Down to the Sea in Ships (1949)

A whaling ship's captain wants to make one last trip before retirement, during which his grandson will be trained for future captainhood himself. Another man, who has recently been licensed as a captain will go along as first mate.

Entertaining sea adventure, about the process of becoming an adult. Also prominent is the theme of "breaking the law". Early in the film, a schoolmaster breaks the law in favor of the old captain; later in the film, the old captain won't break the law in favor of his grandson, and then of the first mate. The implicit question the film never poses is: is there a double standard here?

Rating: 58