The Old Man and the Sea (1958)

Director:

John Sturges

Writers:

Ernest Hemingway (novel)
Peter Viertel (writer)

Release Date:

11 October 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

SPENCER TRACY in his most suspenseful role...ERNEST HEMINGWAY'S story of Heroism...Defeat...Victory!

Plot:

An old Cuban fisherman's dry spell is broken when he hooks a gigantic fish that drags him out to sea. Based on Ernest Hemingway's story.

Plot Keywords:

Cuban | Fish | Sea | Fishing | Marlin

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Spencer Tracy	...	The Old Man / Narrator
Felipe Pazos	...	The Boy (as Felipe Pazos Jr.)
Harry Bellaver	...	Martin
Don Diamond	...	Cafe Proprietor
Don Blackman	...	Hand Wrestler
Joey Ray	...	Gambler
Mary Hemingway	...	Tourist
Richard Alameda	...	Gambler
Tony Rosa	...	Gambler
Carlos Rivero	...	Gambler
Robert Alderette	...	Gambler
Mauritz Hugo	...	Gambler

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Warnercolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:6 (f) | Finland:K-12 | UK:U | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Cojimar Bay, Havana, & Boca de Jaruco, Cuba

Company:

Leland Hayward Productions

Trivia:

In 1952, Humphrey Bogart attempted to purchase the film rights to Hemingway's novel through his production company, Santana Productions. Bogart identified strongly with the character of the old man and wanted to play the fisherman in the film project, with Nicholas Ray as the director. Unfortunately, the actor was unsuccessful in securing the film rights, and the film wasn't made until the year following his death, with his close friend Spencer Tracy starring.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Although the Old Man is supposed to be way out at sea and all alone, at around 34 minutes and 30 seconds a small boat with a person on it can clearly be seen between the old man's body and his left arm.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Starter Wife: Her Old Man & The Sea (#1.9)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Cancion del Pescador

A Good Adaptation & A Poignant Performance By Spencer Tracy

Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" is a fine story, but it gives every indication of being quite a challenge to any film-maker hoping to adapt it to the screen. This is a good effort, with a well-conceived approach to getting across the story and the main ideas. Yet it required above all the right leading actor, and Spencer Tracy comes through with a poignant performance that pulls everything else together.

Tracy is perfectly cast as the old fisherman. His voice is ideal, not only for the character but also for reading the lengthy voice-over narrations from Hemingway's text. The narration is used to communicate some of the story's key themes, and without just the right reader it probably would not have worked at all. Tracy also seems to identify with the character closely, since his mannerisms and body language almost always seem just right.

The action parts of the story rely heavily on stock footage, and sometimes on rather obvious models, but the action is not nearly as important as are the old man's character and his thoughts. Although there are some exciting moments in his battle with nature, it is what these bring out in him, not the events themselves, that are important.

What works especially well here are the old man's dreams and thoughts of the past. They are all-important in defining the character, and this adaptation manages them better than you could hope for, with the simplest of means. Once again, Tracy's narration matches the content perfectly.

The heart of the story is an honest but compassionate look at a man almost thoroughly ignored by the world, seemingly with little purpose to his life. His importance comes not from any outstanding achievement or valuable talent, but simply because he is a human being, with his own hopes, memories, and worries that are unique to him. This movie version succeeds well in rendering a touching picture of its main character.