Moby Dick (1930)
Not sure what to say about this early talkie starring John Barrymore as the famous "Captain Ahab".
I never read the book so I can't REALLY compare, but I have seen some of the other movie adaptations... and this is nothing like those.
I always thought "Ahab" was the captain's last name - but in this movie it's his first name (and he has a brother named Derek)!
I know the book starts out with the line "Call me Ishmael" - but there's no character called Ishmael in this movie (although there are a couple others from the book).
This movie might have been more appropriately titled "
Ahab the Early Years" as much of the story focuses on his life as an acrobatic, anti-religion, devil-may-care sailor & drinker who falls for the same girl his brother is in love with (but the girl, who is the local Chaplin's daughter, doesn't love his brother, and instead falls for Ahab - why, I'm not sure; guess she's one of those women who want the bad boy even if he is a drunk),
Ahab does ultimately lose his leg to the white whale of the title (with some "special effects" that almost have to be seen to be believed... and by that I mean, they are not particularly good even for the era).
WARNING: "Unlike other versions I've seen..." spoilers below
This one ends with Ahab killing the whale, returning home and getting the girl (which are another few reasons it's hard to believe they named this after the book)!
This one ends with Ahab killing the whale, returning home and getting the girl (which are another few reasons it's hard to believe they named this after the book)!
This movie comes off more like a romantic comedy than an adventure at sea (but while Barrymore doesn't drown, he does do a lot of scenery chewing throughout).