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The Old Man and the Sea | Year: 1958 Classification: Drama Directed: - Henry King - Fred Zinnemann - John Sturges Actors/Actresses: - Spencer Tracy Spencer Tracy gives a great performance. In these times where ignorance (high school high is an example) is produced for the public to consume, and special effects are the driving force in many movies, it is very pleasing to watch a movie where the message is positive. The old man & the sea is a story of an aged fisherman living in Cuba who finds himself not only chasing a giant Marlin, but himself. He has reached a point in his life where he has almost lost hope in himself and in life. The ironic point is that although he landed and brought the fish back to shore, it was devoured by a group of sharks. He showed people his luck did not wear out, only that persistence (hard work) pays does pay off. If only he had a bigger boat... If you are interested in another great performance, see "Going My Way" starring Bing Crosby who won an academy award for best actor for the movie. Eighty-Four Straight Days Without A Fish Santiago is an aged Cuban fisherman who has not caught any fish for eighty-four straight days. Because he is considered unlucky by the other villagers, the young boy who usually assists Santiago is told by his parents to join a luckier boat which has recently been catching some fish. On the eighty-fifth day Santiago sets out alone and after a while he hooks a huge marlin. Most of the rest of the movie is about Santiago's struggle with the marlin and his battles with attacking sharks which are trying to eat the big fish. The story is also about Santiago's relationship with the boy who cares for the old man both before and after his epic voyage. The boy is indebted to Santiago for all that he has learned from him about fishing. Santiago is a widower and childless. Much of the film shows Santiago alone at sea struggling with the marlin. In other words the movie is mostly focused on Spencer Tracy who does an excellent job of holding the viewer's interest. In spite of Tracy's great performance, however, I still think that Anthony Quinn would have been a better choice for the role of Santiago - except for the fact that Quinn was fifteen years younger than Tracy. The script closely follows Hemingway's novel which makes the movie even more remarkable. A mythical cycle! Hemingway decide to make an apparent simple story when in reality , he would write one of his most emblematic and passionate works.<BR>Santiago is a simple man . In all his life nothing has happened , a flat life in the middle of this fisher community.<BR>Suddenly the fate's call comes for him . 84 days in the sea Ñ twelve weeks without getting any important piece.<BR>This means the unavoidable journey , the invisible conflicy between the man and the nature . You have to realize that the sea has been for this single fisherman a friend and a silent lover and witeness of his miseries and hopeless.<BR>Suddenly he catchs a gorgeous piece; a beauty blue needle fish. His triumph deserved all the hunger since three months he left his home. This means the epic fight. But the long arm of the fate smiled him just for a brief moment , the sharks will appear and the tragedy begins . <BR>Now Santiago has to fight to preserve his piece . The fight is inhuman and awful , he must leave that zone and keep the fish .<BR>More than a fish you've killed a man replies in loud voice our simple man.<BR>When our hero arrives to the coast he's another man . He won the combat and no matter there were no witeness . The life in many times it's capricious , but you must never give up . You must follow your bliss , no matter how high be the prize you pay. <BR>Spencer Tracy made a top knotch performance with this one.<BR>The film keeps its inner force and the spirit of the original novel, since its release forty six years ago. <BR>Watch this movie . It goes far beyond than a simple entertaining !<BR>Dazzling direction and obviously who can fail with a script like this one?<BR>A cult movie ! Buy The Old Man And The Sea at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on The Old Man And The Sea Search with the Priority Search Engine on The Old Man And The Sea This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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