Classic Hollywood of the 1930's: Captains Courageous

Was the first MGM film to be shown on television, in 1955.

Spencer Tracy was initially reluctant to take on the part of Manuel, mainly because he had to sing in several scenes and get his hair curled. His new curly locks provided a lot of amusement to his friends and fellow actors. Joan Crawford, for instance, referred to him as Harpo (after Harpo Marx, the curly-haired Marx Brother).

This was one of the final films Lionel Barrymore made before his degenerative arthritis crippled him. The following year, he was hobbling around on crutches in Frank Capra's "You Can't Take It with You" (1938); after that, he was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

When Spencer Tracy received his Oscar statuette for this movie, he was surprised to find it inscribed to comic-strip hero "Dick Tracy". An embarrassed Academy replaced the statuette.

The only film where Freddie Bartholomew was allowed to play a less-than-virtuous character.

Spencer Tracy initially turned down the role of Manuel because he thought it was too secondary to the boy. He did not attempt a Portuguese accent but instead based his accent for the film on a Yiddish voice he had used during an early theater performance. He initially hated his performance in the movie until it won him good reviews and an Oscar nomination.

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Trivia items below here contain information that may give away important plot points. You may not want to read any further if you've not already seen this title.

SPOILER: The Fishermen's Memorial at the end of the film is a replica of the one in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The actual memorial can be seen at the beginning of The Perfect Storm (2000), another movie about Gloucester fishermen.

Cast of Captains Courageous

Spencer Tracy - Manuel
Freddie Bartholomew - Harvey Cheyne
Lionel Barrymore - Captain Disko
Melvyn Douglas - Mr. Cheyne
Charles Grapewin - Uncle Salters
John Carradine - "Long Jack"

Mickey Rooney - Dan Troop

Oscar O'Shea - Cushman

Jack LaRue - Priest

Walter Kingsford - Dr. Finley

Donald Briggs - Tyler

Sam McDaniel - "Doc"

Billy Burrud - Charles

Norman Ainsley - Robbins

Wally Albright - Boy

Betty Alden