Moby Dick (1930 film)

Plot

The film tells of a sea captains maniacal quest for revenge on a great white whale who has bitten off his leg. Barrymore, as Ahab, meet and falls in love with Joan Bennett, daughter of the local minister, after disembarking in New Bedford. Bennett quickly falls in love with Barrymore and is heartbroken when he leaves on another voyage. During his next voyage, Barrymore loses his leg to a large white whale. When he returns to New Bedford, he mistakenly believes that Bennett no longer wants to see him because of his disfigurement. He vows revenge against the whale, and to kill it or be killed in the process, and returns to sea.

Differences from novel

The film, just as The Sea Beast (the previous 1926 silent version) was, is an extremely free adaptation of the novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. It implements a prequel and sequel element to the story that did not exist in Melvilles novel. As an example of the changes found in the film, Captain Ahab is portrayed as a handsome romantic hero with a pretty girlfriend, but his evil brother manipulates the situation so that she will reject him. He also has both of his legs until he embarks on the voyage in which Moby Dick bites off one of them and he becomes consumed with revenge and embarks on the odyssey to kill the whale that maimed him. Ultimately, Ahab survives the ordeal, kills his stowaway brother (as well as Moby Dick), and returns home to the woman who loves him.

Cast

Foreign Language Versions

One Foreign Language Version of the 1930 version of Moby Dick was produced. The German version was titled Damon des Meeres and was directed by Michael Curtiz.

Preservation

The film survives intact and has been broadcast on television and cable but has yet to see a Warner Archive DVD-on-demand availability.