Moby Dick
“The man – The whale – The vengeance – The mightiest adventure ever seen!”
Synopsis
In 1841, young Ishmael signs up for service aboard the Pequod, a whaler sailing out of New Bedford. The ship is under the command of Captain Ahab, a strict disciplinarian who exhorts his men to find Moby Dick, the great white whale. Ahab lost his leg to that creature and is desperate for revenge. As the crew soon learns, he will stop at nothing to gain satisfaction.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Moby Dick (1956) - Theatrical Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2023-03-25
Top Cast
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Gregory Peck
Captain Ahab
Richard Basehart
Ishmael
Leo Genn
Starbuck
James Robertson Justice
Capt. Boomer
Harry Andrews
Stubb
Bernard Miles
The Manxman
Noel Purcell
Ship's Carpenter
Edric Connor
Daggoo
Mervyn Johns
Peleg
Joseph Tomelty
Peter Coffin
Francis de Wolff
Capt. Gardiner
Philip Stainton
Bildad
Royal Dano
Elijah
Seamus Kelly
Flask
Friedrich von Ledebur
Queequeg
Orson Welles
Father Mapple
John Huston
Barman / Ship's Lookout (voice) (uncredited)
Carol White
Young Girl (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
London
Festival / Special Debut
June 27, 1956
Wide Cinema Exhibition
February 7, 2007
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$4.5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$10.4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.31x
+$5.9M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Huston
- Screenplay & Story
- John Huston, Ray Bradbury
- Original Score
- Philip Sainton
- Original Title
- Moby Dick
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
- Production Budget
- $4.5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $10.4M
- Production Studios
- Moulin Productions Inc.
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Huston
John Huston, Ray Bradbury, Herman Melville
Philip Sainton
Oswald Morris, Freddie Francis
Russell Lloyd
Vaughan N. Dean, John Huston
Department Leadership Roster
Philip Sainton
Original Music Composer
Russell Lloyd
Editor
John Huston
Director
John Huston
Screenplay
Oswald Morris
Director of Photography
Ray Bradbury
Screenplay
Vaughan N. Dean
Producer
John Huston
Producer
Geoffrey Drake
Production Design
Elizabeth Haffenden
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
General — Suitable for all audiences.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Moby Dick.
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Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Moby Dick.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Moby Dick
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Moby Dick about?
In 1841, young Ishmael signs up for service aboard the Pequod, a whaler sailing out of New Bedford. The ship is under the command of Captain Ahab, a strict disciplinarian who exhorts his men to find Moby Dick, the great white whale. Ahab lost his leg to that creature and is desperate for revenge. As the crew soon learns, he will stop at nothing to gain satisfaction.
Who directed Moby Dick?
Moby Dick was directed by John Huston.
Who stars in Moby Dick?
The principal cast of Moby Dick includes Gregory Peck, Richard Basehart, Leo Genn, James Robertson Justice, Harry Andrews.
When was Moby Dick released and how long is it?
Moby Dick was released in 1956 with a total runtime of 1h 55m.
What was the box office and production budget of Moby Dick?
Moby Dick had a reported production budget of $4.5M and grossed $10.4M at the worldwide box office (2.31 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for Moby Dick?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Moby Dick was composed by Philip Sainton.
Is Moby Dick based on a book or true story?
Moby Dick is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Herman Melville".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Moby Dick?
Moby Dick holds official age classifications: AU: G (General — Suitable for all audiences.); CA: 14A; DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.).