At the new moon in April, Ahab will be ready. Captain Ahab, the god of the Pequod, champion of darkness. Gregory Peck brings life to Herman Melville's crazed and vengeful seaman, earning his title among men as supreme lord and dictator. He will also earn his place at the end of the story, as head piece on the big marble tombstone known as "Moby Dick".

Aside from the action and adventure, what I found most enthralling about the film was the rhythmic and romantic chanting of the sailors, especially at the outset as they prepare to go to sea. Their confidence belies the look of dread and concern on the faces of family and sweethearts, as if their fate could be known in advance. For one crew member, that may be the case, as Ishmael (Richard Basehart) carries with him the prophecy of the mysterious Elijah (Royal Dano).

I know it wasn't my imagination because I went back and checked. The facial scarring of Queequeg (Friedrich Ledebur) never looked quite the same from scene to scene. Generally they were of a simple pattern, but one scene in particular on the open ocean offered a symmetrical set of circular whorls over Queequeg's brow. Perhaps it was Ray Bradbury's way of intimating a bit of "The Illustrated Man" into the character, I wonder.

Here's one thing I can tell you. Watching those flimsy boats in pursuit of whales, even forgetting about the great white, I can't imagine a more horrific way to earn a living. Personally, I've never been on a roller-coaster in my life, but given the choice against being dragged around the ocean by an enraged animal of dubious tonnage, I'll take my chances at an amusement park. And stay dry.

If there's one thing that didn't work for me in the film, it would have to be that electric green Stephen King effect that Ahab summons during the typhoon - what was that all about?

All in all though, my first viewing of the film found it to be an effective character study of a mad and tortured individual. Ahab successfully bends the will of his crew to follow him into the mouth of hell, including lone hold out Starbuck (Leo Genn) by the time the whale claims his final victory. The Captain's demise in pursuit of his maniacal goal finds resonance in the limply waving arm that beckons his men to follow, to a watery doom in the shadow of an island unto himself, the great white whale.

This oceans saga features the sole survivor of a lost whaling ship who relates the tale of a white whale and the captain Ahab's obsession with desires for vendetta upon the greatest animal . It starts in New Bedford , Massachussets, where arrives a novice named Ishmael (Richard Basehart) who signs aboard the whaling ship Pequod and befriends a Polynesian native , harpooner Queequeg (Friedrich Ledebur) . He meets captain Ahab (Gregory Peck) who has a self-destructive obsession to hunt the white whale , Moby Dick . Ahab consecrates his life to hunt it full of hating and vengeance . Soon enough Ishmael aware about the great white whale who claimed the captain's leg and Ahab's determination to seek avenge on the beast that crippled and scarred him , no matter what the cost to himself , his crew or ship .

This impressive adaptation based on Herman Melville's 1851 classic novel is vividly brought to screen . Suspense and tension of the ocean is completely captured , including enduring images as the storm with the 'fire of Saint Telmo' . Climatic final battle is an overwhelming piece of cinema as you are likely to watch . Huston, along with prestigious Sci-Fi author Ray Bradbury wrote a screenplay that was faithful to the novel , stamping this movie with epic images and thought-provoking dialogs . In his memories , Huston wrote that it was his most difficult and enduring film . Huston decided to do the opening sequences at a small village called Youghal located on Irland coast and the maritime scenes were filmed in Islas Canarias , Spain . The FX experts created a great whale made with gum and plastic and moved by means of remote control . Huston bought to Walt Disney the ship used in 'Treasure Island' (by Byron Haskin) and was modified as Herman Melville described the Pequod . Top-notch main cast who realizes extraordinary performances . Peck is fabulous , though Huston had wanted to make the movie 20 years earlier and star his daddy Walter Huston . Phenomenal support cast as Bernard Miles as Manxman , James Robertson Justice as captain Boomer , Harry Andrews as Stubbs , and Leo Genn who steals the show as officer Starbuck . Cameraman Oswald Morris's breathtaking color cinematography splendidly conveys the bleaker qualities of the chase . Exciting and rousing musical score by Philip Stainton and well conducted by the usual Louis Levy . Rating : Above average , quite a few moments that click make this top-of-the-range movie more than watchable . It results to be one of the most thrilling and moving see sagas ever realized .

It's remade in 1998 TV series by Franc Roddan with Patrick Stewart ,Henry Thomas , Bill Hunter and Gregory Peck who takes on the character of Jonah-and-the-whale sermonizing Father Mapple who in this classic adaptation was vividly played by Orson Welles . Furthermore recent lousy rendition full of computer generator FX starred by Barry Bostwick and Renee O'Connor .

The fact that I never read the novel and yet am writing a review of this film isn't surprising. After all, reportedly the screenwriter (Ray Bradbury) didn't read the book, either! And, I assume there are only about 24 people (other than Melville and his mommy) who read the tale! I happen to have a good friend who is an English teacher and he advised me not to even try to read this ponderous book--though he also indicated there is a lot of religious allegory in the story that simply isn't in the movie.

The film starts oddly, as the main character, Ishmael, enters a pub and talks with a very odd barman. That's because I immediately recognized the barkeep's voice as that of the film's director, John Huston. I guess Huston didn't like the actor's voice and substituted his own! Ishmael meets up with a very unlikely character in the pub--Queequeg--a heavily tattooed man from some unnamed island. The two decide to become friends and ship out together on a whaler. By chance, they pick the Pequod--the fated ship helmed by the monomaniacal Captain Ahab (Gregory Peck). Apparently the Ahab of the novel was a lot older, but I really didn't care--it just seemed odd that the nice-guy actor was playing such an unlikable role. What also was odd is that although he was such a central character to the story, he didn't make his appearance until over half an hour into the film! Talk about making a dramatic entrance! You knew it was coming but just kept waiting in anticipation until he appeared--a very smart device, actually.

Ahab's monomania becomes apparent halfway through the film. In the midst of a huge pod of whales, the Captain learns from another captain that Moby Dick has been sighted a month earlier. While this other captain also lost a limb to this white sperm whale, he didn't have an all-consuming need to kill the creature--but Ahab did. So, in the middle of a huge haul of whale blubber, he orders the crew to discard the carcasses and head toward Madagascar! It's pretty obvious he's a loony at this point--as the ship's mission to fill its hold with whale oil seems irrelevant to Ahab! Will the men survive this nut-case's consuming passion? And, will the audience survive the many long-winded soliloquies that Ahab bellows during the last third of the film (it's doubtful)?!

As far as the look of the film goes, I was very impressed. The color palate is very brown and gray and works very well with this film--setting a very somber and appropriate mood. Likewise the camera-work is excellent. In essence, it's a very well executed film--with lots of technical prowess. But the story, while fascinating, bogs down towards the end simply because of the over-acting and long-winded nature of Ahab. Whether this is Melville's fault or the film makers' I have no idea. Regardless, it's a very good film but one that taxes your patience near the end.