 "Sets A New High For Hollywood!" -Arthur Knight, Saturday Review Ernest Hemingway's choice for the lead in the film version of his The Old Man and the Sea was the right one: Spencer Tray's performance brought him the sixth of his nine Academy Award nominations and the film won the National Board of Review's 1958 Best Picture and Best Actor awards. Alone in a small skiff, an aging Cuban fisherman catches a huge marlin - and must defy the sea, marauding sharks and his own flagging strength to bring his great catch home. Filmed in part on sun-drenched Cuban locales and graced by Dimitri Tiomkin's Oscar-winning score, The Old Man and the Sea is a colorful cinematic ode to the indomitability of the human spirit. Cast Notes: Spencer Tracy (The Old Man\Narrator), Felipe Pazos (The Boy), Harry Bellaver (Martin), Don Diamond (Cafe Proprietor), Don Blackman [I] (Hand Wrestler), Joey Ray [I] (Gambler), Mary Hemingway (Tourist), Richard Alameda (Gambler), Tony Rosa (Gambler), Carlos Rivero (Gambler), Robert Alderette (Gambler), Mauritz Hugo (Gambler). User Comment: Joseph Markenstein (quintus1@juno.com) Jersey City, NJ • One of Spencer Tracy's top performances; it goes down with "Captain's Courageous." Most often a book is better then the movie but in this case the movie brings the book to life. This is due to the somewhat larger then life character of Tracy. The story, although classic and definitely worth while reading, is best summed up by Tracy's acting technique. This was no location film which means the greater portion of realism must come from the actor. A story about a man thinking and talking to himself while he is on a boat for three days would be difficult for any actor. Tracy brings the truest sense of humility and courage to this role. It is enjoyable reading but I encourage anyone to see this movie.
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