Rating: 
Summary: A courageous effort by John Huston
Review: It took a lot of guts to adapt "Moby Dick" to film and instead of maligning John Huston's effort, critics should have hailed his courage. This is a fine, intelligent film with a lean screenplay by Huston and Ray Bradbury. While I would have loved to have seen Laurence Olivier play Ahab, I think Gregory Peck turns in an adequate performance. Much of the action is shot at various outdoor locations and the special effects were impressive for the time. The great Orson Welles appears in the small but important role of Father Marple. The themes of friendship, revenge, and the role of conscience are all examined in "Moby Dick". Great literature often tanks when translated to the big screen. While "Moby Dick" is not among the greatest films of all time, it is a solid, admirable adaptation of Melville's masterpiece. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Classic for Peck, but not his best role...
Review: Gregory Peck is wonderfully cast in Melville's epic Moby Dick. He takes the role of Captain Ahab and makes it his own. He proves that you don't have to be a raving lunitic to portray a crazed and obsessed man. Maybe that's the Peck fan in me speaking (so what if he does look like Abe Lincoln here). Peck has a long list of classic films, most noted being "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "Roman Holiday" (lets not forget "The Guns Of Navarone", "The Omen" or "The Big Country" either)... and Moby Dick is among them. Great supporting cast including Richard Basehart (as Ishmael), Leo Genn (as 1st mate Starbuck), Fred Ledebur (as the tatooed harpooner Queequeg) and the mighty Orson Welles (as Father Mapple). The film moves along at a fairly slow pace in the beginning... setting up the story and it's characters. You don't even see Ahab until 30 minutes into the picture. You don't actually see Moby Dick until after the 100 minute mark. For 1956, this movie was well done... I still haven't figured out how Peck walked around on that peg... just where is his foot? The only knock on director Huston's movie is in a few of the repetitive whale chasing scenes you can tell the boats (with men in them) are small models. Classic movie... classic Peck.
Rating:
Summary: Masterful and Powerful Cinema
Review: I love stories that capture my imagination with timeless themes as well as storm and adventure. I recall, for example, Stevenson's "Treasure Island", and the one-legged rogue and pirate, Long John Silver, facing old age. In Barrie's "Peter Pan", Captain Hook battles a fairy-glamoured, eternal boy like a caged lion tormented by a butterfly. It so happens that boy cut off Hook's right hand. Then, there is Melville's Captain Ahab, whose insane fury against the beast that took his leg is matched only by the relentless power of nature. These driven men struggle with the forces that wounded them. I remember seeing Houston's film, "Moby Dick", with my father when I was eight. It made an impact on me. I've remembered many scenes from the movie over the years. I viewed the tape for the first time since then, and it has brought it all back John Houston's film is, perhaps, the best version of "Moby Dick". It is a powerful film to behold, and we see Houston's craft as a director in full force. The film is more than assembled plot points; it sets tone and theme, as well. He populates his film with a fine, reliable ensemble and familiar character faces etched by the human condition. It is, also, an interpolation of the novel. But, what else can you do with a novel of 133 chapters! The screenplay, by Ray Bradbury and Houston, captures the rich symbolic, metaphorical, and biblical resonance of Melville's story. Each performance is strong and each line delivered with significance. It seems nothing is wasted through its two hours of screen time. Above all, Houston loves the story and its characters to the point of reverence. It's as if he knew he just had to film this story. It was an epic film in its day. We view it with awe. The novel was one of Melville's failures. Only 3,000 copies were sold, and it was ignored until the nineteen twenties. Today, it is considered one of the greatest examples of American literature. Though he denied it was an allegory, many readers have, nevertheless, interpreted it as such. Houston follows in that line. Our opinion of whaling is different today, and we now look upon the story in light of its natural and ecological damage; but we should remember the historical importance of whaling, as well. The novel, apparently based on some actual records, was the first of its kind to tell of the whalers' struggle. The story, in a way, mythologizes or romanticizes them. As powerful as the film is, it also has its flaws. As a tape, there are not any of the special features we love on DVDs. I believe the somber color photography was intentional and appropriate. Some may find the metaphor a little heavy and the dialogue, though almost pure Melville, pretentious and portentous. Though, I believe now Houston made a better story than Melville, logic and motivation seem askew sometimes. But remember, this is a sailor's tale of almost 160 years ago. I believe this is a memorable film for almost anyone who sees it.
