The Most Exciting Picture Since "Mutiny On The Bounty"...

Starring: Freddie Bartholomew, Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore, Melvyn Douglas, Charley Grapewin, Mickey Rooney, John Carradine, Oscar O'Shea, Jack La Rue, Walter Kingsford

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"He teach me how to fish, how to sail boat! He give me arms and hands and feet, feeling good outside and he teach me how to feel good inside! My father do all this and he have 17 other kids beside - what else a father do?" - Manuel Fidello, about what his father did for him

Why watch this? This is one of the greatest coming-of-age stories ever.

Plot Summary: A spoiled, wealthy young boy named Harvey Cheyne is washed overboard from a transatlantic ocean liner and rescued by a Portuguese fishing schooner. The strict but fair captain and the hearty crew force the boy to work as a fisherman, teaching him responsibility and humility during the challenging journey. By the time they return to port, Harvey has matured significantly and formed a lasting bond with the crew, particularly the captain's son.

Dad's Preview:  Famed adventure director Victor Fleming brings this literature classic, from the novel by Rudyard Kipling, into full, exciting, cinematic life. It is, at its core, such a great story about a pampered lad forced to grow up. The film excels thanks to two superb performances: Freddie Bartholomew, as the young Harvey, and the great Spencer Tracy, as the Portuguese immigrant, Manuel. It is their relationship and simple interactions that shine. This is a great film for males, because it shows what real manhood looks like. It's strong, protective, patient and, at its core, kind.

Louis D. Lighton, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc.