Captains Courageous
“As great as "Mutiny on the Bounty"”
Synopsis
Harvey, the arrogant and spoiled son of an indulgent absentee-father, falls overboard from a transatlantic steamship and is rescued by a fishing vessel on the Grand Banks. Harvey fails to persuade them to take him ashore, nor convince the crew of his wealth. The captain offers him a low-paid job, until they return to port, as part of the crew that turns him into a mature, considerate young man.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Larry Karaszewski on Captain's Courageous
Type: Featurette • Published 2013-03-13
Top Cast
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Freddie Bartholomew
Harvey Cheyne
Spencer Tracy
Manuel Fidello
Lionel Barrymore
Captain Disko Troop
Melvyn Douglas
Frank Burton Cheyne
Charley Grapewin
Uncle Salters
Mickey Rooney
Dan Troop
John Carradine
Long Jack
Oscar O'Shea
Captain Walt Cushman
Jack La Rue
Priest
Walter Kingsford
Dr. Finley
Donald Briggs
Tyler
Sam McDaniel
'Doc'
Bill Burrud
Charles
Norman Ainsley
Robbins (uncredited)
C.E. Anderson
Fisherman (uncredited)
Edward Peil Sr.
Fisherman (uncredited)
Wally Albright
Boy (uncredited)
Lee Van Atta
Boy (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
New York City, New York
Festival / Special Debut
June 25, 1937
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1.6M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
Pending
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Victor Fleming
- Screenplay & Story
- Dale Van Every, John Lee Mahin, Marc Connelly, Tom Kilpatrick
- Original Score
- Franz Waxman
- Original Title
- Captains Courageous
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- Portuguese, Spanish, English
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
- Production Budget
- $1.6M
- Production Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Victor Fleming
Dale Van Every, John Lee Mahin, Marc Connelly, Tom Kilpatrick, Rudyard Kipling
Franz Waxman
Harold Rosson
Elmo Veron
Louis D. Lighton
Department Leadership Roster
Dale Van Every
Screenplay
John Lee Mahin
Screenplay
Victor Fleming
Director
Marc Connelly
Screenplay
Elmo Veron
Editor
Harold Rosson
Director of Photography
Louis D. Lighton
Producer
Franz Waxman
Original Music Composer
Tom Kilpatrick
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Captains Courageous.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Captains Courageous.
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-19 07:37:48 UTC+8)*
***Retro***
Movies - Live Action
list0
The Origins of the Cinema
Available 1930s
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Frequently Asked Questions About Captains Courageous
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Captains Courageous about?
Harvey, the arrogant and spoiled son of an indulgent absentee-father, falls overboard from a transatlantic steamship and is rescued by a fishing vessel on the Grand Banks. Harvey fails to persuade them to take him ashore, nor convince the crew of his wealth. The captain offers him a low-paid job, until they return to port, as part of the crew that turns him into a mature, considerate young man.
Who directed Captains Courageous?
Captains Courageous was directed by Victor Fleming.
Who stars in Captains Courageous?
The principal cast of Captains Courageous includes Freddie Bartholomew, Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore, Melvyn Douglas, Charley Grapewin.
When was Captains Courageous released and how long is it?
Captains Courageous was released in 1937 with a total runtime of 1h 55m.
Who composed the musical score for Captains Courageous?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Captains Courageous was composed by Franz Waxman.
Is Captains Courageous based on a book or true story?
Captains Courageous is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Rudyard Kipling".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Captains Courageous?
Captains Courageous holds official age classifications: DE: 6 (FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.); US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).