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie, Average DVD
Review: I watched this film the other night for the first time since seeing it in a theater in 1956; being 5 years old then, I've never forgotten the experience, and I was apprehensive about whether the film would live up to my memory of it. It does, largely. The music, in 1950s style, is way overdone and intrusive. But the story as a whole is very well told here (it should be, given that Ray Bradbury and John Huston wrote the script). Richard Basehart is okay, if not great, as Ishmael. But Gregory Peck's Ahab is still the reason to see this version; he's brilliant. Then there's the matter of the whales--which I really expected to look phoney, like a 1950s special effect--but which turn out to be terrific; Moby Dick himself looks about as real as you can get, and the last 20 minutes or so of the movie (as with the last three chapters of the novel) are compelling and spectacular. For the DVD, MGM has done virtually nothing. The movie is in full-screen format (which cuts out a bit of the picture here and there--though it could have been a lot worse, I guess). The image itself is very good, though early scenes look a bit colorless; this gets better once the story gets out to sea. There are no extras at all, just a trailer and the option to add French or Spanish subtitles. But I really wished for a bit more on this disc--for instance, if ever a movie demanded a commentary track, this is it, because I've heard bits and pieces of fascinating stories to be told about the production and filming. Even a printed essay would have been a big plus; there's not even a single-sheet insert in the box--couldn't they have afforded a crummy list of scenes? So, in short, this is worth buying (at least MGM kept the price down) simply for the excellent movie. And the quality, after all, is far better than VHS. But if anybody puts this out in a more deluxe edition, even a little bit deluxe, even just in a widescreen format, I'd recommend going for that instead.
Rating: 
Summary: The Way to Simplify
Review: I remember reading Moby Dick as a child and not understanding much of it. I am no longer a child, but I will not pretend to understand half of the things involved with Melville's Moby Dick; even the comic-book type of adaptations are complicated. This being said, however, the skeletal plot of Melville's classic is still quite intriguing, an unusual story of revenge and madness as well as nature. It is with this in mind that I comment on John Huston's masterpiece; this film version is fantastic! To label Gregory Peck as miscast is to discredit the task of acting (at least somewhat). True, Peck's version of Captain Ahab lacks the blatant fire of the written character, but his silent and brooding interpretation carries just as much obsession and passion as does the literary Ahab; indeed, I thoroughly enjoyed Ahab's portrayal in this film version. This is perhaps Mr. Peck's finest moment in his acting career. An earlier reviewer remarked on how unconvincing Frederick Ledebur is in the role of Queequeg-- I would have to disagree with that. Although Ledebur does not specifically look like a Pacific Islander in this movie, he is still quite large and swarthy, and his portrayal of Queequeg does an excellent job of conveying him as a foreigner and a mystery (who is, of course, genuinely noble at heart). In terms of appearances, Tashtego the Native American is not particularly native-looking either, but does this mean that the actor did a horrible job? Of course not; a great actor can portray other ethnic groups effectively, even if s/he does not specifically look the part. Getting back to the film itself, it is simply a beauty to look at. The oceanic imagery is very aesthetically pleasing, and the whaling scenes are fascinating; I myself always wondered how it was done, especially before modern technology. I do not specifically condone whaling other than as a means of survival, but it is nonetheless a spectacle to watch. Finally, there is the white whale itself, which is INCREDIBLY realistic-looking, and far superior in quality to any trick done by computers! Having seen whales at aquariums, the rubber whale used in Huston's film is complete with the life-like imperfections and markings found on real specimens. It is really hard to believe that Moby Dick himself, or herself, is not a living creature; even its movements and actions are incredibly life-like! Placing these great special effects together with an interesting plot and great acting make this film an excellent edition to any collection. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Movie=5 Stars / DVD= 4 Stars
Review: John Huston's film of MOBY DICK is perhaps a rare exception. It's a great film in its own right, apart from the great novel upon which it is based. The case can easily be made that this film does not 'do justice' to the book, if only for the reason that it does not cover every aspect of Melville's original. But this film proves that a slavish literary imitation is not necessary for a great film. The director fought with the studio over the color process used in MOBY DICK: it's intentional. He and the cinematographer were trying to capture a visual style that would be evocative of a certain style of painting and that would contribute to the mood of the story. Huston also fought with Ray Bradbury over the screenplay. The great science fiction author was literally reduced to tears by the gruff director, and he wrote a book about the experience. There was also some conflict over the casting of Gregory Peck as Ahab. Some say Orson Welles or Leo Genn (Starbuck) would have been a better choice. This may well be, but it should be admitted that Peck rises to the occasion when it's called for. The great scene with the Spanish doubloon and the great scene with Starbuck on the bridge, where Ahab explains his obsession. Few other actors are likely to have surpassed these moments. MOBY DICK (1956) was not filmed in widescreen. This DVD presents the film in the original aspect ratio. It looks very good and and nothing appears to have been done to tamper with the look of the film in terms of color. This is how is should look. Anyone interested in background on this film should read THE HUSTONS by Lawrence Grobel. The harrowing production is detailed, with plenty of attention given to the above-mentioned conflicts and also to the shooting of the INCREDIBLE final sequence. Some extras would have been welcome, but this DVD is more than worth owning by any fan of Melville, Huston or American film.
