El huérfano del mar

Dana Andrews is a Maine lobsterman in partnership with esar Romero. He's also in love with Jean Peters, but she knows the tolls of the sea, and wants him to quit before she'll marry him..... and when he finally agrees, she knows it will make him miserable to have a land job, and eventually her. So she continues with her job with the state welfare board, and he continues lobstering, and they yearn a lot. Along comes orphan Dean Stockwell; everyone knew his father, and his uncle, both of whom were lost at sea. He's staying with Ann Revere, but the only person he feels a connection with is Andrews.

It's a small-town story, so with Henry King in charge, you know you're going to get some good characters; there's Ed Begley as an amiable local politician, Raymond Greenleaf as a judge, and other old-time performers like Mae Marsh to make this tale of a boy who just needs some understanding to make me weep to myself.

There are also some grand special effects of a ship in a storm. This was nominated for the special effects Oscar, and well-deserved it.

Originally filmed in sepiatone, its big feature is the Maine photography. A somewhat simplistic, yet touching story of an orphan (Stockwell), who gets into trouble, but the town old maid (Revere) comes to the rescue, along with the help of a pair of on/off lovers (Andrews/Peters. A very nice resolution, low key, except for a storm sequence. The music is terrific. Century

DEEP WATERS was the kind of film that slipped by without much notice, a simple tale about an orphan boy (DEAN STOCKWELL) who longs for adventure on the high seas and has to be restrained by an old maid (ANNE REVERE) and a couple of townspeople who are carrying on an affair while arguing about the boy's future (JEAN PETERS and DANA ANDREWS).

Jean was an interesting actress at Fox who never quite reached her potential as a star--and given material like this, it's a wonder she achieved the success she did in a number of other films. The story is pedestrian, saved by the good child performance of young Stockwell and benefits from some location photography in Maine mixed with studio shot scenes.

She plays a young woman in charge of Stockwell who is engaged in arguments with Andrews over his being a lobster-man who won't seek a safer job on land and is even more incensed when he takes Stockwell along with him aboard his vessel. CESAR ROMERO shows up as a Portugese fisherman and manages to give the film's only spirited performance.

Unfortunately, they're all stock characters adrift in a story that doesn't really hold water, no matter how deep it is. Based on a novel by Ruth Moore called SPOONHANDLE and directed by Henry King, it really doesn't amount to much, even with its storm at sea sequence.

Ruth Moore's best-selling novel SPOONHANDLE was renamed DEEP WATERS for this 1948 film. Straightforward story about an orphaned boy and the lives of several people he changes.

Jean Peters plays a young, idealistic social worker in coastal Maine. She is afraid of the sea and its power, especially its dangers for the lobstermen and the heartache of those left behind when the sea claims them. Dana Andrews plays a lobsterman who loves Peters but also loves his job. Dean Stockwell is a troubled boy whose father was a fisherman. Peters tries to keep the boy away from the sea but it's in his blood. She places the orphan with a crotchety old lady (Anne Revere) who is tough but fair on the boy. The boy runs away and gets into trouble.

Something must change, but these Mainers are all stubborn. Finally, one last incident changes all their lives forever.

Andrews is excellent as the lobsterman, and Peters is quite believable as the over-protective social worker. Stockwell turns in a great performance as does Revere as the rock-solid old lady. Cesar Romero plays Andrews' fishing partner. Ed Begley plays an influential friend. Raymond Greenleaf is the wise old judge, and Mae Marsh is the grieving widow. In small parts, Harry Tyler and Will Geer are recognizable.

The exteriors were filmed on Vinalhaven and in Rockland and Belfast. The ocean scenes are terrific as is the big storm which won an Oscar nomination for special effects. The location shooting just screamed out for color.

Pert Jean Peters is in charge of an orphan boy (played by Dean Stockwell). Dana Andrews is a fisherman in a small town in Maine. He is highly attracted to Peters (who can blame him). However, when the orphan boy shows a distinct passion for the sea, Peters and Andrews find themselves at odds. Cesar Romero and Anne Revere co-star in this un-pretentious flick about romance, adventure and a boy's love for the sea. It's worth seeing at least once, but Fox does not offer it in VHS. Try looking for it in one of the movie classic cable channels. The Maine locations are quite impressive and the acting is fine.