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Crappy film

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

While it is an occasionally spirited film dealing with fishermen and their vessels on the seas, I am struck by the film's emotional core, which are those scenes of remarkable intimacy between Spencer Tracy and Freddie Bartholomew. The two actors have a sublime rapport, assisted by the direction of Victor Fleming. Tracy won an Oscar, of course, for his touching, humane portrayal which mixes wisdom with humor and courage, as Manuel, a simple Portuguese fisherman who teaches a young boy about life and helps that formerly spoiled young man mature. Bartholomew, in the role of the rich man's son, gives what has to be the performance of his career.I'm always particularly touched by the scene towards the film's end in which Bartholomew tries, in his own way, to tell the fisherman of his love for him. And it really is a moment of love between these two. Tracy is talking to the boy about the fact that the boy's father will be anxiously looking for him and they will need to be reunited. Bartholmew acknowledges that statement, but starts to ramble. He keeps his head down, looking at the floor as he tries to tell Tracy how he feels. It's one of the most heart wrenching moments ever captured on film. A little boy, formerly self absorbed and proud, dropping all pretense of pride as he emotionally opens up to a man he loves and respects, and can't bear to leave. Tracy, stunned, deeply moved, can only say, "My leetle feesh," as he places his hand on the boy's face. His look and that gentle simple gesture beautifully expresses his feelings at the moment, too. It's a scene that never fails to move me.Later in the film, after the fisherman, the boy's friend and hero, has drowned, Bartholomew, in that scene in which he cries in Manuel's boat, as his father tries to comfort him, captures the anguish and despair that we all feel when we have lost someone very special in our lives, and know we will never see that person again. Victor Fleming touchingly directs a moment which, to me, captures the agony of a young boy dealing with the terrible permanence of death.

Captain Courageous is a warm story on human, rather parental relationships, love and coming of age. An adventure story to spice up the relationship between an older and a younger character is hit. Fleming is clearly focused on the relationship between fishermen and boys and allow the atmosphere to grow with this relationship.Spencer Tracy as Manuel Fidello. He has both feet on the ground tighter. In this case, in the sea. Tracy really develops this role into a memorable character. Manuel is developing into an unforgettable character. I could not call him a father figure. His attention and love grow with the works. He is everything that a boy need. Growing up is perhaps in this case too quickly. I know, under the circumstances is acceptable. Character fisherman Manuel has become a universal value. The stereotype is not the case.Freddie Bartholomew as Harvey Cheyne is convincing and visible change of character. I'm with the enjoyment of watching this little spoiled and rich jerk who by sheer accident suddenly grow up. In the end I remained touched by the behavior of his. The change is pretty interesting. Harvey is still playful and rich boy who learned to fish and appreciate the true human values.Lionel Barrymore (Captain Disko Troop) and Melvyn Douglas (Frank Burton Cheyne) are excellent also.This is a very lively and exciting movie. The majestic sea scenery accompanies excellent acting and good dramaturgy. A film that is hard to forget.

