Captains Courageous (MGM 1937, Spencer Tracy, Freddie Bartholomew)

Perfect family entertainment in the classic Hollywood style. In this Kipling story, the spoiled son of a shipping magnate (Freddie Bartholomew) falls overboard from a luxury liner and is picked up by a Nantucket fishing schooner captained by the Oscar-winning Tracy. Forced to earn his keep, the boy’s extended voyage and warm relationship with the captain show him what’s important in life. Remade for television in 1977 and 1996.

Freddie Bartholomew was billed above costar Spencer Tracy even though it was Tracy who was nominated–and won–the Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar for the film.

Academy Award Nominations: 4, including Best Picture; Best Screenplay.

production details
USA | MGM | 115 minutes | 1937

Director: Victor Fleming
Producer: Louis D. Lighton
Original Story: Rudyard Kipling
Cinematography: Harold Rosson
Editor: Elmo Vernon
Music: Franz Waxman
Script: Marc Connelly, John Lee Mahin, Dale Van Every
Production Design: Cedric Gibbons

cast
Oscar O’Shea as Captain Walt Cushman
Jack La Rue as Priest
John Carradine as Long Jack
Melvyn Douglas as Frank Burton Cheyne
Jimmy Conlin as Martin (uncredited)
Charles Coleman as Burns – the Butler (uncredited)
Leo G. Carroll as Burns (uncredited)
Charles Trowbridge as Dr. Dick Walsh (uncredited)
Walter Kingsford as Dr. Finley
Richard Powell as First Steward (uncredited)
James Kilgannon as Crewman (uncredited)
Gil Perkins as Crewman (uncredited)
Freddie Bartholomew as Harvey Cheyne
Spencer Tracy as Manuel Fidello
Lionel Barrymore as Captain Disko Troop
Charley Grapewin as Uncle Salters
Mickey Rooney as Dan Troop
Donald Briggs as Tyler
Sam McDaniel as ‘Doc’
Bill Burrud as Charles
Norman Ainsley as Robbins (uncredited)
C.E. Anderson as Fisherman (uncredited)
Edward Peil Sr. as Fisherman (uncredited)
Wally Albright as Boy (uncredited)
Lee Van Atta as Boy (uncredited)
Tommy Bupp as Boy on Ship (uncredited)
Gene Reynolds as Boy in Print Shop (uncredited)
Betty Alden as Bit Role (uncredited)
Sherry Hall as Bit Role (uncredited)
Mira McKinney as Bit Role (uncredited)
Dennis O’Keefe as Bit Role (uncredited)
William Arnold as Reporter (uncredited)
Don Brodie as Reporter (uncredited)
Bobby Watson as Reporter (uncredited)
Art Berry Sr. as Capt. Anderson (uncredited)
Jack Kennedy as Captain of Flying Swan (uncredited)
Wade Boteler as Skipper of Blue Gill (uncredited)
Lloyd Ingraham as Skipper of Ship (uncredited)
Lester Dorr as Corridor Steward (uncredited)
Billy Gilbert as Soda Steward (uncredited)
Larry Fisher as Crewman (uncredited)
Stubby Kruger as Crewman (uncredited)
Philo McCullough as Crewman (uncredited)
Jack Sterling as Crewman (uncredited)
Roger Gray as Nate Rogers (uncredited)
Henry Hanna as (uncredited)
Gladden James as Secretary Cobb (uncredited)
Murray Kinnell as Minister (uncredited)
Myra Marsh as Chester’s Wife (uncredited)
Christian Rub as Old Clement (uncredited)
William Stack as Elliott (uncredited)
Frank Sully as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Gertrude Sutton as Nate’s Wife (uncredited)
David Thursby as Tom (uncredited)
Monte Vandergrift as Sailor on Flying Swan (uncredited)
Jay Ward as Pogey Williams (uncredited)
Dave Wengren as Lars (uncredited)
Kenneth Wilson as Alvin Savage (uncredited)