Captains Courageous Blu-ray Review
“Captains Courageous” is a true classic.
Based on the Rudyard Kipling novel and adapted for the screen by John Lee Mahin, Marc Connelly and Dale Van Every, 1937’s “Captain Courageous” is a coming-of-age movie/adventure movie/tearjerking drama. The story revolves around Henry- a smart, entitled, dishonest and spoiled child of a business tycoon (Frank) who needs to learn a great many life lessons. After getting suspended from school, Frank decides to take him on a trip to Europe via a steamship. Frank hopes to be able to bond with his son more and perhaps straighten out his behavior. An accident occurs which leads Harvey to fall overboard. He is rescued by a fisherman (Manuel) who is a crew member of a fishing vessel captained by Disko. Harvey wishes to return home right away, but Disko states that he must remain on board for 3 months while their fishing operation continues. Slowly, but surely, Harvey becomes a member of the crew that pulls his own weight. He even starts to shed his selfish ways and bond with Manuel who becomes a sort of father figure to him.
When it comes to grand old Hollywood films, Victor Fleming is certainly one of the most notable filmmakers having helmed “The Wizard Of Oz,” “Gone With The Wind,” and “Captains Courageous.” ‘Captains’ really has everything you could want out of a movie. It’s a character study, an adventure film on the high seas, a coming-of-age story, a father and son story, a story about friendship, and a tearjerking drama all rolled together. It’s a story about growth, life, and harsh realities. Under less capable hands, this could have easily been a sappy film, but every emotional beat is earned. You really believe Harvey’s journey and transformation and you really buy into his friendship with Manuel. If that wasn’t convincing, the movie would not work at all.
On the subject of the cast, it’s a real all-star affair. Even though Spencer Tracy is perhaps the least convincing Portuguese man (not to mention whitewashing), the acclaimed actor still manages to make Manuel a tender and emotional character. He even earned an Oscar nomination for his work. Freddie Bartholomew gives one of the all-time great child performances here as Harvey. He’s the heart and soul of the film. The rest of the cast is a who’s who of Hollywood at the time with supporting roles by Mickey Rooney, Lionel Barrymore, and Melvyn Douglas. It’s a fantastic ensemble to be sure.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.37:1 1080p. How does it look? The Oscar nominated B&W film looks nothing short of spectacular thanks to the 4K digital restoration.
Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? Expect a first rate 2.0 track that really soars during the scenes at sea.
Extras include a theatrical trailer, a cartoon (“Wayward Pups”), a short film (“How To Start The Day”) and a “Leo Is On The Air” radio promo for “Captains Courageous.”
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