Moviecut—Down to the Sea in Ships

source: Down to the Sea in Ships

Down to the Sea in Ships

Why TCM can't make room for this movie, while at the same time continously showing films of the same same time era again and again, is beyond me. I do occasionally see it on other channels though and it is available on ok.ru. Don't miss it if you have the chance to see it! Great hidden gem! This was Lionel Barrymore's last lead role. If you don't think he had many feature roles please check out his filmography. He was great in character roles but also had fine lead roles as well. Somehow he was underrated but one of our finest actors of the golden era! Much better and enduring than his bafoon overrated brother who died of booze and stardom! Also a fine support cast from Richard Widmark as his first mate and Dean Stockwell as Captain Bering's grandson. It's a great relationship movie that anyone can relate to. The acting and setting are a treasure..

Seems like every grand character actor in Hollywood gets to play an old salt in this fine film of a boy's coming of age on a whaling ship. Cecil Kellaway, Jay C. Flippen, Thomas Mitchell, Gene Lockhart, et al. are given generous opportunity to show us all how it's done. Lionel Barrymore is deeply affecting as a crusty old whaling captain raising his grandson to be a proper man, and Richard Widmark is warm and nuanced as the young educated officer ordered to school the boy at sea. Role modeling, bonding, jealousy, ethics, rule of law vs. rule of heart, honor codes, masculine virtue ideation, etc. are skillfully and sincerely explored. Little Dean Stockwell is tough and smart in the role of the boy. In lesser hands this could have been creaky mush -- but fine script, direction, acting make this film a gem.

If you would like to see the perils of whaling, and the life on board a whaler then this movie is for you as it was for me at nine years of age. I have yet to find few movies to fit the adventures that were the daily work of many a young man and a historical lesson at the same time. The main characters of Lionel Barrymore, Richard Widmark, and Dean Stockwell are why they are so respected in their profession. If you can get a look at this movie and know somewhere to get copy it is worth being in your library (and if you do know where to get a copy please let me know as I have not seen this movie since 1949, but it made me go to sea). Another excellent entertaining aspect of the movie is the music. The music is well done and may with you as it has with me been a life time tune to hum when sailing or adventuring. I have one copy of the main theme that is use to get me going at times. Again see the movie and learn some history about profession that has pretty much left the American Scene.

This is one of the all-time greats. Its brilliance is largely due to Lionel Barrymore. Usually seen in supporting roles (he & Frank Morgan being the two greatest character actors of the golden age), he carries this film as star. There are many electrifying scenes, especially his confrontation with Dean Stockwell, a worthy match for the star, not to mention murdering a whale. On shore, the leads sparkle in a high-stakes testing scene. It also documents an industry that is long gone. You can learn a lot about whaling here. (For example, the captain never speaks to the crew once the boat sails; all communication is through the first mate, who can, however, give a crewman permission to approach the captain.)

Although rather long (2 hours), the leisurely pace of this film works very well, and I would rank the performances of the three leads (Barrymore, Widmark and Stockwell) as among the best each of them every gave on film. In fact, this may be the best of Lionel Barrymore's "grumpy old man" roles, and his relationship with grandson Stockwell is beautifully presented and developed. The cast is packed with great supporting players; it seems every role was cast with care. Look for the great Paul Harvey ashore, as well as a wonderful scene with Dorothy Adams as the school teacher. Crew aboard the whaling ship includes Jay C. Flippen, John McIntyre, Berry Kroeger, etc. This movie is a real treat, and a "family film" of the highest order.

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.

In this film progress is overtaking the old and outdated: Captain Joy (L. Barrymore) is a stern old man set in his ways and his first mate (R. Widmark) is a modern man with modern ideas. Add to this a catalyst in the form of the Captain's grandson (Dean Stockwell) and tensions mount. I love most sailing films and this is no exception. Good acting all around. Somewhat of a tearjerker, although that's not bad in this instance. Save the whales advocates may not care for this movie because it shows whales being taken and blubber removed to prepare oil. I wonder where they got the idea for the ship to hit an iceberg?---At least it didn't sink. This movie may be hard to find in video format, but I've seen it aired a couple of times in the last few years. I gave this one a 9 of 10 mostly because it was a good story with fine acting. Also the ship scenes were realistic and full of action. A nice clean movie your whole family will enjoy even if it is in black & white.