Deep Waters (film)
Encyclopedia
Deep Waters is a 1948 drama film
directed by Henry King
. The film is based on the 1946 novel Spoonhandle written by Ruth Moore
and was nominated for an Academy Award.
to become a fisherman
, social workster Ann Freeman breaks her engagement to Hod Stillwell, explaining that she could never bear being constantly concerned about his safety. In this same period, she convinces her friend Mary McKay to take in 14-year-old orphan
Donny Mitchell, whose father and uncle died at sea. Longing for the sea, Donny has run away several times. Ann hopes the tough but fair Mary will bring some discipline into his life.
The following day, Donny befriends Hod while hunting
. Soon after, Hod is at sea with his partner, Portuguese Joe Sanger, when he notices that Donny has snuck on board to experience sea life. Hod returns him home to Mary and suggests that she let Donny work for him at the dock on Saturdays. This worries Ann, who has recently witnessed her friend Molly Thatcher's loss of her husband to the sea. She threatens to move the boy to an inland family if Hod allows Donny to work for him. Reluctantly, Hod follows Ann's advice and tells Donny he can not work for him any longer.
Upset, Donny steals a camera and sells it to make enough money that he can run away from home, and return to the sea. He steals a boat and puts to sea, but is caught in a storm and has to be rescued by Hod and Joe. Realizing that she can not prohibit Donny from being near the sea, Ann allows him to return to work for Hod.
In a good mood, Donny returns home after a surprise birthday party, when he notices the local sheriff and the druggist from whom he stole the camera from are awaiting him. Ashamed, Donny admits the theft and begs Ann and Mary not to tell Hod he is being sent away to a reform school
, fearing Hod will not want to see him anymore.
Hod soon asks Ann about Donny's whereabouts. Ann does not tell him. Hod starts to investigate and finds out that Donny is in a reform school. Not wanting Donny to be in this situation, Hod prompts the state to let him adopt Donny. Donny initially refuses the adoption, ashamed of what he had done. However, when he finds out Hod is not mad at him, he allows himself to be reunited with him and he returns home accompanied by Hod and Ann.
bought the rights of the book Spoonhandle by Ruth Moore
in order to produce a film adaption. Initially, Louis de Rochemont
was assigned to produce and Mark Stevens
was set to star.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Henry King
Henry King (director)
Henry King was an American film director.Before coming to film, King worked as an actor in various repertoire theatres, and first started to take small film roles in 1912. He directed for the first time in 1915, and grew to become one of the most commercially successful Hollywood directors of the...
. The film is based on the 1946 novel Spoonhandle written by Ruth Moore
Ruth Moore
Ruth Moore was an important Maine author of the twentieth century. She is best known for her honest portrayals of Maine people and evocative descriptions of the state. Now primarily thought of as a regional writer, Moore was a significant literary figure on the national stage during her career...
and was nominated for an Academy Award.
Plot
Because he has given up his study of architectureArchitecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
to become a fisherman
Fisherman
A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men...
, social workster Ann Freeman breaks her engagement to Hod Stillwell, explaining that she could never bear being constantly concerned about his safety. In this same period, she convinces her friend Mary McKay to take in 14-year-old orphan
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
Donny Mitchell, whose father and uncle died at sea. Longing for the sea, Donny has run away several times. Ann hopes the tough but fair Mary will bring some discipline into his life.
The following day, Donny befriends Hod while hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
. Soon after, Hod is at sea with his partner, Portuguese Joe Sanger, when he notices that Donny has snuck on board to experience sea life. Hod returns him home to Mary and suggests that she let Donny work for him at the dock on Saturdays. This worries Ann, who has recently witnessed her friend Molly Thatcher's loss of her husband to the sea. She threatens to move the boy to an inland family if Hod allows Donny to work for him. Reluctantly, Hod follows Ann's advice and tells Donny he can not work for him any longer.
