Captains Courageous (1937)

Harvey Cheyne is a spoiled brat used to having his own way. When a prank goes wrong onboard an ocean liner Harvey ends up overboard and nearly drowns. Fortunately he's picked up by a ... See full summary »

Director:

Victor Fleming

Writers:

Rudyard Kipling (novel), John Lee Mahin (screen play),

Stars:

Freddie Bartholomew, Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore

Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Freddie Bartholomew	...	Harvey
Spencer Tracy	...	Manuel
Lionel Barrymore	...	Disko
Melvyn Douglas	...	Mr. Cheyne
Charley Grapewin	...	Uncle Salters
Mickey Rooney	...	Dan
John Carradine	...	Long Jack
Oscar O'Shea	...	Cushman
Jack La Rue	...	Priest (as Jack LaRue)
Walter Kingsford	...	Dr. Finley
Donald Briggs	...	Tyler
Sam McDaniel	...	'Doc' (as Sam McDaniels)
Bill Burrud	...	Charles (as Billy Burrud)

Storyline

Harvey Cheyne is a spoiled brat used to having his own way. When a prank goes wrong onboard an ocean liner Harvey ends up overboard and nearly drowns. Fortunately he's picked up by a fishing boat just heading out for the season. He tries to bribe the crew into returning early to collect a reward but none of them believe him. Stranded on the boat he must adapt to the ways of the fishermen and learn more about the real world.

---

Plot Keywords:

fishing boat | spoiled brat | fishing | overboard | dvd | 

---

Taglines:

AS GREAT AS "MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY"

---

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family

---

Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Portuguese

Release Date:

25 June 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rudyard Kipling's Captains Courageous

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,645,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the novel (which first appeared as a serialization in "McClure's" magazine beginning November 1896) Harvey Cheyne is 15 and his father and mother travel by train from San Diego when they are notified Harvey has arrived in Gloucester. In the film his father says (at around 05 mins) "I wish his mother had lived to see him now, ten years old and yet he's one of the editors of his school paper."

---

Goofs

(at around 40 mins) Manuel holds a struggling Harvey from behind with the neck of Harvey's shirt in his left hand and the back of Harvey's pants in his right hand. Manuel says a line in close-up, then a close-up of Harvey shows Manuel holding the shirt with his right hand (at around 48 mins).

---

Quotes

Manuel Fidello: Protecting, Harvey, from Long Jack's anger"You touch that kid I tear you apart see!"

---

Connections

Featured in 100 Years at the Movies (1994)

---

Soundtracks

"Blow The Man Down"
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

One of my all time favorites

Freddy Bartholomew is brilliant in the role of this spoiled manipulating young boy. I love this movie. I think any film where the character makes some sort of change in themselves or in the world around them has a special quality. Some attempt this and fail miserably, gaining only my enmity. (i.e Mr Holland's Opus) Visually this movie reminds me of "The Net" by Winslow Homer. I used to stare at the painting while laying under my grandmother's sewing machine. Lionel Barrymore is as endearing as ever. Spencer Tracy does a wonderful job if you can get around the accent. Please see this film when you can.