The Old Man and the Sea - actors, characters and roles

All actors and their roles in the film "The Old Man and the Sea"

The Old Man and the Sea (1958)

Timing: 1:26 (86 min)

6.471/10
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All about film

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Actors and characters

Spencer Tracy

Character The Old Man

Felipe Pazos

Character Manolin, the Boy

Harry Bellaver

Character Martin, the Cafe Bartender

Don Diamond

Character Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)

Mary Hemingway

Character Tourist (uncredited)

Joey Ray

Character Gambler (uncredited)

Mauritz Hugo

Character Gambler (uncredited)

Tony Rosa

Character Gambler (uncredited)

Don Blackman

Character Arm Wrestler

What's left behind the scenes

Before filming, Spencer Tracy (1900-1967), who played the Old Man, personally flew to Cuba to get Ernest Hemingway's approval.
In 1952, Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957) attempted to acquire the film rights to Hemingway's novella through his production company, Santana Productions. The actor saw himself in the role of the Old Man and planned to invite Nicholas Ray (1911-1979) to direct. All his attempts were unsuccessful, and the film was released only a year after his death. Spencer Tracy, a close friend of Bogart, starred in the main role.
Initially, Ernest Hemingway took a direct part in the work on the film. He was asked to go out to sea off the coast of Peru and try to find a place where he could catch a large marlin. However, it ended with the producers deciding to use a rubber fish dummy, and the film included fishing scenes in which Hemingway himself did not participate.
After watching the film, Ernest Hemingway was disappointed and even stated that Spencer Tracy did not resemble a poor Cuban fisherman, but rather a wealthy elderly actor (which he actually was). Nevertheless, Tracy was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in "The Old Man and the Sea".
The tourist in the final episode of the film is played by Mary Hemingway, the writer's fourth wife and later widow. She crosses the street and sits down at a table in a cafe. Her character has no lines.
In the final scene of the film, Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) himself sits at a table in a cafe. The writer is talking to fishermen. This was his first appearance on screen.

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