Captains Courageous (1996 TV Movie) User Reviews

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie

[ShazInCA · 8/10 · 6 November 2003]

and not just for the joy of seeing the retired ship "Rotterdam" playing herself, as I once sailed on it, too, but also for the enjoyment of a good story well told.

I did find myself wondering throughout this movie how it is viewed by the people who want to tell children only non-scary fairy tales and such. This is a real grabber of a story of a boy facing scary situations and sadness, things that some people don't seem to want to have children face these days, even in books and movies.

Anyway, great story, great movie, and very enjoyable way to spend 2 hours.

Cute!

[bethjazotte · 7/10 · 9 November 2020]

Wonderful story! Loved the boy who plays the captains son and the rich one... didn't expect much but liked it...

In life we sometimes face situations that change our entire being

[Ed-Shullivan · 7/10 · 11 February 2017]

I will admit that I recently saw the 1937 version with Freddie Batholomew, Spencer Tracy and Lionel Barrymore and after just seeing the 1996 version which stars Robert Urich, Kenny Vadas and Colin Cunningham carries itself with merit of a unique storyline.

If you have not seen either film version the story is about a filthy rich and spoiled 14 year old boy named Harvey Cheyne (Kenny Vadas) who is used to always getting his own way and buying his way out of dishonorable situations with his wads of money. In this film version the young spoiled Harvey falls of his estates cruise ship into the ocean and is picked up by the fishing vessel that is captained by Matthew Troop (Robert Urich) whose own 16 year old son Dan Troop (Kan-Erik Eriksen) sails with his father fishing for a living.

Young spoiled Harvey cannot understand why the ships Captain Troop refuses to accept an offer of tens of thousands of dollars to just drop him off at the nearest harbor. Through time and hardship while learning how to work on a fishing vessel and by actually learning how to commercially fish young Harvey acquires his first true friend in Captain Troop's son Dan who teaches him the value of hard work and the personal pride in working as a team. Gradually young Harvey embraces the fishing life and for once in his life he feels he has been receiving unsolicited guidance from a father (Captain Troop) who cares for him as only a father could.

Tragedy at sea eventually strikes their fishing vessel and the ship and its crew need to sail back home and say their farewell to one of their own. It is on dry land that young Harvey meets Captain troop's wife Mary Ann (Sandra Nelson) and he soon realizes what having a family can mean to a young man.

I laughed, I cried and I admired the fishermen in Captains Courageous. This is a drama well worth viewing as we get to see a very spoiled rich kid realize some important lessons of humility, friendship and pride.

I give the film a 7 out of 10 rating.

I wanted the story to go on and on...

[Enrique-Sanchez-56 · 10/10 · 5 November 2003]

How many times does one see a TV movie that you don't want to end? The story is timeless and it has been told several times on the screen. We cannot forget Tracy, Bartholomew and Rooney in that legendary version back in the 30's. One cannot erase the traces of this wonderful adventure from the memories wrought in our childhood.

But here comes a version with Urich, Vadas and Eriksen that sweeps one away into a sea of emotions so deep, tender and satisfying that one can only conclude that there really are many ways to tell a wonderful tale such as this. The casting of the crew was very satisfying as was the marvelous envelopment of Sandra Nelson into her small but crucial role as the Captain's wife.

Michael Anderson's direction and John McGreevey's script tore at your heart without ever feeling the tug. One was drawn into the pathos of the story without noticing it. The production was faithful to the heart and meat of the telling.

This version will linger on with me for a long time. Kudos to all and thanks especially to Mr. Kenny Vadas. I hope to see him again.

Completely recommended without reservation.

Excellent family movie

[rainbow414 · 12 December 2001]

Thanks to the Hallmark tv channel for reshowing of this Kipling Classic. This version is by far the best. It is welldone and very entertaining. It has all the pathos needed to show a youngster finding himself. A very thought-provoking movie. Worth seeing more than once!

Even further from the text

[Res_Sara · 3/10 · 14 June 2007]

Each time they remake Rudyard Kipling's Captain Courageous, said movie strays further from the original text.

2 prominent instances: 1. In the Book: Harvey's parents are alive In 1937 film: Harvey's mother is dead Current film: Harvey is an orphan 2.In the Book: Otto dies three months before Harvey comes aboard In 1937 film: Manuel, Harvey's 'mentor' dies Current film: Dan, Harvey's 'mentor' dies

On the second point the current film was slightly better than the original, at least it was a young person who died. But the captain's son, what melodramatic bull.

