In this extremely loose adaptation of Melville's classic novel, Ahab is revealed initially not as a bitter and vengeful madman, but as a bit of a lovable scamp. Ashore in New Bedford, he ...
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Title: Moby Dick (1930)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| John Barrymore | ... | Captain Ahab Ceely | |
| Joan Bennett | ... | Faith | |
| Lloyd Hughes | ... | Derek | |
| Noble Johnson | ... | Queequeg | |
| Nigel De Brulier | ... | Elijah (as Nigel de Brulier) | |
| Walter Long | ... | Stubbs | |
 |
May Boley | ... | Whale Oil Rosie |
|
|
Tom O'Brien | ... | Starbuck |
| Virginia Sale | ... | Old Maid | |
| John Ince | ... | Reverend Mapple | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
In this extremely loose adaptation of Melville's classic novel, Ahab is revealed initially not as a bitter and vengeful madman, but as a bit of a lovable scamp. Ashore in New Bedford, he meets and falls for Faith Mapple, daughter of the local minister and beloved of Ahab's brother Derek. Faith herself quickly returns Ahab's love, as Derek is drab and ignoble. On his next voyage, however, Ahab loses a leg to the monstrous white whale Moby-Dick. When upon his return to New Bedford he mistakenly believes Faith wants nothing to do with him because of his disfigurement, Ahab returns to sea with only one goal in mind -- to find and kill the great white whale. Written by Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
Taglines:
Thar she blows!Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
20 September 1930 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
A Fera do Mar See more »Filming Locations:
Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USACompany Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (Turner library print)Sound Mix:
Mono (Vitaphone)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.20 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
A German-language version was made at Warners simultaneously. Ahab was played by Wilhelm (William) Dieterle in the Barrymore role, and Michael Curtiz replaced Bacon as director. German title was "Damon des Meeres" (Demon of the Seas). See more »Crazy Credits
While the credits state that the film is based on Herman Melville's novel, the first page of the novel shown onscreen right after the credits is entirely written by one of the screenwriters; it has absolutely nothing to do with Melville's original, and even leaves out Melville's classic opening sentence, "Call me Ishmael". See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Once one gets over the fact that this 1930 adaptation of Herman Melville's classic sea story has an at best tenuous relationship to the novel it's based on, it's quite enjoyable. John Barrymore makes an heroic Ahab, and Joan Bennett is fetching as his love interest (yes, I know). Warner Brothers went all out with this one, and as Barrymore was still a top leading man at the time, did a beautiful job with at least the visual aspects of the story, and the film is at times breathtaking to behold. Alas, they threw away most of the plot! Such were the ways of Hollywood. Noble Johnson makes for the best Queequeg I've ever seen, though.