And the Oscar for best fishing movie goes to...
The Academy Awards ceremony Sunday will give out tons of little Oscars. Every so often--not this year, apparently--a fishing movie slips in.
More often than not, fishing movies are cheesey flicks with a few fart jokes and some scenery. Bait Shop, anyone?
Finding Nemo doesn't make the cut. It's a fish movie, not a fishing movie.
So, without further ado and in no particular order, here's my tackle box Oscar nominees:
1) Old Man and the Sea (1958). Spencer Tracy is nominated for an Oscar for bringing to life Hemingway's story about Santiago, a once-great fisherman who's down on his luck and needs a big catch to restore his reputation. Really suffers from stilted camera work.
2) Moby Dick (1956). A good friend once boiled the massive book down to its essence: I went to sea with a crazy captain. We were looking for a great white whale. Now everyone's dead but me. Call me Ishmael. Gregory Peck does the boiling down in this classic. If you can't sit through the book, try the movie.
3) Jaws (1975). Three Oscars. Robert Shaw as Quint. Score by John Williams. "You're gonna need a bigger boat." As outdoors editor emeritus Bill Burton would have puffed, "Enough said."
4) A River Runs Through It (1992). Pretty scenery. Oscar-winning cinematography. Early Brad Pitt. Terrific Tom Skerritt. This movie turns lots of folks on to fly fishing, temporarily.
5) The Perfect Storm (2000). The book is based on a true story and the movie is based on a book that is based on a true story. George Clooney doesn't even bother trying to learn a New England accent. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio plays sword boat Capt. Linda Greenlaw--kinda. Great special effects, though.
6) On Golden Pond (1981). In his last movie, Henry Fonda gives an Oscar-winning performance as a retired professor sorting through his final years and looking for "that crafty son-of-a-bitch" Walter, a humongous trout on Squam Lake in New Hampshire. Kate Hepburn gets an Oscar and Jane Fonda ain't bad, either.
7) Old Man and the Sea (1990). Anthony Quinn takes the Spencer Tracy role in convincing fashion in the made-for-TV movie. Better camera work.
8) The Sea Wolf (1941). Edward G. Robinson, as the tyrannical captain on a sealing ship in Jack London's classic tale. Robinson at his creepy best.
9) Grumpy Old Men (1993). Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Burgess Meredith and Ann-Margaret. Great ice fishing scenes.
10) Grumpier Old Men (1995). Add Sophia Loren to the cast and turn the frozen water to liquid. Lemmon and Matthau team up to try to catch "Catfish Hunter," a huge fish that has eluded anglers for two decades.
Comments
Original "Old Man and the Sea" was the best fishing movie of all time. Tracy was excellent in that role.
"Jaws" was the most suspenseful and Robert Shaw was excellent as Quint.
I also liked "To Have and Have Not" with Bogart and Bacall.
Posted by: Ed Dorsch | February 25, 2011 8:21 AM
Candy: What about 92 in the Shade? Though it was in McGuane's wierd period and you can't get a copy anymore, it was a great fishing flic.
Posted by: dennisd | February 25, 2011 8:25 AM
Couldn't care less about fishing movies. The sea is the sea, and not very photogenic, too flat and won't hold my attention over 2 hours. Pick 10 hiking movies and maybe I'll pay attention, especially ones with self-mutilation and cannibalism.
Posted by: Cham | February 25, 2011 10:18 AM
Couldn't care less about fishing movies. The sea is the sea, and not very photogenic, too flat and won't hold my attention over 2 hours. Pick 10 hiking movies and maybe I'll pay attention, especially ones with self-mutilation and cannibalism.
HAH that's rich
Cham We can all tell you have never spent any time at sea
Posted by: hharle | February 25, 2011 2:39 PM
Was Pitt wearing felt soles?
Posted by: Did-emo | February 26, 2011 10:41 AM
Hi Candus,
First, let me compliment you on your excellent columns and reporting.
As to your list, I am surprised you did not include Captains Courageous (1937). This movie had an all star cast. Including Spencer Tracy, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Manuel Fidello.The scenes of the fishing boats at sea are exciting, even if a bit dated. But, I find it still remains a moving story about manhood, fatherhood and a boy's coming of age on the North Atlantic fishing grounds. As much as I love fly fishing, I'd watch Captains Courageous over A River Runs Through It every time.
Posted by: 8weight | March 1, 2011 2:20 AM