Captains Courageous (1937)
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92% of critics liked it
(13 reviews) -
83% of users liked it
(3,635 ratings)
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… More 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, Rovi
- Directed By
- Victor Fleming
- Written By
- John Lee Mahin, Marc Connelly, Dale Van Every
- Genres
- Classics, Action & Adventure
PG,
- In Theaters
- Jun 25, 1937 Wide
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
Its themes are entirely relevant to this day, and even technically %u2013 with the integration of sound stage and open sea footage %u2013 it stands the test of time
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
One of the all time best. Adventure, love, and tears. Tracy and Bartholomew are terrific.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Once you accept Spencer Tracy as a Portuguese fisherman, Victor Fleming's version of Kipling's sea-adventure novel is passably enjoyable by standards of the times.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
This hokum earned Spencer Tracy his first Best Actor Oscar.
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Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
While perhaps not the "all-time classic" that some of its contemporaries are, Captains Courageous still stands up pretty well today.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Spencer Tracy
as Manuel
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Freddie Bartholomew
as Harvey Cheyne
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Lionel Barrymore
as Captain Disko
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Melvyn Douglas
as Mr. Cheyne
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Charles Grapewin
as Uncle Salters
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John Carradine
as "Long Jack"
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Mickey Rooney
as Dan Troop
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Oscar O'Shea
as Cushman
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Jack LaRue
as Priest
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Walter Kingsford
as Dr. Finley
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Donald Briggs
as Tyler
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Sam McDaniel
as "Doc"
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Billy Burrud
as Charles
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Norman Ainsley
as Robbins
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Wally Albright
as Boy
- Betty Alden
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Wade Boteler
as Skipper of Blue Gill
- Don Brodie
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Tommy Bupp
as Boy
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Leo G Carroll
as Burns
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Charles Coleman
as Butler
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Jimmy Conlin
as Thin Man
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Lester Dorr
as Corridor Steward
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Billy Gilbert
as Soda Steward
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Roger Gray
as Nate Rogers
- Sherry Hall
- Dick Howard
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Gladden James
as Secretary Cobb
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Jack Kennedy
as Captain of Flying Swan
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Katherine Kenworthy
as Mrs. Disko
- David Kerman
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Murray Kinnell
as Minister
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Myra Marsh
as Chester's Wife
- Philo McCullough
- Mira McKinney
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Edward Peil Sr.
as Fisherman
- Gil Perkins
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Richard Powell
as Steward
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Christian Rub
as Old Clement
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William Stack
as Elliott
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Frank Sully
as Taxi Driver
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Gertrude Sutton
as Nate's Wife
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David Thursby
as Tom
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Charles Trowbridge
as Dr. Walsh
- Lee Van Atta
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Monte Vandergrift
as Sailor on Flying Swan
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Jay Ward
as Pogey
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Bobby Watson
as Reporter
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William Arnold
as Reporter
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Lloyd Ingraham
as Skipper of Ship
- Gene Reynolds
- Larry Fisher
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Dave Wengren
as Lars
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Art Berry Sr.
as Capt. Anderson
- Bill Fisher
- James Kilgannon
- Jack Sterling
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Reggie Streeter
as Bits
- Charley Grapewin
