Spencer Tracy won his first of 2 consecutive Best Actor Oscars for his portrayal of a seaman who befriends a "spoiled rich kid" (child star Freddie Bartholomew). The boy is impossible and seems a hopeless case at the beginning of the voyage, but by Tracy's example the kid mellows into a "human being".
The climax is a disaster that leaves Tracy so horribly hurt, that he begs fellow ship mates to "let him go to the sea". The scene is a heart breaker, seeing the boy sobbing and pleading for Tracy to not give up. When the boy is returned to his "care free" home, he is a different person. The man responsible was not there to accept the thanks of a grateful father.
This is one of Hollywood's true tearjerkers. Anyone enjoying a good cry will not be disappointed by "Captains Courageous"!
The climax is a disaster that leaves Tracy so horribly hurt, that he begs fellow ship mates to "let him go to the sea". The scene is a heart breaker, seeing the boy sobbing and pleading for Tracy to not give up. When the boy is returned to his "care free" home, he is a different person. The man responsible was not there to accept the thanks of a grateful father.
This is one of Hollywood's true tearjerkers. Anyone enjoying a good cry will not be disappointed by "Captains Courageous"!