Captains Courageous

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Captains Courageous

1937

1h 57m

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

18 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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Otis Ferguson

The New Republic

05/23/2024

Though dragged out and often weepy, it is a corking yarn.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

07/25/2020

8/10

Spencer Tracy delivers a superb performance as the reluctant but unquestionably inspiring father figure, brimming with ideal values, morals, work ethics, and courage.

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Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy)

Esquire Magazine

05/05/2020

At once the most virile and the tenderest of recent Hollywood photoplays; should rank high on any list of best pictures of all time.

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Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

10/02/2019

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.

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Matt Brunson

Creative Loafing

06/25/2018

3.5/4

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.

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Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

05/15/2008

Its themes are entirely relevant to this day, and even technically %u2013 with the integration of sound stage and open sea footage %u2013 it stands the test of time

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Jace T

@CineChamber Sep 19

So, I have recently really gotten into film and film history, and this is the first older black & white movies I watched in a long, long time. I was blown away by the story and pacing of this movie, and I actually couldn't keep my eyes off of it. Freddie Bartholomew did a fantastic job as Harvey, and the coming of age story here is really wholesome.

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Angelle H

04/14/2024

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.

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Jim M

01/18/2024

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.

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Grant H

12/28/2023

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.

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george l

09/04/2022

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.

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08/05/2022

The greatest 01 hour: and 57 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring the late Mickey Rooney!!!!!!!!!

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Victor Fleming

Director

Spencer Tracy

Manuel Fidello

Freddie Bartholomew

Harvey Cheyne

Lionel Barrymore

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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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