User Reviews

This sentimental, seafaring traditions / whaling saga is well cared for by director, Henry Hathaway, and an outstanding cast. Nothing against CASABLANCA or BEN HUR, but they get run to death and it seems to me that TCM or AMC could find some time to show this little gem the light of day now and again. Lionel Barrymore stomps the quarterdeck on crutches, despite acute arthritis which often relegated him to a wheelchair. Under-appreciated, Richard Widmark, is about 180 degrees out from his breakout role as psychopathic hoodlum, Tommy Udo, in 1947's Kiss Of Death. How many outstanding films was Widmark a part of? Way too many to list here. Dean Stockwell (Quantum Leap's holographic Admiral "Al"Calavicci) is excellent as Jed and solid support comes from character pros the likes of John McIntyre, Harry Morgan, Cecil Kellaway and Gene Lockhart, among others. This film is definitely worthwhile viewing.

A favorite scene: Teacher, Gene Lockhart, is unable to break Captain Joy's heart when young Jed takes his exam.

It's a coming of age story about a boy, Dean Stockwell, who goes to sea on a whaling ship under the command of his crusty but affectionate grandfather, Lionel Barrymore. Also aboard is Richard Widmark as first mate. The hunt takes them from New Bedford down into the Antarctic seas. Stockwell and Widmark become friends. Barrymore, isolated by command, must act the authoritarian and conflicts develop.

If it sounds like another stupendous sailing ship epic with blazing blue skies and smiling seas and native girls doing the hootchy-cootchy, it's not. Neither is it a cheap and sentimental cardboard fantasy out of Pinchpenny Productions. It's really rather better than that. Better than "Captain's Courageous" too.

Right off the bat we have Stockwell as an eleven-year-old kid who doesn't make a mature audience want to vomit. That's getting off to a good start. On top of that it's one of Barrymore's more convincing performances. And a young Richard Widmark, without the wolf-man wig of "Kiss of Death", and playing an idealist for a change, is right for the role of the self-sacrificing mate.

It's actually exciting as well, but in ways that are hard to anticipate. After all, what kinds of excitement can be found in movies about sailing ships? Basically three. Mutinies, battles, and severe storms. But this film has the ship grinding up onto the ledge of an iceberg, a hole stove in her bow, and with the massive hull swinging in an irresistible rhythm, men must lower themselves into the few feet of space between the damaged hull and the ice cliff to make her seaworthy again. It's a thrilling scene, and not all the men survive.

The model work is good, and the ship's mock up is well above average. Wardrobe has done a fine and convincing job. And I was so pleased to see a child star like Stockwell who wasn't given a chance to cry. He was my supporting player in "Blue Velvet" and was a little nervous -- what with no longer being a child star -- but I forced myself on him to help him over the rough spots. Now he sends me a Christmas card every year filled with the most vile language.

This film is a classic in every way. The story is first rate. It deals with multiple themes that are profound and timeless. The characters are well-developed, human and sympathetic. There is no villain here; the story's conflict arises from the understandable differences between people, their different perspectives and their different values. The cast is uniformly outstanding in its portrayal of these diverse characters. This is a film about great concepts presented in a tale of adventure. It is to be savored on many levels. The cinematography is good, and it incorporates in an almost seamless way footage of actual whaling vessels and the activities on them. (Animal rights activists will, no doubt, declaim against this depiction of the whaling industry. We should not ignore history, however, in the name of political correctness. Horrific or not, the events depicted actually occurred.)

Themes: Age vs. Youth. Experience vs. Education. Individual needs vs. Group needs. Responsibility vs. Personal desire. Justice vs. Mercy. Respect vs. Affection. Intellect vs. Sentiment. To mention a few.

Cast: Lionel Barrymore, Richard Widmark, Dean Stockwell - Each of these three principals was never better. They realistically portray people in conflict with each other and with their own emotions and values. Cecil Kellaway, Jay C. Flippen and Harry Morgan are all under-appreciated, versatile character actors of the first order who are flawless in their roles. Gene Lockhart, John McIntire and Harry Davenport, in lesser roles, deliver their customarily fine performances. Taken together, this is a truly incredible cast, each member of which is a delight to fans of films from the Golden Age. What a treat!

