Moby Dick [DVD]

Moby Dick - well the story is great, the acting especially by Gregory Peck is great and the length of the films time is probably correct- the only fault I find is with the colour which appears to be faded. This is a new dvd and not a new film and I believe more could have been done to keep the colour- which was better than this when first seen in the movies decades ago.- Therefore the fault has to be with the dvd, the special effects are as they were in the 1950's which were very good then but lacking in comparison to todays standards. Which brings me neatly into comparison with the latest effort featuring Patrick Stewart - which given the advancements in technology SHOULD have been a superior movie - it isn't. It lacks the acting punch and quality of acting that this the former movie has Greg Peck plays a convincing 'Ahab' I'm afraid to me Patrick Stewart seems to strain to fill the lead part as do most of the actors in their roles- except for - Gregory Peck yet again who has the cameo role of Father Mapple and steals the acting plaudits with a most effective sermon this role was (in my own humble opinion) better acted and delivered by Peck than was the original (This movie) by Orson Welles. In conclusion this Moby Dick Movie directed by John Huston is the better Moby Dick version. The colour I know was originally conceived for realism as a whaling community however this DVD does not live up to that and may irritate. Having said all prior I still recommend this version as a very good film which your entire family will enjoy and will be the best option for quite some time yet I presume.

I must admit I hadn't seen this film for over 50 years and just assumed it was in Black and white and was pleasantly surprised to see the film was in colour. Still a great film with a great cast. Gregory Peck and Richard Basehart.

Call Me Ishmael These now famous words open The pages of one of The most popular books in English literature Herman Melville's seafaring classic Moby Dick. one mans Quest for The legendary white whale as engrossed book readers for Decades. filmed in 1956 by legendary maverick director John Huston. Huston's Telling of The seafaring Tale remains The Definitive version of The Timeless classic. we all know The story Gregory peck is The mysterious captain Ahab obsessed with finding and killing The infamous white whale The role gave Peck one of The most Darkest character roles he as ever played. splendidly cast as The Hero of The Novel and The movie is Richard Baseheart as Ishmael constantly in conflict Throughout with Ahab. Baseheart had something of a seafaring career in movies and TV himself you can find him in The original Titanic movie and along with Moby Dick before starring on TV in The long running Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea series. for me John Huston's Moby Dick is one of Those movies That really Takes you on The voyage with The crew in Their Quest for The whale you really can smell The sea salt of The vast open oceans as you journey along with The film. This newly released Blu-ray offers an excellent High Definition Transfer we can clearly see The Dark Grey skies with colors vivid and rich No extras To speak off just The movie itself but what a movie. Moby Dick as been filmed many Times since while some of The other movie adaptations are very Good you can't really Touch The original for scope, character, and The sheer involvement of getting caught up in your own Quest for The legendary white whale an all round five star release.

Not the latest version of the story, but the one, which best captures themood of the book.Of necessity Huston tinkers with,and cuts out lengthy digressions present in Melvilles book,but usually for the better.Gregory Peck's performance is dark,brooding, biblical,and classical,and dominates the other characters,other than for the early Cameo appearance of Orson Wells as Father Mapple, who delivers an absolute masterpiece of a sermon.The film stands the test of time really well, is an excellant reconstruction of the hazardous life on a whaling ship of the time, and is a vehicle for very profound issues,probably even more relevant today, as when Melville wrote his book in 1851.An exciting" yarn "with an urgent, and prophetic message for us today.Interestingly, Huston cast the part of Queequeg to be played by :-Graf Friedrich Anton Maria Hubertus Bonifacius von Ledebur-Wicheln(This really was his name)who was a real life Austrian Aristocrat, who does justice to the part.( Melville would have appreciated that.)

This movie has had very little critical acclaim in its time, and the severest comment was on the set when it was noted (unkindly) that Huston himself should have played Ahab and Welles the whale. But the director's vision was completely fulfilled here, and as has been noted this is a homage to the book itself, full of high drama and over-the-top melodrama. Personally I think Peck was exceptional as Ahab, and brought out the monomania, the ruthlessness and the determination of the character very well; in fact all the leading actors were marvellous and helped give a taste of the sea to the viewer. The final chase, cut from the book's three days and three lowerings to only one, is still thrilling and the climax a rollercoaster ride. Admittedly, they changed parts of the story (e.g. Ahab beckoning) for dramatic effect, but otherwise this is as close to the book as you'll ever get.

My personal favourite Gregory Peck performance. GP is an outstanding Ahab, and uses his marvellous speaking voice to brilliant effect in this marvellous film.I do not know quite what it is, but something about this film really gets to me whenever I watch it - and frankly, I dread to think quite how many viewings I have indulged myself with to date.I managed to plough my way through Melville's book which I found hard growing many years ago. However, I loved the story and the tale has always remained with me - just as with Hemingway's The Old Man and The Sea which is masterful in its own right.Anyway, even if the films theme does not do much for you, believe me, Gregory Peck's performance is quite enough to shell out a few pennies.Treat yourself!