Down to the Sea in Ships (1949)
Alfred Newman’s masterful theme sets the tone for Down to the Sea in Ships, a fantastic sea-faring drama. It’s equal parts adventure, family drama, coming of age, and nautical voyage. It brings out nostalgia, hope, pride, sweetness, sadness, and inspiration. Well-acted, well-directed, well-written, and well-scored, it was the big surprise of the 1949 Hot Toasty Rag Awards, sweeping up Best Picture, Director, Actor, Screenplay, and a Juvenile Award for Dean Stockwell (with additional nominations for Score and Song). Dean made Rag history by becoming the first person to win three awards – congratulations! In other words, if you haven’t seen this movie yet, or if you haven’t even heard of it, what are you waiting for?
I can’t recommend this movie highly enough. It featured Lionel Barrymore’s last leading role, and there are several times throughout the film when you can feel him saying farewell to his audience. He was in a great deal of pain while making this movie, and while he was seated for a great deal of it, he did sometimes hoist himself up on his crutches. As the captain of the ship, he had a great deal of pride and valued responsibility. In one of my favorite scenes, he encouraged his grandson Dean during his exam studies, but after Dean went to bed, he snucks off to the library and looked up one of the big words Dean used in the dictionary.
The story itself is extremely heartwarming. Lionel wants to take his grandson on a sea voyage to give him character and all the life lessons he can impart while he still can. However, the local school board will only allow the leave of absence if he can prove he’s at grade-level intelligence. Technically, he doesn’t pass, but the school’s director, Gene Lockhart, disagrees with the test proctor who calls Dean “deficient.” “I think there’s a little more to education than knowing how to spell. There’s a little matter called ‘character’, and character is education. The best of it. And that old man has a textbook that builds character. […] If I could learn to read that book of his, I’d give up knowing how to spell. I’d give up a good deal more if I had that boy’s chance to be a man. We’ll mark the paper ‘70’.”
So, off Dean goes to the sea with his grandfather. Richard Widmark is the first mate, and he’s very different from Lionel. He’s young, full of energy, modern, and has scholastic intelligence. As he tutors Dean on their off-hours, Dean feels conflicted with his hero-worship. He used to idolize and love his grandfather and now feels those same feelings for Dick. Is there room in a young boy’s life for two mentors? When the chips are down, who will he turn to?
The real beauty of this movie is that it’s impossible to point to one gem as the stand-out. Dean is fantastic, brimming with such raw talent it’s hard to fathom. Lionel has incredible subtle expressions, and Henry Hathaway’s direction puts you right in the moment. But it’s the combination of everyone’s talent pulling together that makes this the best picture of the year and one of the best movies of the decade. It’s very special, and it’s an emotional journey to watch it.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. Since the vast majority of this movie takes place on a ship, sometimes the camera bobs up and down, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Juhi Thaker" for posting!
More Richard Widmark movies here!
I can’t recommend this movie highly enough. It featured Lionel Barrymore’s last leading role, and there are several times throughout the film when you can feel him saying farewell to his audience. He was in a great deal of pain while making this movie, and while he was seated for a great deal of it, he did sometimes hoist himself up on his crutches. As the captain of the ship, he had a great deal of pride and valued responsibility. In one of my favorite scenes, he encouraged his grandson Dean during his exam studies, but after Dean went to bed, he snucks off to the library and looked up one of the big words Dean used in the dictionary.
The story itself is extremely heartwarming. Lionel wants to take his grandson on a sea voyage to give him character and all the life lessons he can impart while he still can. However, the local school board will only allow the leave of absence if he can prove he’s at grade-level intelligence. Technically, he doesn’t pass, but the school’s director, Gene Lockhart, disagrees with the test proctor who calls Dean “deficient.” “I think there’s a little more to education than knowing how to spell. There’s a little matter called ‘character’, and character is education. The best of it. And that old man has a textbook that builds character. […] If I could learn to read that book of his, I’d give up knowing how to spell. I’d give up a good deal more if I had that boy’s chance to be a man. We’ll mark the paper ‘70’.”
So, off Dean goes to the sea with his grandfather. Richard Widmark is the first mate, and he’s very different from Lionel. He’s young, full of energy, modern, and has scholastic intelligence. As he tutors Dean on their off-hours, Dean feels conflicted with his hero-worship. He used to idolize and love his grandfather and now feels those same feelings for Dick. Is there room in a young boy’s life for two mentors? When the chips are down, who will he turn to?
The real beauty of this movie is that it’s impossible to point to one gem as the stand-out. Dean is fantastic, brimming with such raw talent it’s hard to fathom. Lionel has incredible subtle expressions, and Henry Hathaway’s direction puts you right in the moment. But it’s the combination of everyone’s talent pulling together that makes this the best picture of the year and one of the best movies of the decade. It’s very special, and it’s an emotional journey to watch it.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. Since the vast majority of this movie takes place on a ship, sometimes the camera bobs up and down, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Juhi Thaker" for posting!
More Richard Widmark movies here!
Hot Toasty Rag Awards:
Best Picture of 1949
Best Director: Henry Hathaway
Best Actor: Lionel Barrymore
Juvenile Award: Dean Stockwell
Best Dramatic Screenplay
Hot Toasty Rag Nominations:
Best Musical Score: Alfred Newman
Best Original Song: "Down to the Sea in Ships"