Upset, Donny steals a camera and sells it to make enough money that he can run away from home, and return to the sea. He steals a boat and puts to sea, but is caught in a storm and has to be rescued by Hod and Joe. Realizing that she can not prohibit Donny from being near the sea, Ann allows him to return to work for Hod.
In a good mood, Donny returns home after a surprise birthday party, when he notices the local sheriff and the druggist from whom he stole the camera from are awaiting him. Ashamed, Donny admits the theft and begs Ann and Mary not to tell Hod he is being sent away to a reform school
Reform school
A reform school in the United States was a term used to define, often somewhat euphemistically, what was often essentially a penal institution for boys, generally teenagers.-History:...
, fearing Hod will not want to see him anymore.
Hod soon asks Ann about Donny's whereabouts. Ann does not tell him. Hod starts to investigate and finds out that Donny is in a reform school. Not wanting Donny to be in this situation, Hod prompts the state to let him adopt Donny. Donny initially refuses the adoption, ashamed of what he had done. However, when he finds out Hod is not mad at him, he allows himself to be reunited with him and he returns home accompanied by Hod and Ann.
Cast
- Dana AndrewsDana AndrewsDana Andrews was an American film actor. He was one of Hollywood's major stars of the 1940s, and continued acting, though generally in less prestigious roles, into the 1980s.-Early life:...
as Hod Stillwell - Jean PetersJean PetersJean Peters was an American actress, known as a star of 20th Century Fox in the late 1940s and early 1950s and as the second wife of Howard Hughes...
as Ann Freeman - Dean StockwellDean StockwellDean Stockwell is an American actor of film and television, with a career spanning over 65 years. As a child actor under contract to MGM he first came to the public's attention in films such as Anchors Aweigh and The Green Years; as a young adult he played a lead role in the 1957 Broadway and...
as Donny Mitchell - Cesar RomeroCesar RomeroCesar Julio Romero, Jr. was an American film and television actor who was active in film, radio, and television for almost sixty years...
as Joe Sanger - Anne RevereAnne RevereAnne Revere was an American stage, film, and television actress.-Early life:Born in New York City, Revere was a direct descendant of American Revolution hero Paul Revere. Her father, Clinton, was a stockbroker, and she was raised on the Upper West Side and in Westfield, New Jersey...
as Mary McKay - Ed BegleyEd BegleyEdward James Begley, Sr. was an Academy Award-winning American actor.-Biography:Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Begley began his career as a Broadway and radio actor while in his teens. He appeared in the hit musical Going Up on Broadway in 1917 and in London the next year. He later acted in...
as Josh Hovey - Leona Powers as Mrs. Freeman
- Mae MarshMae MarshMae Marsh was an American film actress with a career spanning over 50 years.-Early life:...
as Molly Thatcher - Will GeerWill GeerWill Geer was an American actor and social activist. His original name was William Aughe Ghere. He is remembered for his portrayal of Grandpa Zebulon Tyler Walton in the 1970s TV series, The Waltons....
as Nick Driver - Cliff Clark as Harris
- Bruno Wick as Druggist
- Harry Tyler as Hopkins
Production
In December 1946, 20th Century Fox20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
bought the rights of the book Spoonhandle by Ruth Moore
Ruth Moore
Ruth Moore was an important Maine author of the twentieth century. She is best known for her honest portrayals of Maine people and evocative descriptions of the state. Now primarily thought of as a regional writer, Moore was a significant literary figure on the national stage during her career...
in order to produce a film adaption. Initially, Louis de Rochemont
Louis de Rochemont
Louis de Rochemont was an American film maker known for creating, along with Roy E. Larsen from Time, Inc., the monthly theatrically shown newsreels The March of Time. His brother Richard de Rochemont was also a producer and writer on The March of Time.The newsreels defined film news from 1935 to...
was assigned to produce and Mark Stevens
Mark Stevens (actor)
-Career:Born Richard William Stevens in Cleveland, Ohio, he first studied to become a painter before becoming active in theater work. He then launched a radio career as an announcer in Akron, Ohio....
was set to star.