Harvey Cheyne, Jr., second richest person in the world, orphaned and spoiled rotten, encounters a cigar and the sea on his way to England for boarding school. Seasick, over the rail for real, rescued by Dan Troop of a Gloucester fishing sailboat. Three months at sea, under a firm but fair Captain Troop (fair wages of $10.50 a month, if you don't work you don't eat). A hard life and a dangerous one, and a lot of growing up to do through hardship and tragedy.
Acting
Robert Urich's gruff warmth carries the whole ship.
Practical Effects
Real sailing vessels, no CGI ocean nonsense here.
Director
Michael Anderson
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This is the third adaptation of Kipling's 1897 novel — Spencer Tracy won an Oscar for the 1937 version.
Gloucester fishing boats like the one depicted were already dying out in 1996; the film captures a working culture that barely exists now.
US
