Captains Courageous (1937)

My Review

“Captains Courageous” is an adventure film about a spoiled and wealthy 15-year-old boy who falls from an ocean liner and is rescued by a crew of a fishing boat. He is forced to work for his keep and matures into a more responsible person. Director Victor Fleming (“The Wizard of Oz,” “Gone With the Wind” 1939) assembled a fine motion picture here with excellent production values, memorable performances, lots of action and adventure, and good writing. The screenplay by John Lee Mahin, Marc Connelly, Dale Van Every was adapted from the 1897 novel of the same name by Rudyard Kipling.

The cast includes Freddie Bartholomew as Harvey, Spencer Tracy as the Portuguese fisherman, Lionel Barrymore as the schooner’s captain, Melvyn Douglas, Mickey Rooney, John Carradine, Charley Grapewin, Oscar O’Shea, Jack LaRue, and Walter Kingsford as Dr. Finley. The watchable coming-of-age classic “Captains Courageous” was a box office sensation for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, filmed at the iconic MGM headquarters in Culver City. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning one for Best Actor (Tracy). Non-winners include Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Film Editing.