In the strict, literal sense, it is impossible to make a movie out of Moby Dick. The best that one could hope for would be an intelligent condensation of the story's main events, with a reasonably close approximation of the book's characters.
In this, Ray Bradbury's screenplay and Huston's direction succeed admirably. Though the motivations of the characters have to be simplified, and the story streamlined to fit the running time of a movie, there are scenes that come remarkably close to the spirit and atmosphere of the original. The scene in Ahab's cabin, when he argues with Starbuck about his reasons for wanting to destroy Moby Dick, and Starbuck declares that the idea is blasphemous, Gregory Peck and Leo Genn rise to the almost Shakespearean tone of the novel. An even more dramatic scene occurs near the end, when Ahab, in a relaxed and even cheerful mood, shows an unexpected side of himself, as he describes the beauty of nature that surrounds them. But in a masterful bit of adaptation of Melville's original dialogue, Ahab shows his madness once again, as he begins to ramble about Fate and destiny. Starbuck pulls a gun and announces his intention to kill Ahab, but can't go through with it. The closeup of Peck gazing into Genn's eyes, and saying solemnly, " The act's immutably decreed. T'was rehearsed by thee and me a billion years before this ocean rolled" , is pure Melville captured on film. It's almost the essence of Moby Dick in one short scene.
This is a wonderful film, full of adventure, humor, suspense, strange characters and unearthly mysteries, just like Melville's novel. The acting is of a high order, the music and cinematography amazing. I defy anyone to sit through the scene where Ahab nails the gold coin to the mast, and declares it a reward for the man who first sights the White Whale, and not be as excited as the crew, when they pass around the flagon of rum ,and wave their harpoons and shout " Death to Moby Dick!"
In this, Ray Bradbury's screenplay and Huston's direction succeed admirably. Though the motivations of the characters have to be simplified, and the story streamlined to fit the running time of a movie, there are scenes that come remarkably close to the spirit and atmosphere of the original. The scene in Ahab's cabin, when he argues with Starbuck about his reasons for wanting to destroy Moby Dick, and Starbuck declares that the idea is blasphemous, Gregory Peck and Leo Genn rise to the almost Shakespearean tone of the novel. An even more dramatic scene occurs near the end, when Ahab, in a relaxed and even cheerful mood, shows an unexpected side of himself, as he describes the beauty of nature that surrounds them. But in a masterful bit of adaptation of Melville's original dialogue, Ahab shows his madness once again, as he begins to ramble about Fate and destiny. Starbuck pulls a gun and announces his intention to kill Ahab, but can't go through with it. The closeup of Peck gazing into Genn's eyes, and saying solemnly, " The act's immutably decreed. T'was rehearsed by thee and me a billion years before this ocean rolled" , is pure Melville captured on film. It's almost the essence of Moby Dick in one short scene.
This is a wonderful film, full of adventure, humor, suspense, strange characters and unearthly mysteries, just like Melville's novel. The acting is of a high order, the music and cinematography amazing. I defy anyone to sit through the scene where Ahab nails the gold coin to the mast, and declares it a reward for the man who first sights the White Whale, and not be as excited as the crew, when they pass around the flagon of rum ,and wave their harpoons and shout " Death to Moby Dick!"