1949, Dir Henry Hathaway, B&W, 20th Century Fox, PG, 120mins
The character development in this classic New Bedford whaling tale makes you realise how much of modern cinema is rubbish. Its three central actors visibly grow through their relationship in a story centred around a whaling voyage in the late 1800s. There’s the grandpa captain (played by Lionel Barrymore), steeped in the old ways and as salty as a cow’s-lick, taking his wayward young grandson (Dean Stockwell) to sea for the first time. The latter, avoiding his books, is given to the new mate (Richard Widmark) who, as a graduate of marine biology, has the hapless task of schooling the boy. Without a woman in sight (almost) this is the quintessential tale of men growing into their manhood at the various progressions of life; the boy grows up, the mate assumes command (with the degree of fatherhood that entails) and the old man lets go but not before saving the ship from iceberg-wreck doom. All three central characters wrestle with their own psyche as much as with the (very real footage of) whaling in the days when it was done by hand, harpoon and steer. With a superb supporting cast, and lots of what to do and not to do in dire situations at sea this is a classic drama-filled sea film and Widmark and Barrymore are at the top of their form. It’s a film to return to. DH
At times this film has appeared online but it doesn’t seem to last long. Nor are DVDs readily available in Europe, but it’s a treat if you can find it.
Reviewed as part of our Great Sailing Films Collection