Rating:
Summary: great film, quickie DVD.
Review: I really, really enjoy this movie. Forget the Patrick Stewart version and see this one. Performances great (yes, even Gregory Peck), Richard Baseheart turns in a mellow-yet-smart Ishmael, and the special effects still beat any computerized junk I can think of. I never think for a moment I'm looking at a large, rubber whale. The whale hunts are invigorating and exciting, the narration par excellence, the Quaker-meets-saltwater dialogue is terrrific. I still love to hear Stubb say "Did ye not hear the cap'n? Pull, ye sheepheads!" My MAJOR complaint: Why wasn't this DVD issued in widescreen format? The film was shot at 1.85:1, and here it is shown as 1.33:1, pan and scan. Again, here is the mass-market bimbos in Hollywood, issuing veritable video fast-food...they wouldn't dare want to hear a single complaint from anyone regarding those "black bars at the top and bottom of your screen". For a film that has stood the test of time, and was photographed extremely well, can't we see the whole image? This was issued on LaserDisc in widescreen; perhaps people with access to one may want to check it out in that format. But hear me out, Paramount! Issue this widescreen, please!
Rating:
Summary: The Great American Movie
Review: If Herman Melville's book is called the great American novel, than this picture should be called the great American movie. It's too bad some folks tried to remake this classic film because there is no way anyone can improve on the genius of Houston, Bradbury, and Peck. To say Gregory Peck was miscast was foolish because of the actor's ample talent in playing either heroes or villians like Josef Mengele opposite Lawrence Olivier in THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL. Sadly the movie (like most Hollywood fare) does not stict to the book - leaving out much of Melviille's Shakespearean poetry and prose. Starbuck's soliloquy lamenting his cowardice and Ahab's evil would have added much to the drama of the film. Also, Fadallah (the Asian harpooneer) is never seen in this movie, and it is he, not Ahab who gets entangled in harpoon ropes around Moby Dick. While I liked the surreal cinematography and wonderful sea shanties, I was hoping to see more of Starbuck, Stubbs, and Flask - at least as detailed as Melville wrote in his book. The author added depth and dimension to his characters which is not seen in this version of Moby Dick or it's cheap remake. All in all though I loved it. It comes across a little like a play about Macbeth at sea.
Rating: 
Summary: Moby Dick , DOA. Melville, rapidly rotating in his grave.
Review: Bradbury and Huston together murdered both Melville and Moby Dick. The factual errors in the film are too numerous to count, and are mostly gratuitious, based I'm sure on an assumption that the audience hadn't read the novel. The dramatic tone is also, for the most part, false. There are great performances by Orson Welles and Gregory Peck, but Peck is given very poor material to work with, a very truncated Ahab. Huston in a grandiose, alcoholic fit reached too far with this one. Bradbury obviously needed the money, and did what he was told. Given the facts of the 19th century American sperm whale fishery, and the philosophical and emotional depth and breadth of the novel, a satisfactory film of Moby Dick is probably beyond the technical and artistic capabilities of today's filmmakers. I have not yet seen the 1998 remake, but I suspect I will also be dissappointed by that one as well.
Rating:
Summary: DVD extraordinary
Review: This has always been one of my favorite movies. I have seen it at the theatre (twice)and owned it on VHS (3 copies) and Betamax. I have seen it dozens of times, but the DVD version is really amazing. The old 1950's sound is still crappy, but the details in the video portion were like I'd never seen it before. Even if you have the VHS version, you owe it to yourself to get the DVD.
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