I enjoyed 'Captains Courageous'. It is a good film with a nice message (leaving aside the misogynist undertones mossgrymk noted in the review yesterday - I agree on that point), and it is mostly well-acted. Freddie Bartholomew did amazingly well as the spoilt brat who is taught some home truths, and director Victor Fleming delivered a fast-paced film that is anything but dull. I would love to rate 'Captains' higher than 7 stars, but there is one problem: Spencer Tracy pretending to be a Portuguese fisherman. Tracy played some great roles. Not so long ago I watched him in Fritz Lang's 'Fury' (1936) and was ever so impressed. But not with his performance here. His 'I am such a regular guy and so sensible'-act is overdone and so sugary that if it was a fruit-pie you would need to see a doctor after consumption. Given the centrality of his character, I guess 7 stars are generous for 'Captains Courageous'.
Review of Captains Courageous
