The Old Man and the Sea (1958): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
The Old Man and the Sea is a 1958 adventure drama directed by John Sturges and Fred Zinnemann, starring Spencer Tracy, Harry Bellaver and Mauritz Hugo. It is based on The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. It runs 1 hour 26 minutes and earned $67,740 worldwide. It won 1 Oscar, including Music (Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture). Critics gave it 49 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 26m (86 min)
- Directors
- John Sturges and Fred Zinnemann
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Warner Bros.
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Old Man and the Sea About?
The premise of The Old Man and the Sea without spoilers, adapted from The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
An aging Cuban fisherman, Santiago, dreams of his youthful days filled with sailing ships and incredible catches. He reflects on a time when the sea offered abundant rewards, now contrasted with his current, difficult circumstances. The story explores themes of perseverance, respect for nature, and the enduring spirit of a man facing the challenges of age and loss.
The Old Man and the Sea Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- first person narration
- fisherman
- sea
- old man
- marlin
- fishing
- cuba
- ocean
- pulitzer prize source
- based on novel
- no opening credits
- american literature on screen
+38 more Show fewer
- arm wrestling contest
- local bar
- fishing boat
- cuban man
- endurance test
- fishing expedition
- shark attack
- stars in the sky
- whale fluke
- adult child relationship
- mentor protege relationship
- daily routine
- sunrise
- dry spell
- tuna
- tern
- warbler
- frigatebird
- epic adventure
- springing out of water
- pod of dolphins
- eating raw fish
- reference to rigel the star
- talking to one's self
- moonlit night
- physical effort
- migration period
- sleep
- mako shark
- fish skeleton
- sea adventure
- quest adventure
- epic drama
- allegory
- harpoon
- lie
- boy
- fish eats a fish
The Old Man and the Sea Cast
Spencer Tracy leads the cast, with Harry Bellaver and Mauritz Hugo. Directed by John Sturges and Fred Zinnemann; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Co-director John Sturges -
Co-director Fred Zinnemann
Also Starring in The Old Man and the Sea
· 6 moreMore from John Sturges and Fred Zinnemann
More films directed by John Sturges and Fred Zinnemann, best-rated first: The Sundowners, The Day of the Jackal, The Nun's Story and A Man for All Seasons.
The Old Man and the Sea Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Old Man and the Sea 49 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 49 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 65% User score
See on TMDB
The Old Man and the Sea Plot Summary
What happens in The Old Man and the Sea from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As dawn breaks, Santiago, a weary fisherman, embarks on his skiff with a desperate hope to end his long stretch of eighty-four days without a catch. Known as “salao” — the epitome of bad luck — he has seen his former apprentice Manolin abandon their shared dreams of the sea. Despite this grim reality, Santiago finds a glimmer of joy in their morning exchanges; Manolin brings him food, and together they discuss their favorite baseball player, the legendary Joe DiMaggio. As Manolin departs, Santiago drifts into memories of better days, a serene reminder of his youth.
Full summary
The whole story of The Old Man and the Sea, scene by scene
The Old Man and the Sea Box Office
The Old Man and the Sea grossed $67,740 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$67.7K
- International
- $67.7K
The Old Man and the Sea Awards & Nominations
The Old Man and the Sea won 1 Oscar, including Music (Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture). Its biggest night was the Oscars 1959, with 1 win from 3 nominations.
1 win4 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Oscars 1959 1 win · 3 nominations- Won Music (Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture)
- Nominated Actor – Spencer Tracy
- Nominated Cinematography (Color)
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Golden Globes 1959 1 nomination- Nominated Best Actor - Drama – Spencer Tracy
The Old Man and the Sea Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Old Man and the Sea.
How Well Do You Know The Old Man and the Sea?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Santiago's primary goal at the beginning of the movie?
Cars in The Old Man and the Sea
1 car on screen: the 1946 Chrysler Windsor.
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1946 Chrysler Windsor Minor role
The Old Man and the Sea Also Known As
21 alternative titles, including “El viejo y el mar” and “Der alte Mann und das Meer”.
- Also known as
-
- El viejo y el mar
- Der alte Mann und das Meer
- Il vecchio e il mare
- Le Vieil Homme et la Mer
- Az öreg halász és a tenger
- הזקן והים
- Старецът и морето
- Stařec a moře
- Старик и море
- 노인과 바다
- İhtiyar Adam ve Deniz
- O Velho e o Mar
+9 more Show fewer
- 老人与海
- Старий і море
- 老人と海
- Starac i more
- El vell i la mar
- Stary człowiek i morze
- Bătrânul și marea
- Den gamle och havet
- Ο γέρος και η θάλασσα
Seen The Old Man and the Sea?
Movies Like The Old Man and the Sea
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Old Man and the Sea, The Angry Sea and The Old Man Who Read Love Stories.
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The Old Man and the Sea 1990 -
The Angry Sea 1960 -
The Old Man Who Read Love Stories 2001 -
A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings 1988 -
Alamar (To the Sea) 2010 -
Hello Hemingway 1990 -
The Fisherman’s Son 1939 -
Our Way To The Sea 2018 -
Santiago 1956 -
The Sea Lion 1921 -
The Sea Wolf 1941 -
Fishing and Fishermen’s Conversations 2020
The Old Man and the Sea FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The Old Man and the Sea, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Old Man and the Sea?
The Old Man and the Sea runs 1 hour 26 minutes (86 minutes).
When was The Old Man and the Sea released?
The Old Man and the Sea was released on October 11, 1958.
Who directed The Old Man and the Sea?
The Old Man and the Sea was directed by John Sturges and Fred Zinnemann.
More films by John Sturges Who is in the cast of The Old Man and the Sea?
The Old Man and the Sea stars Spencer Tracy, Harry Bellaver and Mauritz Hugo, among 10 credited actors.
How much did The Old Man and the Sea make at the box office?
The Old Man and the Sea grossed $67,740 worldwide.
How is The Old Man and the Sea rated?
The Old Man and the Sea has 49 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.
Is The Old Man and the Sea based on a book?
Yes. The Old Man and the Sea is adapted from The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.
What awards did The Old Man and the Sea win?
The Old Man and the Sea won 1 award from 4 nominations, including Music (Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) at the Oscars 1959.
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