Rent Moby Dick (1956)

Classic Adventure - Moby Dick review by GI

It was no mean feat adapting the famous novel by Herman Melville but this was dream project for director John Huston and viewed today it's a classic Hollywood adventure drama that is exciting, with gritty action and a very plausible use of models. An arguably miscast Gregory Peck, who was a bankable star, plays the infamous Ahab. There is no doubt he's too young for the role but he still does an admirable job in his portrayal of hate-filled obsession. The story is narrated by a young adventurer played by Richard Basehart who signs on for a three year whaling voyage aboard the Pequod. It's only once underway he learns that the mysterious Captain Ahab is committed to hunting just one whale called Moby Dick. A huge white one that has killed many sailors and was responsible for the loss of Ahab's leg. His obsession will drive him to ignore the safety of his crew. There's some great support casting from James Robertson Justice, Harry Andrews, Bernard Miles and Orson Welles cameos as a preacher. If you love classical Hollywood movies then this is certainly one you should check out. It really is a marvellous film despite it's flaws. Huston channels a lot of John Ford in his directing style and the washed out pastel colours give the film a sense of reality. Recently restored to DVD/BluRay this is a real treat for film fans.