Moby Dick
- IMDb link: 0021149
- IMDb rating: 5.7 (719 votes) Search
- Genres: Adventure, Drama
- Director: Lloyd Bacon
- Cast: John Barrymore, Joan Bennett, Lloyd Hughes, Noble Johnson and others
- Release date: 20 Sep 1930
- Release year: 1930
- Runtime: 80 minutes
- Country: United States
- Keywords: animal character name as title, moby dick character, two word title, captain ahab character, mania, piglet, year 1840, melanesian, shanghaied crew, blubber
Plot
Storyline
In this extremely loose adaptation of Melville's classic novel, Ahab is revealed initially not as a bitter and vengeful madman, but as a bit of a lovable scamp. Ashore in New Bedford, he meets and falls for Faith Mapple, daughter of the local minister and beloved of Ahab's brother Derek. Faith herself quickly returns Ahab's love, as Derek is drab and ignoble. On his next voyage, however, Ahab loses a leg to the monstrous white whale Moby-Dick. When upon his return to New Bedford he mistakenly believes Faith wants nothing to do with him because of his disfigurement, Ahab returns to sea with only one goal in mind -- to find and kill the great white whale.
So this was "Moby Dick" with John Barrymore. Captain Ahab, John Barrymore, falls in love with his brother's girlfriend, Joan Bennet. She returns his affection setting up the conflict with his brother, Derek. Ahab goes on a whaling voyage, encounters Moby Dick. Moby Dick takes of Ahab's right leg. Ahab has a distinct change in character, from being a lovable scamp, he becomes remorse and believes his girl has lost all affection for him in his crippled state. He has command of the whaling vessel The Maryanne, not the Pequod. He has a handful of trusted whalers with him, among them the Native harpooner who is his protector. The bulk of the crew was Shanghaied from the grog houses and brothels of New Bedford. He only seeks Moby Dick who he finally encounters after severe typhoon off the coast of China, at least four crewmen are lost in the storm, he does absolutely nothing to save any of them. Shortly before he encounters Moby Dick his loyal crew must first put down a mutiny. Derek knifes Ahab but only wounds him. In response to Derek's treachery the harpooner breaks Derek's back. The last you see of Derek he is to be taken to the Captain's cabin and carried for to the best of the whalers ability. Once a long boat chases down Moby Dick Ahab harpoons the whale. Ahab is tied to the harpoon and ends up being dragged by Moby Dick. Ahab manages to climb on Moby Dick's back and lances the great beast. The crew butchers Moby Dick, boils the blubber to extract the oil. The Maryanne returns to New Bedford and Ahab and his girl live happily ever after.
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