Question 1

Why was Lionel Barrymore's character named Bering Joy?

Accepted Answer

Lionel Barrymore's character is named Bering Joy because he was born on board a ship in the Bering Sea.

Question 2

What does the nickname 'Slush' or 'Slushy' refer to on ships?

Accepted Answer

Ships' cooks were often nicknamed 'Slush' or 'Slushy' because they boiled salt pork or beef, skimming off the grease called 'slush' which sailors used as butter on biscuits. Excess slush was sold for soap or candles, funding a 'Slush Fund'.

Question 3

Which director didn't want Richard Widmark for this film?

Accepted Answer

Director Henry Hathaway didn't want Richard Widmark on the picture, preferring Van Johnson instead. Widmark claimed Hathaway tried to pick fights to replace him, but Widmark stayed due to studio boss Darryl F. Zanuck's wishes.

Question 4

What is the central conflict in Down to the Sea in Ships?

Accepted Answer

During a whaling expedition in the late 1800s, aging Captain Bering Joy and new first mate Dan Lunceford engage in a battle of wills concerning the education of the captain's struggling grandson.

Question 5

What was Lionel Barrymore's final starring role?

Accepted Answer

Down to the Sea in Ships was Lionel Barrymore's final starring role. He would appear in five more feature films, all in supporting roles.

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Down to the Sea in Ships

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