Product Details

• Actors: Spencer Tracy, Felipe Pazos, Harry Bellaver, Don Diamond, Don Blackman
• Directors: Fred Zinnemann, Henry King, John Sturges
• Writers: Ernest Hemingway, Peter Viertel
• Producers: Leland Hayward
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: June 18, 1996
• Run Time: 86 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304039549
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,479 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The classic Ernest Hemingway novel about man battling nature and the demons within himself is adapted admirably in this 1958 film starring the legendary Spencer Tracy. Playing the fisherman who goes on an intense and futile quest as he contemplates his own nature, Tracy turns in a spellbinding performance of understated power. He plays an itinerant Cuban fisherman whose luck at catching his prey has been poor of late, until he becomes embroiled in an intense pursuit of a giant marlin and in the process must confront his own frailties. Though the visual aspect of the film seems dated, Tracy is more than enough reason to see this effort at bringing one of the modern classics of literature to life on the screen. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine Hemingway adaptation, February 26, 2005

By 

David Bonesteel (Fresno, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Old Man and the Sea (DVD)

Spencer Tracy gives a powerful performance as Santiago, the desperate old fisherman who must struggle to subdue and then keep the giant marlin that represents his salvation. Director John Sturges and screenwriter Peter Viertel retain much of Ernest Hemingway's symbolism, making of Santiago a Christ-like figure. A more apt Biblical analog might be Job; like him, Santiago endures the indignities and strife thrust upon him, but perseveres and endures while retaining his appreciation of nature and simple pleasures./

There is a lot of voice-over narration in this film. In addition to playing Santiago, Tracy reads excerpts from the novel to deepen and comment upon the action. In most cases, I would be annoyed by such pervasive intrusion, but it makes sense here because Santiago spends so much time alone. In addition, since the narration is drawn directly from the novel, it provides the added pleasure of a wonderful actor performing Hemingway's deceptively simple prose.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Faithful to the novel, November 11, 2005

By 

fra7299 "fra7299" (California, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Old Man and the Sea (DVD)

This version of Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea is a faithful adaptation of the novel. The story focuses on Santiago, an old man who has spent 84 days without catching a fish. Spencer Tracey plays the old man to perfection for the most part, as he sets out on the 85th day to capture his big prize. While it isn't a movie that blows you away with either script or action, it is a film with a purpose.

Perhaps what most viewers or critics of this movie won't get is that it is richly symbolic in nature, and therefore probably won't appeal to viewers who lack attention spans. Most of Santiago's stuggle is within himself, and his age is a symbol for wisdom and perseverance. The boy, his counterpart, continually befriends him in hopes that the one day will arrive when he brings home the big catch.

The movie really is a testament to Man versus Nature, and is able to depict this sucessfully. One of the most essential points of the story is not only Santiago's respect for the sea and its inhabitants, but the essential quality of being successful at something.

If you are expecting a ton of action, or some big crash or storm scenes, then this probably isn't your movie. However, if you want a movie that successfully illustrates what Hemingway wanted for his short novela, then this is it.

3 1/2 stars.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Old Man...and the Sea, December 11, 2004

By 

S. Francis (United States of America) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Old Man and the Sea (DVD)

The title says it all. The most compelling thing to note in the story of Santiago, (the lead character)is the implication that any of his contemporaries would likely have reacted to his plight in the same way. Not through any special courage, but through a plain lack of choice. A simple fisherman on a hard luck streak, he does the only thing he can do, he keeps fishing. The sea is the only thing he has ever known, and so he turns to it day after day despite recent failure.
His protoge' too is no doubt typical; a young boy who loves his mentor and cares for him unconditionally. Any boy who watches will want to help a man, and any man who sees this will want to teach a boy.
The movie is touching enough to have "Hollywood" written across it's face...or to have "real life" written accross it's face. Thanks to Hemmingway, and Tracy, it is decidedly the latter.