The Whale
Synopsis
Dramatic retelling of the fateful last voyage of the Nantucket whaleship Essex. When the Essex is attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in November 1820, her crew take to three fragile whalers. Alone in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the men must decide whether to head for the nearest islands - a thousand miles downwind to the west - or set out on an epic journey of almost three thousand miles to reach the South American mainland. Fear of cannibals forces them to choose South America. Almost three months later, the first whaler is rescued by another whaleship. Only three men are still alive. A week later the captain's whaler is also rescued, with just two men aboard. The third whaler is never found. This is a story of human endurance and what men in extremis will do to survive.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Whale: Trailer - Christmas 2013 - BBC OneOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2013-12-17
Top Cast
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Martin Sheen
Tom Nickerson
Jonas Armstrong
Owen Chase
Paul Kaye
Matthew Joy
Adam Rayner
Captain George Pollard
Jassa Ahluwalia
Owen Coffin
John Boyega
William Bond
David Gyasi
Richard Peterson
Ferdinand Kingsley
Obed Hendricks
Jolyon Coy
Benjamin Lawrence
Chris Starkie
Watson
Charles Furness
Young Tom Nickerson
André Agius
Essex Crew
Joe Azzopardi
Essex Crew
Macram Borg
Essex Crew
Stephen Buhagiar
Essex Crew
Jimi Busuttil
Essex Crew
Graham Charles
Essex Crew
Aklileu Gudetta
Essex Crew
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Alrick Riley
- Screenplay & Story
- Terry Cafolla
- Original Score
- Richard Fiocca, Debbie Wiseman
- Original Title
- The Whale
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Production Studios
- Animal Planet, BBC Factual Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Alrick Riley
Terry Cafolla
Richard Fiocca, Debbie Wiseman
David Raedeker
Department Leadership Roster
Alrick Riley
Director
Richard Fiocca
Original Music Composer
Debbie Wiseman
Original Music Composer
David Raedeker
Director of Photography
Terry Cafolla
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Whale.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Whale
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Whale about?
Dramatic retelling of the fateful last voyage of the Nantucket whaleship Essex. When the Essex is attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in November 1820, her crew take to three fragile whalers. Alone in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the men must decide whether to head for the nearest islands - a thousand miles downwind to the west - or set out on an epic journey of almost three thousand miles to reach the South American mainland. Fear of cannibals forces them to choose South America. Almost three months later, the first whaler is rescued by another whaleship. Only three men are still alive. A week later the captain's whaler is also rescued, with just two men aboard. The third whaler is never found. This is a story of human endurance and what men in extremis will do to survive.
Who directed The Whale?
The Whale was directed by Alrick Riley.
Who stars in The Whale?
The principal cast of The Whale includes Martin Sheen, Jonas Armstrong, Paul Kaye, Adam Rayner, Jassa Ahluwalia.
When was The Whale released and how long is it?
The Whale was released in 2013 with a total runtime of 1h 30m.
Who composed the musical score for The Whale?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Whale was composed by Richard Fiocca, Debbie Wiseman.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Whale?
The Whale holds official age classifications: GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.).