Moby Dick

Warner Bros. | Release Date: June 27, 1956

CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION

78	METASCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

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Critic Reviews

Critic score Publication By date

100

Bosley Crowther

This is the third time Melville's story has been put upon the screen. There is no need for another, because it cannot be done better, more beautifully or excitingly again. Read full review

100

TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)

Filmed at considerable danger to cast and crew, MOBY DICK, under Huston's strong direction, is one of the most historically authentic, visually stunning, and powerful adventures ever made. Read full review

100

Barbara Saltzman

The term classic gets tossed around a lot, but few films ever actually fall within its definition. John Huston's 1956 production of Herman Melville's Moby Dick, coolly received by critics when it first came out, now falls within the parameters -- a model of its kind. [03 Sep 1993, p.F23]

William Murray

The virtues of this Moby Dick are many. [17 Oct 1956, p.6]

Staff (Not Credited)

Lent a stout overall unity by Ray Bradbury's intelligent adaptation, by colour grading which gives the images the tonal quality of old whaling prints, and by the discreet use of a commentary drawn from Melville's text which imposes the resonance of legend, it is often staggeringly good. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

One could have plenty of quarrels with this as an adaptation of the Herman Melville novel, but it’s still one of the better John Huston films of the 50s. Read full review

EmpireIan Nathan

Who could ever buy Atticus Finch as the demonic Ahab driven by hellfire to hunt down that dreaded white whale? Read full review

Pauline Kael

For all his dedication to this ambitious project, the director, John Huston, must not have been able to keep up his energy level; at times, his work seems surprisingly perfunctory.

The Observer (UK)Philip French

Gregory Peck's dignified Ahab is, like his leg, somewhat wooden, but the cast is splendid (not least Orson Welles's guest spot as Father Mapple), and Oswald Morris's experimental colour photography (based on old whaling prints) is commendable. [29 May 2005, p.79]

Staff (Not Credited)

Moby Dick is interesting more often than exciting, faithful to the time and text [of the Herman Melville novel] more than great theatrical entertainment. Essentially it is a chase picture and yet not escaping the sameness and repetitiousness which often dulls the chase formula. Read full review