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Captains Courageous

Play trailer Poster for Captains Courageous Released Jun 25, 1937 1h 57m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
When spoiled Harvey Cheyne (Freddie Bartholomew) is suspended from boarding school, his businessman father (Melvyn Douglas) takes him to Europe on a business trip. When the rebellious lad falls overboard from the steamship, he is saved from death by humble fisherman Manuel Fidello (Spencer Tracy) and forced by the captain of the fishing schooner (Lionel Barrymore) to become a low-ranking member of the ship's crew alongside the captain's own son (Mickey Rooney).
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Captains Courageous

Critics Reviews

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Otis Ferguson The New Republic Though dragged out and often weepy, it is a corking yarn. May 23, 2024 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Spencer Tracy delivers a superb performance as the reluctant but unquestionably inspiring father figure, brimming with ideal values, morals, work ethics, and courage. Rated: 8/10 Jul 25, 2020 Full Review Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy) Esquire Magazine At once the most virile and the tenderest of recent Hollywood photoplays; should rank high on any list of best pictures of all time. May 5, 2020 Full Review Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine Captains Courageous is such a beautiful and thrilling picture that one hesitates to classify it as a family film for fear people who haven't any families may be alarmed into staying away. Oct 2, 2019 Full Review Matt Brunson Creative Loafing If that's a Portuguese accent Tracy is sporting, then I'm Katharine Hepburn -- if anything, his performance appears to be based on Chico Marx. Nevertheless, this is top-notch entertainment. Rated: 3.5/4 Jun 25, 2018 Full Review Dan Jardine Cinemania An unlikely love story of two opposites splendidly directed by Fleming. Rated: 87/100 Jan 10, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Angelle H One of my all-time favorite classic films. This was one of my mom's favorites, and she shared it with me when I was a teen, and I rewatch it to this day when I need a feel-good movie that also makes me sob. Make sure you have tissues handy. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/14/24 Full Review Jim M Classic Hollywood with a young Mickey Rooney, Spencer Tracy and Lionel Barrymore. It is a great yarn and It is the type of movie my father would have loved. I've never seen Freddie Bartholomew but I enjoyed his performance so much. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/18/24 Full Review Grant H If you don't swallow hard or wipe away a tear at the film's climax, check your pulse. One of the great films from Hollywood's greatest era. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/28/23 Full Review george l This is a great film. It's a classic Kipling story. The shots of the schooners and fishing off the Grand Banks are spectacular and beautiful. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The greatest 01 hour: and 57 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring the late Mickey Rooney!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Very good movie with a solid story and great acting Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Captains Courageous

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Cast & Crew

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Victor Fleming

Director

Spencer Tracy

Manuel Fidello

Freddie Bartholomew

Harvey Cheyne

Lionel Barrymore

Capt. Disko Troop

Melvyn Douglas

Frank Burton Cheyne

Charley Grapewin

Uncle Salters

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Captains Courageous

Captains Courageous (1937) Captains Courageous (1937) Captains Courageous (1937) Captains Courageous (1937) Captains Courageous (1937) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When spoiled Harvey Cheyne (Freddie Bartholomew) is suspended from boarding school, his businessman father (Melvyn Douglas) takes him to Europe on a business trip. When the rebellious lad falls overboard from the steamship, he is saved from death by humble fisherman Manuel Fidello (Spencer Tracy) and forced by the captain of the fishing schooner (Lionel Barrymore) to become a low-ranking member of the ship's crew alongside the captain's own son (Mickey Rooney).
Director
Victor Fleming
Producer
Louis D. Lighton
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 25, 1937, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 21, 2016
Runtime
1h 57m
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