Moby Dick (1956 film)
Moby Dick is a 1956 film adaptation of Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick. It was directed by John Huston with a screenplay by Huston and Ray Bradbury. The film starred Gregory Peck, Richard Basehart, and Leo Genn.
Set in 19th-century New England, the story follows the whaling ship Pequod and its crew. Leading them is Captain Ahab, who was almost killed in an encounter with the "great white whale", Moby Dick, which bit off much of his left leg. Now he is out for revenge. With the crew that has joined him, Ahab is out to destroy the huge sperm whale sea mammal, but his obsession with vengeance is so great that he cannot turn back, eventually leading to the death of Ahab and all of his crew, save his newest able seaman, Ishmael.
In addition to the tropes listed for the novel, the following apply to this film:
- Age Lift: Richard Basehart, who played Ishmael, was actually older than Gregory Peck.
- Composite Character: Fedallah's part is filled early on by Elijah.
- Compressed Adaptation: The even-numbered chapters (the "whaling encyclopedia") are omitted.
- Playing Against Type: The primary reason that this version wasn't initially well-received was that audiences weren't comfortable seeing Gregory Peck as a villainous character (albeit an Anti-Villain).
- One-Scene Wonder: Father Mapple, played by Orson Welles.
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