Recently, I watched Anchors Aweigh (featuring Stockwell’s debut in 1945) – and Psych-Out, a movie about hippies in San Francisco from 1968, starring Stockwell and Jack Nicholson – back to back.
It’s the most unlikely double bill ever.
Stockwell in the first film is fresh and adorable and squeaky-voiced and totally natural. In the second film he’s a Buddha-like presence who sits back, holds court, and doesn’t miss a thing. He dominates everyone through his moral superiority. He also wears flowery flowing shirts and a headband. He’s the alpha male in the film. He sits in a dark hole, smokes cigarettes, and nothing moves but his eyes (and his eyebrows). He’s wonderful in it, riveting.
After seeing Anchors Aweigh, where he prances around in his pajamas, and cries shiny money-in-the-bank tears, and rides around on Gene Kelly’s back, and looks eagerly and wistfully up at Frank Sinatra, I was struck by how bizarre it must have been to grow up on screen. To have everyone know your every phase of life. It’s documented. Your journey is objectified – it’s the nature of the beast. Your movement through time is made public. So to see him lolling about in a hippie halfway house, drawling out incisive remarks and observations, with a hot hippie babe with a flower in her hair curled up in his lap, makes me think: Is that the same person? Is this even the same WORLD that made Anchors Aweigh? The films are only 20 years apart.
The entire culture had shifted.
And Stockwell? Same dimple, same grin, same person. But the journey in between!! Wild.
Anchors Aweigh, 1945
Psych-Out, 1968
Anchors Aweigh, 1945
Psych-Out, 1968
Anchors Aweigh, 1945
Psych-Out, 1968
Anchors Aweigh, 1945
Psych-Out, 1968
Anchors Aweigh, 1945
Psych-Out, 1968
One of his finest performances as a child happened in a film that gets so little attention. He held his own in a film called “Down to the Sea in Ships.” In this, he is Lionel Barrymore’s grandson. Barrymore, Bering Joy, is a whaler. Now, you have to get past the idea of fishing for whales. It’s ugly and shown pretty graphically.
The film centers on Bering’s concern for his grandson. The boy, Jed, wants to stay on the whaling ship, but grandpa Bering is getting too old to go any longer and Jed is not getting a modern education. So, Bering hires Richard Widmark as his First Mate Dan Lunceford. Dan is a college boy and half of his job onboard is educationg Jed. Jed comes to admire Dan and that makes Bering jealous.
That’s just a very pitiful description of the plot. The thing to watch here is how strong Dean Stockwell was as a child actor. Richard Widmark is a very open and willing actor. He is happy to allow other people to take focus and he works beautifully with Dean. You could see why this boy would want to emulate him. On the other hand, Lionel Barrymore chewed more scenery than the donkey in a Christmas pageant. Dean had to work to keep the great Barrymore at bay and he did it flawlessly. There is a scene near the end where Barrymore slaps Dean across the face. It’s a fierce hit. I doubt he was truly hit, but he makes you believe it and without any comment on the slap that floors him, Dean tells you exactly how he is feeling about his grandfather.
After watching that last scene, I have an image of Barrymore getting drunk with WC Fields and telling him, “Damn it! You were right about acting with children!”
I encourage to try and find that film. You will not be disappointed. Then find “Deep Waters.” Then rent the boxed set of the Thin Man and find the little one reel short Dean made called “A Very Important Man.”
I’ve done enough damage! Keep writing and posting screen caps! I’m loving it!
Oh, Nicole – keep doing damage!! I LOVE your comments – thank you so much!!!
You have made me want to see this film very badly – but I can’t find it on DVD (dernit). I suppose TCM might play it on occasion? It sounds amazing.
The other film of his which I have never seen and would love to (but it’s not out on DVD) is The Careless Years – the ones about the teenagers falling in love. It looks very interesting – have you seen it??
The Careless Years is not available anywhere for anyone to see. Someone owns it and won’t let it out for any reason. I think I found Down to the Sea in Ships on eBay. I also think I got Deep Waters there. Usually, the eBay stuff is taped off a broadcast or a cable showing, so you have that to deal with, but it’s better than nothing. I really believe DTTSIS is one of his finest performances. Physically, it was very demanding and he really did control Barrymore’s pompous performance. Now, I like Barrymore. He plays those characters very well, but lesser actors disappear behind the curmudgeon. Dean does not.