"Captains Courageous" came out in 1937, and I think that is important to understand what happened. Rudyard Kipling, the author of this story, is best remembered for his short stories about India. In fact, unfairly, he is considered by many an author for children. In fact he wrote two works that can be remotely considered kids books: "The Just-So Stories" and The Jungle Books". It is a surface resemblance. Kipling's stories have deeper meanings for adults than kids.
He actually wrote five novels, the first of which has long been forgotten except by Kipling scholars - a novel set in America among Indians, written with his brother-in-law before their estrangement. The novels he wrote that are recalled are "The Light That Failed", "Kim", "Captains Courageous", and "Stalky & Co.". Up to 1936 Kipling refused attempts to dramatize his novels and stories on the screen. Like his contemporary Bernard Shaw he felt that his works would be stretched out of shape by screenplay writers, directors, and producers. But in 1936 he died. Immediately Hollywood would start making films out of his literary properties: in the next couple of years "Wee Willy Winkie", "Captains Courageous","The Light That Failed" and "Gunga Din" (suggested by one of his "Barrack Room Ballards") were brought to the screen. It was like the release of water from a canal's lock when it is raised.
"Captains Courageous" was made with a first rate cast, including Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore, Melvyn Douglas, Freddie Bartholemew, Mickey Rooney, and John Carridine. For sheer acting power it is hard to beat that cast. The story is fairly simple (and to give the screen writers their due, they kept to the theme of the novel: the apparent misfortune of the young anti-hero Harvey, in falling overboard from a luxury liner, and being rescued by a small fishing trawler commanded by Captain Disco Troop, actually puts him into a position where his wealth and position is of little use, and he is finally able to grow into the man that his spoiled nature was holding back.
Freddy Bartholemew, in the 1930s, was the resident "nice" boy in a variety of M.G.M. films, many based on British novels: "David Copperfield", "Little Lord Fauntleroy", "Captain's Courageous", "Kidnapped", even "Anna Karenina" (as Greta Garbo's beloved son). His Harvey shows real growth under the tutelage of Disco and Manuel (Lionel Barrymore and Spencer Tracy). He also gets an example of what a properly raised boy is like from Dan, Disko's son (Mickey Rooney). Initially irritating to the crew (especially John Carridine, who has no time for his arrogance), as he grows in maturity they all accept him. The final arrival of his maturity is tragic - it is when Manuel is killed in an accident (a very moving sequence as the helpless crew know they can't save him as his body is halved by the accident). Manuel knows he's doomed too - but he tries to make light of his tragedy, telling Harvey he has to join his dead (drowned) family. And then he goes under. It was a terrific moment of acting and won Tracy his first "Oscar". I may add too that Douglas may have erred in not being sterner with Harvey while pursuing business interests, but he is a loving and understanding father in the conclusion of the film.
But is it really the same as Kipling's novel? Not quite. The main problem with the switch is that while Disco and Dan are important to Harvey's growth in the novel, Manuel is a minor figure. His most noteworthy characteristic is Kipling's putting the pause word "what" (mispronounced as "wha-aat") into his mouth whenever he makes a statement. Also, Manuel does not die in the novel. His assisting Harvey in growing was actually done by another character in the novel - the ship's cook, who was an African-American. This just could not get through Hollywood's racist codes of the day. Which is too bad - one can just see that the part could have been a good one for either Rex Ingram or Paul Robeson. The finished film, as I said, is excellent as it is, but I;m not sure Kipling would have approved of the changes. I also wonder if the current generation would have appreciated the changes either.
