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Captains Courageous

1937

Victor Fleming

Spencer Tracy, Freddie Bartholomew, Lionel Barrymore, Melvyn Douglas ...

8.1

8,552

Adventure. Drama Harvey Cheyne (Freddie Bartholomew) is a wealthy, spoiled 12-year-old who falls overboard on his way to Europe. When he regains consciousness on a Gloucester fishing boat, the ship’s captain (Lionel Barrymore) puts him to work next to his own son (Mickey Rooney). Harvey sulks at first, then begins a warm relationship with Manuel (Spencer Tracy), a simple Portuguese fisherman. Manuel and the other crew members teach Harvey about life at ... [+]

	Author	Review
United States	Frank S. Nugent The New York Times	"With its rich production, magnificent marine photography, admirable direction and performances, the film brings vividly to life every page of Kipling's novel and even adds an exciting chapter or two of its own."	POS
Australia	Andrew L. Urban Urbancinefile	"The film's achievement is in transposing the way this relationship develops from page to screen, and maintaining the sense of adventure in parallel with the character development."	POS
United States	Variety	"The Kipling yarn (...) has been given splendid production, performance, photography and dramatic composition."	POS
United States	Jesse Hassenger AV Club	"Craftsmanship and an Oscar-winning performance put wind in the sails of 'Captains Courageous' (...) Much of its charm derives from just how non-fantastical those circumstances are."	POS
United Kingdom	Geoff Andrew Time Out	"It's hardly great art, but it passes the time."	NEU
United Kingdom	Philip French The Guardian	"He brought great sensitivity to the world of children"	POS

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