Captains Courageous (1937)
- Starring:
- Spencer Tracy, Freddie Bartholomew, (more)
- Director(s):
- Victor Fleming
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- G
- Category:
- Action / Adventure
Member Rating
My RatingSynopsis of Captains Courageous
A boy learns life-changing lessons about the importance of friendship and the dignity of labor in this adventure saga based on a story by Rudyard Kipling. Young Harvey Cheyne (Freddie Bartholomew) is the working definition of a spoiled brat; the only child of a wealthy widowed businessman, Harvey has everything he needs, but never stops asking for more, convinced he can get anything if he yells, pouts, or throws the right tantrum. Even other boys his age are disgusted with his antics, and when he accompanies his father on an ocean cruise, he finds he has no friends to play with. After wolfing down six ice-cream sodas, Harvey gets sick to his stomach and while vomiting over the side of the ship, he falls into the drink. He is rescued by Manuel (Spencer Tracy), a Portuguese old salt who drags him on board a Gloucester fishing boat where he's a deck hand and doryman. Harvey shows no gratitude to Manuel for saving his life and demands to be taken home immediately; Manuel and the crew, not the least bit sympathetic, inform him that once they've filled the ship's hold with fresh catch, they'll return to shore, and not a moment sooner. Over the next few weeks, Harvey grows from a self-centered pantywaist into a young man who appreciates the value of a hard day's work, and in Manuel he finds the strength, guidance, and good sense that he never got from his father. Spencer Tracy earned an Academy Award for his performance in Captains Courageous and even sings a bit; the story was parodied years later (with a few rather drastic changes) in the Chris Elliott vehicle Cabin Boy. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 111 mins
Complete Cast of Captains Courageous
- Spencer Tracy - Manuel
- Lionel Barrymore - Captain Disko
- Charles Grapewin - Uncle Salters
- Mickey Rooney - Dan Troop
- Jack LaRue - Priest
- Donald Briggs - Tyler
- Billy Burrud - Charles
- Christian Rub - Old Clement
- Richard Powell - Steward
- Murray Kinnell - Minister
- Monte Vandergrift - Sailor on Flying Swan
- Gertrude Sutton - Nate's Wife
- Reggie Streeter - Bits
- William Arnold - Reporter
- Norman Ainsley - Robbins
- William Stack - Elliott
- Jay Ward - Pogey
- Jack Kennedy - Captain of Flying Swan
- Bobby Watson - Reporter
- Myra Marsh - Chester's Wife
- Jimmy Conlin - Thin Man
- Roger Gray - Nate Rogers
- Freddie Bartholomew - Harvey Cheyne
- Melvyn Douglas - Mr. Cheyne
- John Carradine - "Long Jack"
- Oscar O'Shea - Cushman
- Walter Kingsford - Dr. Finley
- Sam McDaniel - "Doc"
- Charles Trowbridge - Dr. Walsh
- Dave Wengren - Lars
- David Thursby - Tom
- Wally Albright - Boy
- Leo G. Carroll - Burns
- Charles Coleman - Butler
- Wade Boteler - Skipper of Blue Gill
- Katherine Kenworthy - Mrs. Disko
- Art Berry Sr. - Capt. Anderson
- Frank Sully - Taxi Driver
- Edward Peil Sr. - Fisherman
- Lester Dorr - Corridor Steward
- Lloyd Ingraham - Skipper of Ship
- Tommy Bupp - Boy
- Billy Gilbert - Soda Steward
- Gladden James - Secretary Cobb
- Director(s):
- Victor Fleming
- Writer(s):
- Marc Connolly, John Lee Mahin, Dale Van Every
- Producer(s):
- Louis D. Lighton
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- G(Child Classic)
- Categories:
- Action / Adventure
- 1937 - Film Daily - 10 Best Films
- 1937 - New York Times - 10 Best Films
- 1937 - Photoplay - Award
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