Captains Courageous (1937)

Another of Steven Spielberg's fav five. The second on his list is a tale of adventure and morality that recalls a period where good is always the first choice and bad is the result of poor parenting. Based on Rudyard Kipling's novel of the same name, the film has timeless appeal.

Harvey Cheyne (Freddie Bartholomew) is an arrogant little rich boy who has been neglected by his tycoon father. Known to blackmail those who have what he wants and bribe his teachers, Harvey is insufferable. When he falls over the railing of an ocean liner, he's picked up by an old salty dog, Manuel (Spencer Tracy) and taken about a fishing boat. Shocked that this crew of men doesn't care that his father has money, Harvey learns he's just signed on for a three month tour and Captain Disko (Lionel Barrymore) demands the boy earn his keep. Under Manuel's careful eye, Harvey is about to learn many of life's lessons at sea.

Captains Courageous is a beautifully rendered film that doesn't count on fancy editing and CG to create the experience. Pure story and heartfelt performances by Tracy and young Bartholomew make this a worthwhile experience. Spencer Tracy is top-notch as the Porteguese sailor with his hurly-gurly. With an unheard of accent, Tracy imbues a tough, hard-working man with a respect for honest labor and right. The film, however, belongs to the young lead. Freddie Bartholomew casts a broad net of emotion without ever feeling disengenious or cloying. Bartholomew creates Harvey as a boy that requires your sympathy, not your anger. By the film's end, Harvey has come full circle as a spoiled brat to a rugged young man who idolizes Manuel. Lionel Barrymore is our moral compass of the tale; he's top-notch as the weathered captain. Also of note is Melvyn Douglas, the boy's tycoon father. In a few short scenes, he displays the qualities of a concerned father nicely.

Director Victor Fleming better known for Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, is subtle with his camera. The time spent at sea is well constructed with a hearty epic feel. The boat is crusty and small, but alive with warmth and camraderie. The cinematography behind it all frames the emotioal parallels wonderfully.

As I see it, Captains Courageous is a masterful film that displays the character that this world needs now more than ever. It's certainly an uplifting film that modern cinema would be wise to model.