DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS
US, 1949, 120 minutes, Black and white.
Richard Widmark, Lionel Barrymore, Dean Stockwell, Cecil Kellaway, Gene Lockhart, John Mc Intyre, Henry Morgan, Harry Davenport.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.
The title of Down to the Sea in Ships indicates immediately what the film is about. It is set in the days of sailing – aboard a ship which is in pursuit of whales for blubber.
The film is a family adventure, especially for the male members of the family. Dean Stockwell portrays a young boy who is failing in his studies but whose grandfather, the captain of the ship, wants him to sail with him. Lionel Barrymore is the crusty old captain – and he entrusts his grandson’s education to the first mate, a more genial performance by Richard Widmark after his initial villains in films like Kiss of Death. Also aboard are some stalwarts like Cecil Kellaway and Gene Lockhart.
The film was directed by Henry Hathaway who directed many action adventures in the 1930s including Lives of a Bengal Lancer and the first colour western, Trail of the Lonesome Pine. He continued in that vein although during the mid-40s he did a number of docudramas like Call Northside 777, 13 Rue Madeleine, House on 92nd Street. He also directed a number of the early Cinemascope films including Marilyn Monroe in River of No Return. In 1969 John Wayne won an Oscar for best actor in Hathaway’s True Grit.
1. Was this a good adventure film? How interesting and exciting was the story?
2. Was this a good human interest film? How interesting and engaging were the principal characters and their situations? Why?
3. A central theme of the film was growing up. How were the events of the film seen through Jed's eyes? How did Jed grow up during the film? his education in New Bedford, the voyage, the work, his affection for Mr Lunsford, his reactions to his grandfather?
4. What did the film have to say about traditions and their being prolonged? About family pride and tradition and continuity of work? About changes? Captain Joy and his practical experience and Mr Lunsford and his theory? The mutual influence of experience and theory?
5. How authentic a picture of the whaling industry did the film give? Was there enough of whaling incidents? The importance of New Bedford - the setting for Moby Dick? The atmosphere and traditions of New Bedford and the sea?
6. How good was this film as a piece of Americana? A picture of America in the 19th Century ? its beliefs, growths, traditions? As an understanding of American traditions?
7. How important was the character of Jed for the film? the initial seeing things through his eyes for the audience? His study and relationship with his grandfather? The exam and the attitude and words of the teacher? His passing the exam? The discipline with which his grandfather treated him? His reaction to Mr Lunsford and his admiration of him? Why did he turn against his grandfather? How understandable was this? His gratitude to Mr Lunsford for coming to save him? His change of heart towards his grandfather? What future would Jed have?
8. The picture of Captain Joy? what were his most attractive features? his interpretation of the letter of the law? Was he too strict and inhuman? Should a master of a ship act as he did? His strength in saving the ship at the end? His relationship to Mr Lunsford?
9. Mr Lunsford as an attractive character? too severe and unfeeling? His blindness to the boy's admiration? His agreement with Captain Joy's treatment of him? His decision to lower the boat and search? Was he right in doing so? Should a master of a ship do this? His acceptance of the ship from the Captain? His handling of the crises?
10. How did the crises help the film move? The initial going towards the whales and the practice? Being lost in the fog? The illness of the Captain? The icebergs? How optimistic a film was this? The pride of being alive and of work? Of learning?