Overall this movie bored me. It was an adventure story stuffed into a Hallmark movie of the week format. It felt like every other melodrama on T.V. While the 1937 version had a sense of realism. You got to know the crew, not just Dan and his father. What I want to see is a movie that actually does follow the book. No extra deaths and added 'awwww' moments. Let the movie take place in the late 1800's and let sailors talk like sailors. It's time to revitalize a wonderful story, this movie does not do that.

Best version of this classic story by Kipling

[Antonio-37 · 10/10 · 11 August 1998]

This is the latest version of the movie based on Rudyard Kipling's classic novel of a boy's coming-of-age. First version was the 1937 movie starring curly haired and blonde Freddie Bartholomew as Harvey, the rich brat. Second version was in 1977 with Johnny Doran. And this third version stars curly haired and dark Kenny Vardas as the best of the pouty and sullen boys.

Harvey is the son of a rich man, but much neglected and left to the care of hired help. On a transatlantic ship, he falls overboard thru a boyish prank gone bad. He is rescued by a fishing vessel, with a stern but kindly captain, his son and crew.

Forced to work for his keep, the bratty Harvey, played to perfection by Kenny Vardas comes to appreciate the value of work. And to learn how to love and be loved by the kindly folk who took him in.

Of all the three versions of this movie, this one best portrays the novel. It gives the real feeling of a boy going bad who is reformed through the power of love. And Vardas despite his youth plays both the insolent brat and loveable boy to perfection. A movie to see if you appreciate a good Kipling yarn, and they are good!

Disappointing Film of a Wonderful Book

[friedakitten · 4/10 · 29 February 2008]

While the storyline may have been fine had I not read the book, given that I did, it was very disappointing. Unlike the book, Harvey's parents are now dead and the boy who becomes his best friend dies. Why the writers felt they had to change this classic, I've no idea, as there was certainly enough heart and adventure to translate this book to film without changing any of the fundamentals. To see Dan die rather than become not only Harvey's best friend, but later a captain in his own right, hurt the tale rather than making it more dramatic.

If you have not read the book, the film is an enjoyable little flick. However, if you've read "Captains Courageous", you may find this adaptation to be a disappointment.

Beautiful...

[RosanaBotafogo · 9/10 · 27 September 2020]

A heavy film for the afternoon sessions, painful, completely passionate, dramatic films about sailors associated with boring rebels without a cause learning a lesson always weaken my little heart, beautiful film, captivating characters, the original work (film and book) must be perfect, I need to enjoy them one day...

A wanna be chick flick

[young_okie06 · 4/10 · 1 March 2011]

This movie was so predictable that it made for a joke. The boy never "changed" enough to grow up even when he did wan to do good at the end he still came across as a jerk. I would have liked to see more from the crew that would have helped a little, maybe.

Have the boy land on a island and then get picked up by the fishermen or even better have the boy traded to the "Bad fishermen" then have the boy REALLY learn a lesson. Something to help this after school special.

Then again if the Boy had of gotten with John's girlfriend that would have made for some interesting scenes.

It was just too predictable is all I can say.

Excellent period piece -- until they reach land

[BruceUllm · 9/10 · 8 June 2007]

We are clearly informed at the outset that the year is 1934. That works fine -- until we reach the quaint New England village, strewn with 1939 and newer cars. Our protagonist's limousine, for the record, is a 1939 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five. Nice car....five years from then! There were plenty of '40 and '41 GM makes lying around the church parking lot, too.

I take pains to mention this because it's such an easy thing to prevent and it harms the emotional climax of the picture because you are constantly reminded that it's just a movie with chronological errors.

Absent the anachronisms, an excellent picture.

Good Telling of Story. End could have been done better.

[rjsguitar · 8/10 · 26 April 2020]

The film does a good job of telling the story of Harvey, the disagreeable, spoiled brat who has no concern for anyone else. Harvey has to deal with real life as lived by fishermen in 1934. Dan, the captain's son is well played as the only one who initially gives Harvey any friendship. Harvey has to learn hard work, earning his food and even his bunk. The only problem I had was with the very end of the movie. It was too much of a cliché as Harvey says good-bye to everyone.