Spencer Tracy, Freddie Bartholomew
MGM's adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling story. A 10 yo spoiled brat falls off an ocean liner and is picked up by a fishing schooner out of Gloucester, Mass. He is condemned to stay with the vessel for the three-month season. Not surprisingly, he learns some valuable life lessons.
This film from the height of MGM's dynasty years holds up quite well. The working class guys are over-cooked of course...Lionel Barrymoore in particular does a very poor job with a New England accent/demeanor. And for a half hour I had a lot of trouble accepting ST as an illiterate Portuguese fisherman. But young Freddie was captivating and his transition from jerk to OK kid worked. His tearful reaction to the death of his mentor was very moving.
One of the better movies to come out of LB Mayer's empire.
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