The score: Fabulous in its restraint, underscoring scenes with subtlety and sometimes entirely absent to allow us to enjoy the sound of the howling wind or splash of the powerful ocean or tramping of solitary boots on stairs.

For my money, this is a far superior film to Captains Courageous. In its universality of themes, strength of characters and acting performances, this belongs in any survey of Hollywood's top 100 films - maybe in the top half. Now, will somebody please explain to me why TCM doesn't broadcast this film more often?

DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS is the story of a 19th century whaler as told through the eyes of a brash young boy who just so happens to be the grandson of the ship's captain. The tale is one of adventure on the high seas, although rather than endless feats of derring-do, the emphasis is on warmth and humanity throughout. Characters clash, folk fall out, but you just know it will all come right at the end.

This film was one of many made by child actor Dean Stockwell, whose lengthy Hollywood career continues to impress. However, Stockwell is overshadowed by the big players in the cast; chief of these is the inimitable Lionel Barrymore as the salty old sea dog with a heart of gold. Barrymore is brash, overbearing, and funny to boot. He accounts for much of the film's success. Supporting him is Richard Widmark in one of his earliest parts and without the cold edge he later brought to his characters.

This black and white movie is slow moving and somewhat sedate in places, although assured director Henry Hathaway gives it a sheen of quality without which it would otherwise be a drag. As ever, scenes of whale slaughter were repellent for this viewer. Things pick up for a brief, exciting climax, and some final moments which make the heart swell.

Lionel Barrymore as his usual irascible self, this time the head of a whaling ship for oil. His grandson,Dean Stockwell, is on board with him, and Barrymore goes by book, even to remove Richard Widmark, the latter in a much more calmer role, as the ship's head, when Widmark disobeys his rules, even though that disobeying saved Stockwell's life.

This is not only a tale of whaling, it's one of duty, commitment and following ship rules in their entirety.

The ending may be a downer, but after all, doesn't a captain always go down with a sinking ship?

Gene Lockhart is wonderful in his one scene as a schoolmaster who understands that character is just as important as academics.

Although this largely forgotten adventure story could have used a better title the main characters of aged whaling ship's captain Bering Joy, his young grandson, Jed, and first mate and Jed's tutor, Dan Lunceford, are played to perfection by Lionel Barrymore, Dean Stockwell, and Richard Widmark, respectively. .........Captain Joy must have seen the writing on the wall that this might be his last voyage as captain. Thus, he took his cabin-boy aged grandson along, to get him familiar with operations, in hopes that he will eventually become a whaler and captain. Part of Dan's job is to teach him 'the ropes', as Bering spent much of his time in his cabin, resting or charting their voyage..........During the last hour, several physical or personality crises occur. ..........The whale boat that includes Jed is long overdue back at the ship. Thus, Dan asks the Captain's permission to lower the other whaling boat to search for them. But , he knows it's the captain's policy not to have both boats at sea at the same time. As expected, the captain denies permission. But, after further delay, Dan takes it upon himself to launch a rescue mission, while the captain was in his cabin. Dan found that the other boat had somehow broken up, and that the survivors were clinging to flotsam. After returning to the ship, the captain initially commended Dan on his successful rescue. But, then he chastised him for disobeying orders, relieved him of his position, and said he would be put ashore at the first port. Although Dan takes this punishment in stride, Jed is very upset about the harsh punishment. Later, he comes to the captain and requests that he be put shore with Dan. Request denied. This matter is finally resolved when Captain Bering announces that he feels too sick to continue as captain, and that he is appointing Dan as acting captain, since Dan has training to be ship's captain.........Another crisis arises when the ship strikes a glancing blow with an iceberg, in the fog. Dan sees that a sizable hole has been torn just above the waterline. He and another are lowered on a rope with a skin patch in hand. But, the patch is only partially attached before the other man is crushed to death, and Dan suffers a serious injury, as well. Dan is hauled up and administered to. Thus, another crewman announces that he is acting captain, and orders the crew to abandon ship. But, Bering emerges from his cabin, and announces that he is resuming as captain, and that there will be no abandonment of the ship. He is lowered down, and secures the patch, before being hauled up, and taken to his cabin for a long rest. In the finale, Dan has recovered, and is once again captain. He and Jed are smiling, as another whaling vessel approaches. Asked who is captain of this ship, Dan answers " Captain Bering Joy"