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Moby Dick (1956)

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Average Rating: 7.1/10
Reviews Counted: 19
Fresh: 16 | Rotten: 3

It may favor spectacle in place of the deeper themes in Herman Melville's novel, but John Huston's Moby Dick still makes for a grand movie adventure.

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 1

It may favor spectacle in place of the deeper themes in Herman Melville's novel, but John Huston's Moby Dick still makes for a grand movie adventure.

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User Ratings: 7,765

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Movie Info

Previous film versions of Moby Dick insisted upon including such imbecilities as romantic subplots and happy endings. John Huston's 1956 Moby Dick remains admirably faithful to its source. "Call me Ishmael" declares itinerant whaler Richard Basehart as the opening credits fade. Though slightly intimidated by the sermon delivered by Father Mapple (Orson Welles in a brilliant one-take cameo), who warns that those who challenge the sea are in danger of losing their souls, Ishmael nonetheless signs

Unrated, 1 hr. 56 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

Directed By: John Huston

Written By: John Huston, Ray Bradbury

In Theaters: Jun 27, 1956 Wide

On DVD: Jun 19, 2001

MGM

Moby Dick Trailer & Photos

Cast

Gregory Peck
Capt. Ahab
Richard Basehart
Ishmael
Leo Genn
Starbuck
Harry Andrews
Stubb
Seamus Kelly
Flask
Orson Welles
Father Mapple
Mervyn Johns
Peleg
Bernard Miles
Manxman
Tom Clegg
Tashtego
Noel Purcell
Ship's Carpenter
Edric Connor
Daggoo
Philip Stainton
Bildad
Francis De Wolff
Capt. Gardner
Royal Dano
Elijah
James Robertson Justice
Capt. Boomer
Christopher Lee
Joan Plowright
Joseph Tomelty
Peter Coffin
Frederick Ledebur
Queequeg
Friedrich von Ledebur

Critic Reviews for Moby Dick

All Critics (19) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (3) | DVD (4)

One could have plenty of quarrels with this as an adaptation of the Herman Melville novel, but it's still one of the better John Huston films of the 50s.

August 5, 2011 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Moby Dick is certainly the most unusual picture of the year and may well be the best.

August 5, 2011 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

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TIME Magazine

Top Critic

Moby Dick is interesting more often than exciting, faithful to the time and text more than great theatrical entertainment.

June 2, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

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Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

A rolling and thundering color film that is herewith devoutly recommended as one of the great motion pictures of our times.

March 25, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Times

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Top Critic

John Huston gives a passionate and faithful rendering of Herman Melville's novel in Moby Dick, aided by a stellar cast.

August 5, 2011 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

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TV Guide's Movie Guide

John Huston's long-cherished adaptation of Herman Melville's novel has some wonderful scenes but must be counted as a noble failure.

April 5, 2011 Full Review Source: Radio Times

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Adrian Turner

Radio Times

The film takes flight as a grand chase movie, and leaves its ambition in its wake.

April 5, 2011 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

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Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

Even if it is Melville-lite, Moby Dick is a rousing, beautifully conceived old-school production.

October 8, 2010 Full Review Source: EDGE Boston

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Phil Hall

EDGE Boston

Huston uses his great filmmaking skills to keep things mostly on course.

June 25, 2008 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

It is often staggeringly good.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Tom Milne

Time Out

It's a considerable achievement, filmed against monstrous physical odds.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4

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Film4

An interesting interpretation, with Peck as a wounded, pitiful, but dark Ahab.

October 4, 2002 Comment

Bob Bloom

Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

John Huston em mais um de seus grandes momentos.

May 30, 2002 Full Review Source: Cinema em Cena

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Pablo Villaca

Cinema em Cena

Huston's film has stellar action sequences and some fine work done in supporting roles, which helps overcome Peck's wooden work as Ahab.

September 4, 2001 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide

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Dan Jardine

Apollo Guide

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Moby Dick

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Peck is a BADASS!

May 6, 2007

Ken Stachnik

Super Reviewer

A fair stab at adapting the classic novel by science fiction novelist Ray Bradbury, this is still the definitive screen version. Gregory Peck plays nicely against cast as the archetypal obsessive and has plenty of nice period detail. It's also interesting to see where pretty much every sea bound adventure gets it's inspiration...

May 16, 2007