A sea tale that may just leave its salt on your cheeks. The chemistry between Tracy and Bartholomew is enchantingly genuine and the story is simply beautiful. Comedy and drama share in stirring the relationships together, and there's more than a handful of scenes that stand out in my mind. "You touch that kid and I'll tear you apart." I'm left speechless...

A pretty good little film, even if the Spencer Tracy-as-Portuguese isn't quite right. Otherwise, the film tends to downplay the big emotional moments more than a movie like this normally would. And the kid gives a believable performance that has to undergo a shift in tone part way through.

bartholomew starts off nearly intolerable, but as the story progresses he ends up being a likable and stand up character. i was impressed by tracy and barrymore, but the real shiner here is a damned bang up story. this is a classic everyone should see, and it's tracy at his finest.

everything about this picture is astonishing: from the beautiful opening credits to the establishing shots of the last sailboat fishing fleet. from the hugely attractive character tracy creates to the unforgettable minor characters. it has plenty of limitations, especially to viewers of the twenty-first century, and it transcends every single one. a very great movie. very, very great.

A good tale about a kid who's forced to grow up after getting stranded on a fishing boat. You'd think Spencer Tracy with a Portuguese accent paired with a precocious kid would drag the movie down, but on the whole they do a surprisingly good job and their evolving chemistry makes the movie work. Sure it's a little cliche, but well executed cliches can still be worthwhile.

Too corny

Not very profound or noteworthy, but a solid film that's compelling and moving, with beats in the right places. Freddie Bartholomew's transition from spoiled little shit to decent human being is genuine enough to be convincing. The other actors also do a fine job, although Spencer Tracy's Portuguese accent sounds rather laughably like Chico Marx.

A young boy, spoiled and rich, after an accident at sea ends up on a fishing boat. He can't return home and has to grow up. A great story and movie.

Very endearing.