In many ways, this is a bit like a Popeye cartoon with live actors. No, there's no spinach and super-strength, but the characters do seem a lot like these cartoons--and with about as much depth! This is especially true of Dutch (Spencer Tracy)...a guy who seems a lot like Popeye AND Bluto put together! All he seems to like to do is fight, yell and act tough. He's also a complete know-it-all who NEVER is willing to back down when problems arise. A multidimensional performance, it is NOT!
Dutch hates the guy in charge of the fishing fleet and spends much of his energy fighting with the guy. He also, inexplicably, has a girl that loves him...though he's about as tender and likable as a seasick hippo! Despite showing no tenderness towards her (or anyone), Hattie (Jean Harlow) is in love with him and eventually they marry. Now he doesn't exactly ask her...they have a fight and in the next scene they are married! None of this makes any sense, by the way!
Soon after the wedding, Dutch is made the head of the fishermen's union and his pig-headed attitude does not serve him or his men well. Soon, he's voted out and he's jobless--none of which would have happened if he hadn't been a bit of a jerk. What's next for him and his unlucky wife? See the film...or don't!
This is among the worst characters Spencer Tracy ever played because the character had zero depth and is just annoying. The only worse role might be in "Tortilla Flat"....which was also painfully bad and completely unrealistic. Perhaps an actor like Wallace Beery could have played Dutch better. All I know is that he was terrible...and much of it was due to miscasting and much was due to the poor writing for his character. Because of all this, the audience naturally HATES Dutch...so when bad things happen you simply don't care. I know I sure disliked him...intensely!
As far as the rest of the film goes, it's not especially good. It's a weepy melodrama and I found none of it enjoyable or engaging. A rare misfire for Tracy and Harlow....but clearly among their worst films.
By the way, in many ways the plot in this film is similar to an earlier Harlow film, "Hold on to Your Man". It's not particularly good and in it she also plays a long-suffering wife who marries a complete jerk.
Dutch hates the guy in charge of the fishing fleet and spends much of his energy fighting with the guy. He also, inexplicably, has a girl that loves him...though he's about as tender and likable as a seasick hippo! Despite showing no tenderness towards her (or anyone), Hattie (Jean Harlow) is in love with him and eventually they marry. Now he doesn't exactly ask her...they have a fight and in the next scene they are married! None of this makes any sense, by the way!
Soon after the wedding, Dutch is made the head of the fishermen's union and his pig-headed attitude does not serve him or his men well. Soon, he's voted out and he's jobless--none of which would have happened if he hadn't been a bit of a jerk. What's next for him and his unlucky wife? See the film...or don't!
This is among the worst characters Spencer Tracy ever played because the character had zero depth and is just annoying. The only worse role might be in "Tortilla Flat"....which was also painfully bad and completely unrealistic. Perhaps an actor like Wallace Beery could have played Dutch better. All I know is that he was terrible...and much of it was due to miscasting and much was due to the poor writing for his character. Because of all this, the audience naturally HATES Dutch...so when bad things happen you simply don't care. I know I sure disliked him...intensely!
As far as the rest of the film goes, it's not especially good. It's a weepy melodrama and I found none of it enjoyable or engaging. A rare misfire for Tracy and Harlow....but clearly among their worst films.
By the way, in many ways the plot in this film is similar to an earlier Harlow film, "Hold on to Your Man". It's not particularly good and in it she also plays a long-suffering wife who marries a complete jerk.