Do you want to see ‘Captains Courageous’?

Add to Netflix

Captains Courageous (1937)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.8/10
Reviews Counted: 13
Fresh: 12 | Rotten: 1

No consensus yet.

No Reviews Yet...

Release Date: Jun 25, 1937 Wide

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 3,504

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

A boy learns life-changing lessons about the importance of friendship and the dignity of labor in this adventure saga based on a story by Rudyard Kipling. Young Harvey Cheyne (Freddie Bartholomew) is the working definition of a spoiled brat; the only child of a wealthy widowed businessman, Harvey has everything he needs, but never stops asking for more, convinced he can get anything if he yells, pouts, or throws the right tantrum. Even other boys his age are disgusted with his antics, and when

G, 1 hr. 56 min.

Classics, Action & Adventure

Directed By: Victor Fleming

Written By: John Lee Mahin, Marc Connelly, Dale Van Every

In Theaters: Jun 25, 1937 Wide

On DVD: Jan 31, 2006

MGM Home Entertainment

Captains Courageous Trailer & Photos

Cast

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
Wade Boteler
Skipper of Blue Gill
Don Brodie
Tommy Bupp
Boy
Leo G Carroll
Burns
Charles Coleman
Butler
Jimmy Conlin
Thin Man
Lester Dorr
Corridor Steward
Billy Gilbert
Soda Steward
Roger Gray
Nate Rogers
Sherry Hall
Dick Howard
Gladden James
Secretary Cobb
Jack Kennedy
Captain of Flying Swan
Katherine Kenworthy
Mrs. Disko
David Kerman
Murray Kinnell
Minister
Myra Marsh
Chester's Wife
Philo McCullough
Mira McKinney
Edward Peil Sr.
Fisherman
Gil Perkins
Richard Powell
Steward
Christian Rub
Old Clement
William Stack
Elliott
Frank Sully
Taxi Driver
Gertrude Sutton
Nate's Wife
David Thursby
Tom
Charles Trowbridge
Dr. Walsh
Lee Van Atta
Monte Vandergrift
Sailor on Flying Swan
Jay Ward
Pogey
Bobby Watson
Reporter
William Arnold
Reporter
Lloyd Ingraham
Skipper of Ship
Gene Reynolds
Larry Fisher
Dave Wengren
Lars
Art Berry Sr.
Capt. Anderson
Bill Fisher
James Kilgannon
Jack Sterling
Reggie Streeter
Bits

Critic Reviews for Captains Courageous

All Critics (18) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (1) | DVD (6)

Its themes are entirely relevant to this day, and even technically %u2013 with the integration of sound stage and open sea footage %u2013 it stands the test of time

May 15, 2008 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile

| Comment

Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

One of the all time best. Adventure, love, and tears. Tracy and Bartholomew are terrific.

February 17, 2008 Comment

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Once you accept Spencer Tracy as a Portuguese fisherman, Victor Fleming's version of Kipling's sea-adventure novel is passably enjoyable by standards of the times.

February 13, 2008 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

This hokum earned Spencer Tracy his first Best Actor Oscar.

February 8, 2007 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

While perhaps not the "all-time classic" that some of its contemporaries are, Captains Courageous still stands up pretty well today.

March 9, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com

| Comment

Scott Weinberg

DVDTalk.com

There is no better film about sailing than this. There is no better coming of age story than this.

September 28, 2005 Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope

| Comment

Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

Bartholomew's transition from evil brat to nice kid is so subtle that it's surprising when you notice it.

June 4, 2005 Full Review Source: Goatdog's Movies

| Comment

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.

Goatdog's Movies Source: Goatdog's Movies

Still effective old-style literary adaptation.

September 18, 2003 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Classic coming of age story

July 14, 2003 Comment

Fred Topel

About.com

Well-directed, well-acted coming-of-age tale that may have the most hard-bitten viewer in tears by the end.

September 25, 2001 Full Review Source: All Movie Guide

| Comment

Dan Jardine

All Movie Guide

One of cinema's greatest classic adventure stories is Captains Courageous (1937), an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's novel.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Tim Dirks' The Greatest Films

| Comment

Tim Dirks

Tim Dirks' The Greatest Films

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Captains Courageous

View All

First of all I don't like animal related movies, but I do like pirate movies, which is really weird, I know. Second, this movie is really long. It starts out interesting, but gets more and more boring as it goes on. I didn't see the end because I was tired of watching this movie.

September 5, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

Spencer Tracy did not think this a great performance, but he won the 1937 best actor Oscar. I have to agree with Tracy's evaluation, but it doesn't detract from the fact that this is a wonderful movie. It's a great coming of age story, and Freddie Bartholomew deserves at least equal praise for not sinking this into

December 9, 2008

Lanning : )

Super Reviewer

Captains Courageous Quotes

View All

No quotes approved yet for Captains Courageous. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Submit a Quote from 'Captains Courageous'

A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.

Example:

Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.