Deep Waters

Pert Jean Peters is in charge of an orphan boy (played by Dean Stockwell). Dana Andrews is a fisherman in a small town in Maine. He is highly attracted to Peters (who can blame him). However, when the orphan boy shows a distinct passion for the sea, Peters and Andrews find themselves at odds. Cesar Romero and Anne Revere co-star in this un-pretentious flick about romance, adventure and a boy's love for the sea. It's worth seeing at least once, but Fox does not offer it in VHS. Try looking for it in one of the movie classic cable channels. The Maine locations are quite impressive and the acting is fine.

Originally filmed in sepiatone, its big feature is the Maine photography. A somewhat simplistic, yet touching story of an orphan (Stockwell), who gets into trouble, but the town old maid (Revere) comes to the rescue, along with the help of a pair of on/off lovers (Andrews/Peters. A very nice resolution, low key, except for a storm sequence. The music is terrific. Century

Director Henry King continues to impress me. Having recently watched films of his as diverse as THE BRAVADOS, CAROUSEL, REMEMBER THE DAY, in DEEP WATERS I found yet another specimen of the director's versatility and expertise.

Shot in lovely B&W off the Maine seashore, DEEP WATERS contains some very realistic footage of action at sea, further enhanced by Dana Andrews and Romero looking very professional and knowledgeable as they handle boats, lobsters, and bad weather with consummate ease.

In fact, Andrews was at the top of his powers here, and this seems like a small film for such a great actor, but he goes about it manfully and wholeheartedly, and delivers a superb performance that brims with honesty.

Romero also does well as his Portuguese help who wants to turn to farming, or to mink or rabbit rearing, instead. In contrast, young Roddy McDowall likes the sea like his late father and uncle. However, he is under the charge of beautiful Jean Peters, who does not want the youngster to go to sea because of the dangers therein. Another spanner in the works is that the film opens with Peters and Andrews breaking off their engagement but clearly still feeling deeply for each other... and the wonderful Anne Revere as the no-nonsense boy's foster carer - a truly great short role.

Wonderful cinematography and editing. Well worth a watch. 7/10.

Ruth Moore's best-selling novel SPOONHANDLE was renamed DEEP WATERS for this 1948 film. Straightforward story about an orphaned boy and the lives of several people he changes.

Jean Peters plays a young, idealistic social worker in coastal Maine. She is afraid of the sea and its power, especially its dangers for the lobstermen and the heartache of those left behind when the sea claims them. Dana Andrews plays a lobsterman who loves Peters but also loves his job. Dean Stockwell is a troubled boy whose father was a fisherman. Peters tries to keep the boy away from the sea but it's in his blood. She places the orphan with a crotchety old lady (Anne Revere) who is tough but fair on the boy. The boy runs away and gets into trouble.

Something must change, but these Mainers are all stubborn. Finally, one last incident changes all their lives forever.

Andrews is excellent as the lobsterman, and Peters is quite believable as the over-protective social worker. Stockwell turns in a great performance as does Revere as the rock-solid old lady. Cesar Romero plays Andrews' fishing partner. Ed Begley plays an influential friend. Raymond Greenleaf is the wise old judge, and Mae Marsh is the grieving widow. In small parts, Harry Tyler and Will Geer are recognizable.

The exteriors were filmed on Vinalhaven and in Rockland and Belfast. The ocean scenes are terrific as is the big storm which won an Oscar nomination for special effects. The location shooting just screamed out for color.

Dana Andrews is "Hod" - a professional architect who much prefers his life as a lobster fisherman. This causes a bit of hassle with his fiancée "Ann" (Jean Peters), who is worried about the dangers of this maritime career. She is a social worker, and when she brings the young orphan "Donny" (Dean Stockwell) to hopefully find a permanent home in their small Maine town, the boy and "Hod" - and his colleague "Joe" (Cesar Romero) become fast friends. Henry King has created a good framework for this well paced and engaging story that takes a sensitive look at a young boy looking for roots, whilst offering us a gently simmering, lively, romance with some characterful performances - including the usually reliable Anne Revere ("Mary"). The last ten minutes are quite an exciting watch - the back-shot storm sequence is quite well integrated into the action, and folks gets well and truly soaked!