CAPTAIN'S COURAGEOUS (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1937), directed by Victor Fleming, from a literary classic by Rudyard Kipling, stars child actor Freddie Bartholomew in another one of his classic film roles. Having played Charles Dicken's immortal character of "David Copperfield" (MGM, 1935) and the title role of "Little Lord Fauntleroy" (United Artists, 1936), his portrayal of Harvey Cheyne no doubt tops them all. Regardless of this being a Bartholomew starrer and his character study from start to finish, the end result turns out to be an Academy Award winning performance for Spencer Tracy as Best Actor in what's actually a supporting category.The story introduces Harvey Elsworth Cheyne (Freddie Bartholomew), a ten-year-old lad, who, unknown to his business-tycoon father, Frank Burton Cheyne (Melvyn Douglas), that his own son is a pampered, obnoxious rich boy who believes he can get his own way by lying, cheating and making demands on others, especially his friends and live-in servants. While attending the Green Hill School for Boys, Harvey becomes very unpopular when discovered to have bribed a fellow student with a rare first edition of "Treasure Island" and offering $50 to his teacher, Bob Tyler (Donald Briggs), in order to make his exams easier for him to pass. After getting a punch in the nose by one of the boys, Harvey leaves school and turns to his father for moral support. After learning the truth from the school board members and of Harvey's suspension, Cheyne, at the advise of Doctor C.A. Finlay (Walter Kingsford), agrees to spend quality time with Harvey on an ocean lining cruise bound for Europe where father and son can get to know and understand each other better. On their first day out, Cheyne attends to business, leaving Harvey to make an impression on a couple of boy passengers (Wally Albright and Tommy Bupp) by treating them to large ice cream sodas. Harvey, showing off, drinks and finishes all six of them in one sitting. An upset stomach causes Harvey to break away from the boys, who follow him to watch him get sick. Hiding behind a lifeboat, Harvey falls overboard into the ocean where he's spotted by Manuel Fidello (Spencer Tracy), a Portuguese fisherman. Maniel picks up the half-drowned boy, placing him into his row boat. Taken onto a vessel, "We're Here," consisting of fellow crew members as the pipe smoking Captain Disko Troop (Lionel Barrymore), his son, Dan (Mickey Rooney), Long Jack (John Carradine), Uncle Salters, (Charley Grapewin), Doc, the cook (Sam McDaniel), among others, the now conscience Harvey becomes appalled that he's unable to return back to his father or be taken to New York, having to remain on board the New England schooner for three months before they port back to Gloucester, Massachusetts. Because Manuel fished Harvey out of the ocean, it is now Manuel's responsibility to watch over this rebellious "Little Fish," humiliated for having to work among the other fishermen for #3 a month.Whether CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS is faithful to the Kipling novel or not really doesn't matter, for that it's a great film that can be reviewed numerous times without any loss of interest. Freddie Bartholomew shows what a remarkable young actor he's become. Outstanding performance, second to Bartholomew, goes to Spencer Tracy as the kind-hearted fisherman who goes through his taming of the shrew with a boy named Harvey. While the role of Manuel could have enacted by notable accented speaking veteran actors as J. Carrol Naish or Leo Carrillo, the big surprise comes from Tracy, the curly dark-haired Portuguese with spoken dialect. Classic moment comes from Manuel's playing the vielle as he sings, "Don't Cry Little Fish." Franz Waxman and Gus Kahn, who composed this little ditty, also took part in another, "Oh, What a Terrible Ma," sung by the fishing crew while chopping their bait. Honorable mention goes to John Carradine playing one of the other fishermen, and his confrontation with Manuel after threatening to "beat the ears off" of Harvey for playing such a horrible prank on him. It is during this tense moment that Tracy's Manuel briefly loses his accent defending the boy. Lionel Barrymore's finest moments come when giving Harvey his long awaited slap, and quoting what's become the moral of the story, "A boy is never too old to need a dad." One curious item that should have been included in the screenplay are possible scenes revolving around Cheyne's reaction after disappearance of his son, what measures he goes through to have him found, and wondering whether or not he survived the fall into the ocean.Though CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS had been imitated, but not credited to Kipling, for the western, CATTLE DRIVE (Columbia, 1951) starring Joel McCrea and Dean Stockwell in the Tracy and Bartholomew roles, the Kipling tale was retold twice as made-for-television movies, first in 1977 starring Jonathan Kahn and Ricardo Montalban (as Manuel), and again in 1996 with Robert Ulrich and Kenny Vadas. Distributed to home video and later DVD, CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS turns up occasionally on Turner Classic Movies cable channel. For anyone who's never seen the original, give it a try. It's definitely a winner. "Ye ho little fish, don't cry, don't cry. Ye ho, little fish, don't cry, don't cry." (****)

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