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7.3/10
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Whaling ship captain Bering Joy takes his grandson Jed on a whaling trip to teach him core life values while First Mate Dan Lunceford is tasked with tutoring Jed.Whaling ship captain Bering Joy takes his grandson Jed on a whaling trip to teach him core life values while First Mate Dan Lunceford is tasked with tutoring Jed.Whaling ship captain Bering Joy takes his grandson Jed on a whaling trip to teach him core life values while First Mate Dan Lunceford is tasked with tutoring Jed.
Harry Morgan
- Britton
- (as Henry Morgan)
Ruth Donnelly
- New Bedford Neighbor
- (scenes deleted)
Hubert E. Flanagan
- Capt. Rumley
- (scenes deleted)
Connie Marshall
- New Bedford Neighbor
- (scenes deleted)
Dorothy Adams
- Miss Hopkins
- (uncredited)
Robert Adler
- Crew Member
- (uncredited)
Harry Carter
- Crew Member
- (uncredited)
Eddie Das
- Crew Member
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaShips' cooks were often nicknamed "Slush" or Slushy". The term comes from the fact that they had to feed the crew with salt pork or salt beef. The meat would be put into a pot and boiled and the grease that came to the surface was called "slush" and was skimmed off and saved. The sailors often smeared it on ships' biscuit in place of butter. Any excess at the end of the voyage was sold to soap makers or candle makers and the proceeds were used to buy things for the ship, hence the term "Slush Fund".
- GoofsWhen their ship strikes an iceberg looming out of the fog bank Widmark grabs a rope and goes overboard to examine the damage. This is absurd when there are a dozen able-body sailors who could go below deck and safely report any hull damage. Furthermore the life expectancy in ice-laden sea water would be a matter of minutes - Widmark and a couple of other sailors are splashing around (getting crushed between the ship and the berg) like they're in a warm bathtub.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits prologue: NEW BEDFORD 1887
- ConnectionsFeatured in Los pájaros de Baden-Baden (1975)
Featured review
It's unusual to see a film with as impressive a cast of supporting actors. Helping Richard Widmark and Dean Stockwell tell this story are the likes of Lionel Barrymore, Cecil Kellaway, Gene Lockhart, Harry Davenport, Jay C. Flippen and other fine supporting actors. Now this was NOT an easy task, as some of the folks were on loan from MGM--and it's obvious that Twentieth Century-Fox put a lot of care and effort into making this seafaring film. Also, be aware that despite the same titles, this 1949 film has no relation to the 1922 Mary Pickford movie.
"Down to the Sea in Ships" is a story about an aging grandfather (Barrymore) and his young grandson (Stockwell). The old man raised the boy at sea, as he's a whaling sea captain in the 19th century. He is conflicted--part of him wants to put the boy ashore to get an education and part of his looks down on formalized learning, as he never went to school and is a master sailor. Eventually, to solve the problem, he takes on a First Mate who is highly educated (Richard Widmark)--with his plan being that the Mate teach the boy on his off hours. However, there is a problem--the Captain and Mate are BOTH very strong-willed men who think they are right--or at least they won't allow themselves to admit that they are not right. The Captain behaves as if education is of limited value--though WHY did he arrange for this tutor? And, the Mate is convinced that the Captain is an idiot! Not surprisingly, both change their opinions as this sweeping saga progresses.
Most of the film was shot in a sound stage. Yet, surprisingly, the footage is usually excellent and is integrated very well with actual footage. It makes for a very impressive looking film and director Henry Hathaway did an admirable job. Also admirable is the acting and script. Together, they make for a terrific film with lots of great messages about life, maturity and what it is to be a man. Quite impressive and enjoyable.
By the way, there are two things I'd like to point out. Despite what they said in the film, the Mississippi River is NOT the longest river in the world (just the US). Also, watch Harry Morgan--he forever seems to be getting squished in the movie! Poor Harry!
"Down to the Sea in Ships" is a story about an aging grandfather (Barrymore) and his young grandson (Stockwell). The old man raised the boy at sea, as he's a whaling sea captain in the 19th century. He is conflicted--part of him wants to put the boy ashore to get an education and part of his looks down on formalized learning, as he never went to school and is a master sailor. Eventually, to solve the problem, he takes on a First Mate who is highly educated (Richard Widmark)--with his plan being that the Mate teach the boy on his off hours. However, there is a problem--the Captain and Mate are BOTH very strong-willed men who think they are right--or at least they won't allow themselves to admit that they are not right. The Captain behaves as if education is of limited value--though WHY did he arrange for this tutor? And, the Mate is convinced that the Captain is an idiot! Not surprisingly, both change their opinions as this sweeping saga progresses.
Most of the film was shot in a sound stage. Yet, surprisingly, the footage is usually excellent and is integrated very well with actual footage. It makes for a very impressive looking film and director Henry Hathaway did an admirable job. Also admirable is the acting and script. Together, they make for a terrific film with lots of great messages about life, maturity and what it is to be a man. Quite impressive and enjoyable.
By the way, there are two things I'd like to point out. Despite what they said in the film, the Mississippi River is NOT the longest river in the world (just the US). Also, watch Harry Morgan--he forever seems to be getting squished in the movie! Poor Harry!
- planktonrules
- Mar 22, 2013
- Permalink
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Brodovima po moru
- Filming locations
- Seal Beach, California, USA(harpoon boats scenes)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime2 hours
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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By what name was Down to the Sea in Ships (1949) officially released in India in English?
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