Special Sub-Topic: John Huston's 'Moby Dick' Click Here To Play: John Huston's 'Moby Dick'

What sci-fi author co-wrote the screenplay with Huston?

Ray Bradbury. Bradbury, best known for 'Fahrenheit 451' and 'The Martian Chronicles', fictonalized his stint on 'Moby Dick' in his novel, 'Geen Shadows, White Whale'.

Who was the film's cinematographer?

Oswald Morris. The English-born Morris, who won an Oscar for 'Fiddler On The Roof', created the film's unusual color scheme with Huston. He worked with director before on 'Moulin Rouge' (and Huston named his production company Moulin after the film).

And its composer?

Philip Sainton. Sainton's vivid score is a masterwork of film music. Canadian Farnon scored Peck's 'Captain Horatio Hornblower'. Herrmann, who scored two Peck films, wrote a cantata on 'Moby Dick' in the 30's.

What country were the New Bedford scenes shot in?

Ireland. Ireland was a favorite place of Huston's.

What German actor played Queequeg?

Frederick Ledebur. Leddebur, who later played German officers in 'Blue Max' and 'Slaughterhouse-Five', was Melville's description of the savage harpooneer come to life. Gudegast later took the name Eric Braeden.

Who played Father Mapple?

Orson Welles. Ironically, Peck himself played Mapple in the TV remake, while 'Star Trek's' Patrick Stewart became Ahab.

Who played Elijah?

Royal Dano. Dano, a little-known character actor, made a strong impresion as the broken 'prophet' who predicts the Pequod's doom.

And when did he say the Pequod and its crew would be destroyed?

when land was smelt at sea. Elijah warned that when 'ye smell land where there be no land', Ahab would die but would rise and beckon the crew to doom except one. The book's Elijah was far more vague.

True or false: Flask was played by an Irishman.

true & t. Dublin drama critic Seamus Kelly played the pugnacious Flask to Leo Genn's Starbuck and Harry Andrew's Stubb.

In the book, Melville never specified what leg Ahab lost to the White Whale. In the film what leg is the ivory one?

left & L. His facial scar is on the left side also.

What sea chantey is NOT sung in the film?

Sailing, Sailing. 'A-Roving' was sung in the Spouter Inn, the other two sung on the ship.

How many ships did the Pequod meet in the film?

two. Of the nine ships the Pequod met in the book only the Samuel Enderby and Rachel were seen on screen, because of the time restriction.

What former co-star of Peck's played Captain Boomer?

James Robertson Justice. Justice played a sailor to Peck's Hornblower in the earlier film.

And what took the place of his left hand?

a harpoon head. Melville gave Boomer an ivory mallet to replace the hand he lost to Moby Dick, unlike Justice's harpoon head.

True or false: As in the book, Ahab claims his own gold coin for himself.

false & f. In a major change from the book, Peck's Ahab gives the coin to the sailor who first spotted the White Whale.

What did Ahab threaten Starbuck with during the storm?

a lance. Ahab aimed a musket at Starbuck in the novel, but in the film Ahab held a lance on Starbuck as he tried to cut the masts loose to keep the ship from capsizing.

For those who haven't seen my quiz on the book: what kind of whale is Moby Dick?

sperm. Moby was a rare albino sperm {whale;} the rest are baleen whales (with strainers instead of teeth).

What happened when a lookout fell into the sea?

the wind and sea were stilled. The lookout disappeared into the depths and the wind died suddenly.

What earlier sea tale did the film's Pequod appear in?

Treasure Island. It was first the Hispaniola in the 1950 Disney film, then became Melville's doomed whaler six years later.

What TV series did Ishmael later appear in?

Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea. Richard Basehart played Admiral Nelson in the long-running sries.