Deep Waters (1948)

A Maine lobster fisherman, trained as an architect, prefers to be a fisherman over the objections of his fiancée. The latter, a welfare worker for the state, finds a home for a 12-year-old ... See full summary »

Director:

Henry King

Writers:

Ruth Moore (novel), Richard Murphy (screenplay)

Stars:

Dana Andrews, Jean Peters, Cesar Romero

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview:
Dana Andrews	...	Hod Stillwell
Jean Peters	...	Ann Freeman
Cesar Romero	...	Joe Sanger
Dean Stockwell	...	Donny Mitchell
Anne Revere	...	Mary McKay
Ed Begley	...	Josh Hovey
Leona Powers	...	Mrs. Freeman
Mae Marsh	...	Molly Thatcher
Will Geer	...	Nick Driver
Cliff Clark	...	Harris
Bruno Wick	...	Druggist
Harry Tyler	...	Hopkins

Storyline

A Maine lobster fisherman, trained as an architect, prefers to be a fisherman over the objections of his fiancée. The latter, a welfare worker for the state, finds a home for a 12-year-old orphan who loves the sea. He and the fisherman become friends but the fiancée, fearful of the dangers of sea life. forces the fisherman to restrict the boy from his boat. Denied the life he loves, the boy, in retribution, steals a camera and is sent to reform school. The couple marries and succeeds in getting a judge to grant a petition allowing them to adopt the boy.

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Plot Keywords:

orphan | reform school | judge | architect | welfare worker | 

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Taglines:

From the Best Seller 'Spoonhandle'

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 May 1949 (Finland)

Also Known As:

O Órfão do Mar

Filming Locations:

Knox County Courthouse - 62 Union Street, Rockland, Maine, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on February 17, 1949 with Dana Andrews, Jean Peters and Dean Stockwell reprising their film roles.

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Connections

Referenced in The Case Against the 20% Federal Admissions Tax on Motion Picture Theatres (1953)

User Reviews

Maine circa 1930's

The novel from which the film was based was a very good Maine novel from Ruth Moore. From everything I've read about the movie plot and focus, the story was changed drastically. They really ought not to have put the author up on the credits. People wouldn't want to read the book after they gutted the story for the film.

Anne's character wasn't opposed to Hod's going to sea at all!!!! I don't know where they came up with that one for the film and other stuff.

The novel's author Ruth Moore must have flipped out when they tore her story up and created an entirely different one.

Read the book, Spoonhandle, if you can find a copy.

I'd still like to see the film someday for its location cinematography and it's always fun to see the young Dean Stockwell.