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IMDbPro

Moby Dick

  • 19561956
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
21K
YOUR RATING
Gregory Peck in Moby Dick (1956)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer3:11
1 Video
88 Photos
AdventureDrama
The sole survivor of a lost whaling ship relates the tale of his captain's self-destructive obsession to hunt the white whale, Moby Dick.The sole survivor of a lost whaling ship relates the tale of his captain's self-destructive obsession to hunt the white whale, Moby Dick.The sole survivor of a lost whaling ship relates the tale of his captain's self-destructive obsession to hunt the white whale, Moby Dick.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
21K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Huston
  • Writers
    • Ray Bradbury(screenplay)
    • John Huston(screenplay)
    • Norman Corwin(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Gregory Peck
    • Richard Basehart
    • Leo Genn
  • Director
    • John Huston
  • Writers
    • Ray Bradbury(screenplay)
    • John Huston(screenplay)
    • Norman Corwin(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Gregory Peck
    • Richard Basehart
    • Leo Genn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 155User reviews
    • 59Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 4 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:11
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos88

    Richard Basehart in Moby Dick (1956)
    Gregory Peck, Harry Andrews, Leo Genn, and Seamus Kelly in Moby Dick (1956)
    Orson Welles in Moby Dick (1956)
    Gregory Peck and Friedrich von Ledebur in Moby Dick (1956)
    Gregory Peck in Moby Dick (1956)
    Richard Basehart and Friedrich von Ledebur in Moby Dick (1956)
    Gregory Peck in Moby Dick (1956)
    Gregory Peck in Moby Dick (1956)
    Moby Dick (1956)
    Moby Dick (1956)
    Moby Dick (1956)
    Gregory Peck in Moby Dick (1956)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gregory Peck
    Gregory Peck
    • Captain Ahab
    Richard Basehart
    Richard Basehart
    • Ishmael
    Leo Genn
    Leo Genn
    • Starbuck
    James Robertson Justice
    James Robertson Justice
    • Capt. Boomer
    Harry Andrews
    Harry Andrews
    • Stubb
    Bernard Miles
    Bernard Miles
    • The Manxman
    Noel Purcell
    Noel Purcell
    • Ship's Carpenter
    Edric Connor
    • Daggoo
    Mervyn Johns
    Mervyn Johns
    • Peleg
    Joseph Tomelty
    Joseph Tomelty
    • Peter Coffin
    Francis De Wolff
    Francis De Wolff
    • Capt. Gardiner
    Philip Stainton
    • Bildad
    Royal Dano
    Royal Dano
    • 'Elijah'
    Seamus Kelly
    • Flask
    Friedrich von Ledebur
    Friedrich von Ledebur
    • Queequeg
    • (as Friedrich Ledebur)
    Orson Welles
    Orson Welles
    • Father Mapple
    Tamba Allen
    • Pip
    • (uncredited)
    Tom Clegg
    • Tashtego
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Huston
    • Writers
      • Ray Bradbury(screenplay)
      • John Huston(screenplay)
      • Norman Corwin(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Gregory Peck initially blamed the poor reviews of his performance on the script, which he felt contained "too much prose from the novel". However, he later acknowledged that he had been too young for the part at 38, since Captain Ahab was supposed to be an old man at the end of his career (Ahab's age, as implied in the book's chapter "The Symphony", is 58). He added, "The film required more. At the time, I didn't have more in me." and apologized to the screenwriters. Director John Huston had admitted he didn't want Peck as Ahab, but had spoken very highly of him & was very satisfied with his performance.
    • Goofs
      In the scenes with the Quaker characters, despite Herman Melville's correct use of "thee" and "thou," the two Captains frequently misuse "thee" as the subject, when it is only ever used as the object. For instance, the Peleg and Bildad will frequently say phrases such as "hast thee" or "art thee" when the correct use of this mode of speech calls for "hast thou" or "art thou."
    • Quotes

      Captain Ahab: From hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee. Ye damned whale.

    • Crazy credits
      The film finishes with 'Finis' instead of the usual 'The End'.
    • Connections
      Edited into De 7 Dødssyndene: Latskap (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      Drummer
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      Arranged by Edric Connor

    User reviews155

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    no remakes - - PUH-LEEZE!!
    This version of the Melville classic should, without question, be regarded as the penultimate screen adaptation of a masterwork of American fiction. Everything - absolutely everything - about this film works, from John Huston's brilliant direction, to the screenplay ( co-written by Ray Bradbury ), to the powerful and believable performances. Gregory Peck IS Ahab; if anyone defined and crystallized so megalomaniacal a character, it was Peck, hands down. Not that this should be interpreted as a slight to any of the supporting cast; it isn't. The casting is so good, in fact, that now we find it difficult, if not impossible, to view the supporting cast members in any other light, especially Frederich Ledebur: his choice by the producers as Queequeg was nothing if not dead on the money, as was the small but significant part of Elizah, as portrayed by Royal Dano. Granted, some liberties were taken with the book ( so what else is new? ), such as the squid being written out completely, but this was, and continues to be, necessary in order to make a movie that doesn't take five hours to play out. Yes, okay, it's a "Cliff's Notes" "Moby Dick", but if what you're after is good direction, outstanding ( one could say tour de force ) acting, and a tight screenplay, then this is the movie for you. Believe us, this is the one, NOT the remake with Patrick Stewart. Stewart's Ahab is basically Patrick Stewart playing Patrick Stewart playing Ahab or, to put it another way, Huston's "Moby Dick" needs to be remade about as badly as the rest of us need leukemia. 'Nuff said.
    helpful•57
    17
    • march9hare
    • Aug 20, 2004

    FAQ3

    • were actual whales harpooned and killed in the footage that appears to be from actual whaling hunts
    • The film does not look like other Technicolor films. Why is that?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 3, 1959 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Herman Melville's Moby Dick
    • Filming locations
      • Youghal, County Cork, Ireland(harbour: New Bedford - departure of The Pequod)
    • Production company
      • Moulin Productions Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $4,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $302
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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