Captains Courageous

Victor Fleming's (Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz) 1937 salty sea tale, based on Rudyard Kipling's classic novel about a spoiled rich brat (Freddie Bartholomew) who tumbles off an ocean liner and is picked up by a Portuguese fishing boat filled with crusty, no-nonsense seadogs, still packs a pretty good punch nearly 70 years later. When Harvey (Bartholomew) demands of the Captain (Lionel Barrymore) that he be returned ashore instantly, he is informed—in no uncertain terms—that he will not only remain on the fishing boat for the next three months, but will carry his share of the work to boot. Manuel (Oscar-winner Spencer Tracy) becomes his reluctant mentor, and after an initially stormy relationship, the pair develop mutual trust and respect. Nominated for Best Picture and Screenplay, Captains Courageous bows on DVD with a decent transfer and a handful of extras, including the vintage short “The Little Maestro,” the classic cartoon “Little Buck Cheeser,” and a radio promo. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)