I like the movie, but I don't think Tracey's performance was anything special. However, it always seems actors who use "accents" move to the front of the line for Oscars. I thought Tracey's performance was hammy except for the scene where he threatens Long John; we see a completely different Manuel, and is the only time I take his character seriously.
shareI feel sorry for you to think that because of Spence's "accent" he got the Oscar. He's the greatest film actor ever. No debate.
And how many movies have you seen, exactly?
Two?
I'm a TCM junkie, so I've seen enough movies to agee with you on Tracey being a great actor. But, seeing that many movies, you can't help but notice how actors using "accents" tend to rank high as Oscar choices. The list is quite long - it's Loretta Young month on TCM - she won with an accent in Farmer's Daughter. Vivien Leigh's two Oscars were with accents. Irene Dunne won with an accent in I Remember Momma. Even Cher won for Moonstruck. Philip Seymour Hoffman for Truman. Need I go on?
shareIrene Dunne never won an Oscar, at least not competitively. That year she lost to Jane Wyman for her portrayal of a deaf woman in Johnny Belinda.
To the point, Tracy was great as he usually was, but Robert Montgomery in Night Must Fall, gave the superior performance that year.
I found Spencer Tracey genuinely awful in this. I only wish he could have done an accent. I don't know what you call that shticky voicework he went with. I felt embarrassed for him to be honest.
Times have changed from when you could not only get away with that, but be rewarded.
Must have been before they had dialect and accent coaches. I don't think Tracy was awful, but that accent of his, whatever it was, made it impossible to buy into his character.
shareAs if anyone who knows films would take seriously the opinion of someone who spells Spencer Tracy's name "Tracey."
His accent is utterly superfluous to the beauty of the performance, which will live forever.
His accent is utterly superfluous to the beauty of the performance, which will live forever.
"I found Spencer Tracey genuinely awful in this. I only wish he could have done an accent. I don't know what you call that shticky voicework he went with. I felt embarrassed for him to be honest."
The accent is awkward and goofy, and Tracy knew it was awkward and goofy. Nor was he at all comfortable with the singing, or the religious angle to his character. (As discussed in several short articles about the making of the film here: http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/76/Captains-Courageous/articles.html)
But despite the goofy accent, there is an emotional reality in many of the scenes and moments that Tracy plays with the kid. Vivid flashes of precise emotional truth, across a range of feelings.
As for the Oscar, surely what put Tracy over the top was the beautifully written, beautifully delivered quasi-monologue he gives about the death of his father:
Harvey: Has your father been dead a long time?
Manuel: Six year, next month. Seem a long, long time.
Harvey: How did he die?
Manuel: He drown off Cape Sable in storm. Wave come at night and wash him overboard.
Harvey: Didn't they find him?
Manuel: No.
Harvey: Oh, I'm sorry.
Manuel: What you sorry about?
Harvey: Well, I mean your father. They didn't find him.
Manuel: What they need find him for? He all right.
Harvey: Well, but, drowning out in the ocean, all alone at night....
Manuel: Well, what's trouble about that? That fine way. The Savior, he take my father up to fisherman's heaven... up with all his old friends. Quick he take him up. Quick. Just like I pull up this 35-pound fish. The Savior, He see my father all tired and wet down there in the water. So he light the harbor buoy and he say: "Come on up, old Manuel... I so happy you come up here to help us fish." And my father, he say, "Thank you. I very happy to come up, too. And maybe I show you something about fishing up here, huh?" And then they all laugh. And the Savior, He put his arm around my father... and He give him brand-new dory to fish in.
Harvey: You think they really fish in heaven?
Manuel: Why, sure they fish in heaven. What else they do? The Apostles, they all fishermen, I think. You remember that Simon, called Peter? Remember that time when... he don't catch no fish in the sea of Galilee? And the Savior, He stand on the shore and He say: "Simon, you throw your net on the right side." And Simon, he throw his net on the right side... and he catch so many fish, his net, it almost break in two. I think the Savior, He the best fisherman. But my father, he come next. And not fishing like this. Oh, no, no. Fish bite all time. When no more fish, the Savior, He make more fish. He make more fish. He make more bread. He make more wine. And at night He stand watch all by Himself. He say: "Good night, fishermen. You tired now. Go to your bunks. And no snorings, please. Good night, Manuel's father." Oh, that very nice place. Oh, sometimes I think I go there right now. Then I say, now, whoa, Manuel. You gotta be better fisherman first. That Savior, He only give dories to first-class fishermen, like your father. So I keep on fishing. I no hurry. I know my father keep place for me in his dory.
I agree with Clyburn and guy_in_west_houston. I love Spencer Tracy, but I couldn't take him seriously in this movie. His accent made him sound like Chico Marx, and his hairdo made him look like Harpo Marx. Very disappointing. And he received an Oscar for this??
Incredible.
Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar, or doesn't.
Playing someone who is disabled is more "Oscar bait" than someone who does an accent. Tracy gave many excellent performances. And, while this is one of many, it was a very good, grounded role for him.
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