The first thing one notices as the picture opens is that thirteen year old Freddie Bartholomew is top billed over Spencer Tracy. Admittedly, the story is more about Bartholomew's character Harvey Cheyne, and he does have more screen time, but it still seemed a little off to me. As the story opens, Harvey's the kind of kid you want to take a good paddle to (in the Twenties you could still get away with it, just like the Captain did), but by dint of forced service on the 'We're Here' fishing boat, the young lad begins to understand how the other half lives when they have to work for a living. It's interesting to observe how the story deals with young Harvey's deceit, both at the Green Hill School and on the high seas when he tampered with Long Jack's (John Carradine) trawl line. In neither case did he get away with the dishonesty under rigorous teachable moment circumstances.
Aside from the main story, I rather enjoyed the dialog among the fishermen of the 'We're Here', employing such colorful expressions as "Tie up your jib and jumbo!" and "Stand by your foresails". There's also that energetic rivalry between Captains Disko (Lionel Barrymore) and Walt Cushman (Oscar O'Shea) as they try to outdo each other in every department imaginable. Still, I had to do a double take when back home, Mrs. Troop refers to her husband by his proper name - Discobolus! I was so fascinated by the name I did a quick internet search, and turns out it's the name of that Greek sculpture of an athlete throwing the discus. I bet Spencer Tracy didn't even know that.
Well, it's a near impossibility to watch the film without shedding a sympathetic tear or two. Manuel's (Tracy) faith is on display when he explains how The Savior and his father are able to fish together in heaven, but for sheer heart rending pathos, Manuel's gallant and brave death is heralded by his unwavering belief in the hereafter as he calmly intones, "I go now to fish with my father". It might have been the line to put Spencer Tracy over the top for his first Oscar win as Best Actor.
Aside from the main story, I rather enjoyed the dialog among the fishermen of the 'We're Here', employing such colorful expressions as "Tie up your jib and jumbo!" and "Stand by your foresails". There's also that energetic rivalry between Captains Disko (Lionel Barrymore) and Walt Cushman (Oscar O'Shea) as they try to outdo each other in every department imaginable. Still, I had to do a double take when back home, Mrs. Troop refers to her husband by his proper name - Discobolus! I was so fascinated by the name I did a quick internet search, and turns out it's the name of that Greek sculpture of an athlete throwing the discus. I bet Spencer Tracy didn't even know that.
Well, it's a near impossibility to watch the film without shedding a sympathetic tear or two. Manuel's (Tracy) faith is on display when he explains how The Savior and his father are able to fish together in heaven, but for sheer heart rending pathos, Manuel's gallant and brave death is heralded by his unwavering belief in the hereafter as he calmly intones, "I go now to fish with my father". It might have been the line to put Spencer Tracy over the top for his first Oscar win as Best Actor.