The story begins with Harvey (Freddie Bartholomew), the spoiled son of a rich business tycoon, Frank Burton Cheyne (Melvyn Douglas). Harvey uses his father’s name and business connections to force his way onto his private school’s journalism team. This causes the other kids to resent him. When he attempts to bribe his way into another group he earns himself a temporary suspension for the semester forcing his father to have to spend time with him, something the man is far too busy to do. The father, wanting to be a better parent but incapable of finding sufficient time for it, takes Harvey on a business trip to Europe via a trans-Atlantic steamer. Left to his own devices, Harvey gets into more trouble and ends up falling overboard, unseen by anyone on the steamship. Fortunately, nearby is a small fishing boat, part of a larger fishing schooner, and Harvey is rescued from drowning.
When Harvey comes to, he is onboard the schooner “We’re Here” captained by Disko Troop (Lionel Barrymore). He soon finds out that his father’s name carries no weight amongst the sailers. They don’t believe his story about a large cash reward if they turn around and head back to the states and insist that he will stay aboard while they stock up on fish for the next three months before heading back to port. With the stern but kind assistance of fisherman Manuel (Spencer Tracy), Harvey’s rough exterior eventually softens and the two end up with a mutual respect for each other. Harvey will come to see Manuel as a surrogate father figure, someone willing to spend time with him the way his father hasn’t.
This film has it all: action, adventure, stunning cinematography, amazing performances and a moral compass. If it has a flaw it would be by painting Harvey’s spoiled nature just a tad bit too broadly in the first act. He is neglected by his father, not out of maliciousness but because his father is so buried in his work that he can’t find the time to spend any of it with his son. Consequently, Harvey acts out without any fear of retaliation. He conducts himself like Vito Corleone, giving away an expensive first edition of Treasure Island to a kid with the expectations that a hefty return favor will be granted. Later it will be revealed that he left a fifty dollar bill in one of his instructors’ room in the hopes of insuring an easier exam. When the instructor finds out where the money came from he arranges to return it to Harvey’s father. Getting suspended from school doesn’t change anything, either. When Harvey is on the steamer with his father, work immediately interrupts their time together. Harvey starts bullying the other kids and even a restaurant bartender into serving them ice cream before opening time.
After Harvey’s brush with death he is still the little brat from the beginning, thinking his father’s money will buy him anything. It’s not until Manuel takes a firm hand to him and he realizes nothing he does or threatens to do will get him what he wants and if he wants to eat he will have to work for it. Slowly he will learn the value of honesty and hard work as well as what it means to have someone who legitimately wants to be around him and not for the money or influence.
Freddie Bartholomew was just twelve when filming Captains Courageous. He had already been acting for six years at the time and had proven to be a solid performer in such films as David Copperfield, Anna Karenina, and Little Lord Fauntleroy. He would continue to act for another fourteen years before it became apparent he couldn’t duplicate his childhood success as an adult. He would spin this into a successful career in producing and directing television. He is excellent portraying both sides of Harvey from the sullen and sulky rich kid to the cheery and excited fisherman. He learns a valuable lesson when fishing with Manuel after he tries to rig a contest between the man and another fisherman. When it comes to light that Harvey cheated, Manuel releases Harvey’s fish back to the ocean and allows the two of them to lose the contest rather than win dishonestly. He doesn’t need to use harsh words or physical discipline to get the point across to Harvey, his disappointment alone is enough.
Manuel is an interesting character to look at, too. His father has passed on and he has no children of his own. Yet he has an instinctual understanding of how to handle Harvey to get through the hardened façade and to the scared and lonely boy beneath. He’s the man in the boat who rescued Harvey when he first went overboard and he takes ownership over the kid, helping him get his first meal even when he didn’t really earn it and, later, helps him develop the skills to earn his own keep aboard ship. His enthusiasm and attention to Harvey goes a long way towards chiseling away the hard edges and earning a kind of fatherly love from the boy. Spencer Tracy juggles a lot of emotions in this performance and earned himself an acting Oscar for it.
MGM studios spent a full year filming Captains Courageous off the coasts of Catalina and Florida. The location shooting paid off with riveting set pieces and beautiful scenery. But all of that would be for naught were it not for the strong performances and an Oscar nominated script that brought Kipling’s novel to life while even adding a few moments not found in the original prose. This is a delightful film that still holds up nearly ninety years later and well deserves its spot amongst the best films of 1937.
Academy Award Nominations:
Best Picture: Louis D. Lighton
Best Actor: Spencer Tracy (won)
Best Film Editing: Elmo Veron
Best Writing, Screenplay: Marc Connelly, John Lee Mahin, and Dale Van Every
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Release Date: June 25, 1937
Running Time: 117 Minutes
Not Rated
Starring: Freddie Bartholomew, Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore and Melvin Douglas
Directed By: Victor Fleming
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