in every scene here. This is not a stiff 1930s movie if your head is in that mode. Fleming (with photographer great Harold Rosson, who shot "Oz" and a hundred others) makes it vivid and wondrous. The mix of studio shots and authentic sea footage (made with a second film crew in the North Atlantic) is brilliantly handled—no back projection goofs here.I really liked this movie. It's straight up filmic storytelling. No distractions, no bumbling. Give it a go and be surprised.

Jackson Booth-Millard Based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling (Gunga Din, The Jungle Book), featured in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and directed by Victor Fleming (The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind) this film looked like it would be worth seeing. Basically spoilt brat Harvey Cheyne (Freddie Bartholomew) is the son of an often absent business tycoon father Frank Burton Cheyne (Melvyn Douglas), and he is often teased attending his private school, and with his bad behaviour he ends up suspended. His father realises he needs to have a close eye kept on him, so he brings him along on one of his business trips, heading for Europe on a steamship, and after a bout of clumsiness the boy falls off the ship into the ocean. Harvey is rescued, in the area of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, by Portuguese-American fisherman Manuel Fidello (Oscar winning Spencer Tracy), who takes him aboard the fishing ship he works on, and with captain Disko Troop (It's a Wonderful Life's Lionel Barrymore) unconvinced about his wealth or to take him ashore he instead gives the boy a low pay job as a crew member. He has three months to wait until the ship will go ashore, so he has no choice but to accept the job, but he does make acquaintances with other crew members, including the captain's son Dan (Mickey Rooney), and of course he forms a close bond with Manuel who guides him. As time passes Harvey learns the ways of the sea, and that he cannot whine, cheat and brag to get what he wants, it is not an acceptable way of life, and Manuel becomes the father he never had, and the one he wishes he could have in his own life. As the ship races for Gloucester port they are caught in distress, and Manuel volunteers to do a brave deed and help them all, only to end up on the water and tangled up, and the only thing he can do is cut himself out and sink to his death. In the end Harvey is returned to shore in Gloucester, Massachusetts to be reunited with his real father, but he heartbroken to have lost his father figure and best friend, for a while he prefers to mourn alone, but eventually comes around. Also starring Charley Grapewin as Uncle Salters, John Carradine as Long Jack and Oscar O'Shea as Cushman. Tracy obviously charms and gets all the best moments with his peculiar accent but very likable personality, he certainly deserved his Oscar, Bartholomew proves himself a good young actor, and supporting cast members Barrymore and Rooney get their good amount of time too, the high sea scenes of storms and fishing make for good viewing, but the really good moments are the quiet tender scenes as well, all in all it an enjoyable family adventure. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Film Editing and Best Writing, Screenplay. Spencer Tracy was number 10 on The World's Greatest Actor, and he was number 9 on 100 Years, 100 Stars - Men, and the film was number 94 on 100 Years, 100 Cheers. Good!

wes-connors Spoiled rich boy Freddie Bartholomew (as Harvey Cheyne) is expelled from boarding school for bribery and bratty behavior. Correctly deducing neglect is a growing concern, millionaire father Melvyn Douglas (as Frank Burton Cheyne) decides to take more of an interest in Master Bartholomew, and takes his son on a luxury cruise. After gorging too many chocolate ice cream sodas, Bartholomew falls overboard. He is fished out of the water by Portuguese-accented Spencer Tracy (as Manuel Fidello)...Bartholomew orders Mr. Tracy's schooner captain to take him home, but leader Lionel Barrymore (as Disko Troop) and the crew don't believe bossy Bartholomew is the son of a tycoon. Bartholomew must stay on the "We're Here" boat for three months, and is expected to do his share of the work. It's far from smooth sailing, but Tracy and his "Little Fish" eventually form a strong, character-building bond. This played well with critics and the public. Tracy won an Oscar and Bartholomew is as good.******** Captains Courageous (5/11/37) Victor Fleming ~ Freddie Bartholomew, Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore, Melvyn Douglas