This week’s mystery movie was the 1949 Twentieth Century-Fox picture Down to the Sea in Ships, with Richard Widmark, Lionel Barrymore, Dean Stockwell, Cecil Kellaway, Gene Lockhart, Berry Kroeger, John McIntire, Henry Morgan, Harry Davenport, Paul Harvey and Jay C. Flippen.
Screenplay by John Lee Mahin and Sy Bartlett.
From a story by Sy Bartlett.
Music by Alfred Newman.
Orchestral arrangements by Edward Powell.
Photographed by Joe MacDonald.
Art direction by Ben Hayne.
Set Decorations by Thomas Little and Walter M. Scott.
Edited by Dorothy Spencer.
Wardrobe by Charles Le Maire.
Makeup by Ben Nye.
Special photographic effects by Fred Sersen and Ray Kellogg.
Sound by W.D. Flick and Roger Heman.
Produced by Louis D. Lighton.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.
Further information on Down to the Sea in Ships is available from the AFI Catalog.
Down to the Sea in Ships is available on DVD From Critics’ Choice Video.
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I picked Down to the Sea in Ships by going through the trades. I was especially curious about Lionel Barrymore playing a part on crutches. It’s a somewhat predictable sailing yarn but well done.
I’m going to guess that Bosley Crowther did not approve of such goings-on. (A pretty easy call since Crowther rarely approved of anything).
Nope, it’s T.M.P. of alphabet critics fame, possibly Thomas M. Pryor. (The New York Times, Feb. 23, 1949):
The chances of a movie’s going wrong when the principal ingredients are sentimental human-interest drama and rousing adventure are pretty slim. It may, of course, develop that some parts turn out to be much better than the whole, but the net effect as a rule is generally quite satisfactory. And so it is with the Twentieth Century-Fox production Down to the Sea in Ships, which opened yesterday at the Roxy.
The first part of the picture is somewhat on the slow and sugary side, being concerned with the efforts of an old salt to educate his orphaned grandson and to instill in the child the Joy Family’s seafaring traditions. Lionel Barrymore pours on the rough-exterior-heart-of-mush schmaltz as he helps curly-headed Dean Stockwell to bone up for school examinations and then experiences a torturous wait while the lad wrestles with questions and answers. But when the Pride of Bedford puts out to sea to hunt whales, Down to the Sea in Ships picks up speed, excitement and interest.
For Monday, we have a mystery woman. She (and I know this will come as a huge surprise) does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Dorothy Adams.
For “Tricky Tuesday,” we have a mysterious fellow. Several mysterious companions have been cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness and will appear later in the week.
For Friday, we add our mysterious leading man to the crew of the whaling boat.
Update: This is Richard Widmark, left, and Henry (Harry) Morgan.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and mysterious teacher), Suzanne A. Stone (Monday’s mysterious teacher), Tim Doherty (Monday’s mysterious teacher), Mary Mallory (Monday’s mysterious teacher), Sheila (Monday’s mysterious teacher), Robert Morrissey (Monday’s mysterious teacher and one of her more famous roles), Jenny M. (Monday’s mysterious teacher), B.J. Merzholz (Monday’s mysterious teacher), Dan (Monday’s mysterious teacher), Incredible Inman (Monday’s mysterious teacher), Richard Wegescheide (Monday’s mysterious teacher) and Funky PhD (Monday’s mysterious teacher).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mysterious fellow peering out the window.
Update: This is Gene Lockhart.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mysterious sailor, plus leading man cropped out of picture), Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie and both mystery guests), Greg (mystery movie and both mystery guests), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and both mystery guests, plus various off-screen and cropped-out individuals), L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Jenny M. (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mysterious sailor), Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mysterious sailor), Funky PhD (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mysterious sailor), Thom and Megan (mystery movie and both mystery guests), Robert Morrissey (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mysterious sailor), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mysterious sailor), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and both mystery guests), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and both mystery guests), Benito (Tuesday’s mystery sailor), Barb (mystery movie and both mystery guests), Dan (mystery movie and mystery sailor before he went into the Army) and Anne Papineau (mystery movie and both mystery guests).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have this mysterious ship’s cook. And Back of the Head Guy.
Update: This is Cecil Kellaway and Richard Widmark as Back of the Head Guy.
Brain Trust roll call: Jenny M. (Wednesday’s mystery fellow), Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mystery gent), Floyd Thursby (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery fellow), Incredible Inman (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery fellow), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery chap), Blackwing Jenny (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Suzanne Stone (mystery movie and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sylvia E. (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Sheila (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Bruce (Tuesday’s mysterious man with a harpoon).
For Friday, we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Lionel Barrymore.
We also have this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Richard Widmark.
And finally, a mystery lad.
Update: This is Dean Stockwell.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery cook and Back of the Head Guy), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mysterious cook and Back of the Head Guy), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery cook and Back of the Head Guy), Thom and Megan (Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Benito (mystery movie and mystery cast), B.J. Merholz (Thursday’s Back of the Head Guy), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s enigmatic chef and Back of the Head Guy), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mysterious chef and Back of the Head Guy and some information about the chef’s name!), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and Thursday’s mysterious chef) and Blackwing Jenny (Thursday’s mysterious chef).
ladailymirror.com 
Dorothy Adams in DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS (1949).
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Dorothy Adams?
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Dorothy Adams
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Dorothy Adams.
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Dorothy Adams for Monday?
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Is this not Dorothy Adams, most remembered, perhaps, as Gene Tierney’s maid in 1944’s Laura? She’s looking very school-teacherly here….or clerk-y.
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Dorothy Adams
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Dorothy Adams
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Dorothy Adams.
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This is Dorothy Adams.
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How about Dorothy Adams. Don’t believe I ever tried a Monday before.
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I know that face. I THINK she is the maid in THE NAKED CITY. Adelaide Klein? Not sure what movie this is, though.
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Dorothy Adams.
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SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY.
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Ellen Corby? Usually plays an opinionated maid, looks marmish today
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Harry Morgan today and DOWN TO THE SEE IN SHIPS.
The + sign is missing for today.
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John Northpole, Harry Carter, and Richard Widmark just out of frame.
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“Down To the Sea In Ships”-with (so far) Dorothy Adams and Harry Morgan.
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Dorothy Adams on Monday. Harry Morgan on Tuesday. The movie is Down to the Sea in Ships from 1949.
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Down to the Sea in Ships 1949
Monday – Dorothy Adams talking with O/S Gene Lockhart
Tuesday – Harry Morgan holding a harpoon. I found another image and I think that Richard Widmark is also on board this vessel.
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Down to the Sea in Ships (1949) w/Dorothy Adams, Richard Widmark, Dean Stockwell, Lionel Barrymore, Gene Lockhart, Harry Morgan, Cecil Kellaway…
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Henry Morgan in Down to the Sea in Ships.
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Henry Morgan.
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Tuesday’s mystery harpooner is Harry Morgan, which makes this “Down to the Sea in Ships”
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This week’s movie is “Down to the Sea in Ships” with Dorothy Adams and Harry Morgan.
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Tuesday’s photo is of a young Harry Morgan, so when we “triangulate,” as they say in some famous movies, we get 1949’s Down to the Sea in Ships, perhaps.
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Harry Morgan ships down to the sea for a whale of a bad time.
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Tuesday’s mysterious fellow: Harry (Henry) Morgan
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Monday’s mystery woman: Dorothy Adams. Tuesday’s mysterious fellow: Harry (Henry) Morgan. Mystery movie title: Down to the Sea in Ships (1949)
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Dorothy Adams and Harry Morgan in DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS.
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Henry Morgan and harpoon
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Is Monday Dorothy Adams and Tuesday HarryMorgan? If so I’m guessing the movie is Down To The Sea In Ships.
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Harry (Henry) Morgan. Did not know he had an ocean-going career before entering the Army.
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“Down To The Sea in Ships”
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Dorothy Adams and Henry/Harry Morgan in “Down to the Sea in Ships”
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Gene Lockhart
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JOhn Northpole and Robert Adler Tuesday, Gene Lockhart today.
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For Monday we have Dorothy Adams; for Tuesday, Harry Morgan; for Wednesday, Gene Lockhart. The movie is “Down to the Sea in Ships.”
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Gene Lockhart
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Gene Lockhart today, making this “Down to the Sea in Ships.”
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Gene Lockhart.
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June Lockhart’s acting dad, Gene, looking a little severe.
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Gene Lockhart in Down to the Sea in Ships (1949)
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Gene Lockhart?
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Tuesday : Henry Morgan. Wednesday: Gene Lockhart “Down To The Sea in Ships” 1949–
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Gene Lockhart.
It’s been interesting reading up on this film, including the origins of the term ‘slush fund’.
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Harry Morgan and Gene Lockhart, ‘Down to the Sea in Ships’.
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Wild guess: Harry Morgan in “Moonrise”. I saw that in a film class about 50 years ago, and something in Tuesday’s photo caused a flashback.
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Cecil Kellaway!
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Is BOTHG Richard Widmark?
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Cecil Kellaway and Richard Widmark as BOTH guy.
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Cecil Kellaway, Richard Widmark
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Hi, Wednesday’s mystery guest is Gene Lockhart and today’s guest is Cecil Kellaway.
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DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS 1949. With Gene Lockhart, Richard Widmark et al
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Widmark’s jawline is not his best feature.
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Cecil Kellaway and Richard Widmark.
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Aha! As per previous note, read about the term “slush fund” as one of the ‘trivia notes’ on the film. Mr Kellaway’s character, Slushy, has the job title from which that term springs (this sounds like terribly unclear sentence structure but I’m at a loss on how to improve it.). Anyhoo, I learned something new.
Thursday – Cecil Kellaway is chatting with BOTHG Richard Widmark.
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Thursday: Cecil Kellaway in Down to the Sea in Ships (1949)
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Thursday’s child is Cecil Kellaway.
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Lionel Barrymore, Richard Widmark and Dean Stockwell.
Looking forward to the Saturday breakdown.
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Lionel Barrymore,Widmark, and Dean Stockwell.
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Lionel Barrymore; Richard Widmark; Dean Stockwell.
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Today’s guests are Lionel Barrymore, Richard Widmark and Dean Stockwell.
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All week I have been trying ti remember her name: Dorothy Adams! Down to the Sea in Ships with Richard, Dean, Lionel , Gene L…and etc…
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Lionel Barrymore, Richard Widmark and Dean Stockwell.
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Friday: Lionel Barrymore, Richard Widmark, and Dean Stockwell
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