Moby Dick (1956 film) Moby Dick (1956 film) Moby Dick is a 1956 film adaptation of Herman Melville's novel "Moby-Dick". It was directed by John Huston with a screenplay by Huston and Ray Bradbury. The film starred Gregory Peck, Richard Basehart, and Leo Genn. The music score was written by Philip Sainton. Set in 19th-century New England, the story follows the whaling ship "Pequod" and its crew. Leading them is Captain Ahab, who was almost killed in an encounter with the "great white whale", Moby Dick, which bit off much of his left leg. Now he is out for revenge. With the crew that
Carthaginian (ship) delivered to San Diego later that year. After advertising its availability, Thompson sold the ship to the Mirisch Company, which was filming "Hawaii". Thompson held an option to be the first to repurchase the ship after filming was completed. Under Mirisch, it was fitted with square rigging to modify its appearance as a 19th-century whaling ship in San Pedro for scenes in the 1966 film "Hawaii". The refit was performed under the supervision of noted vintage sailing ship experts Alan Villiers (who served as captain), Ken Reynard (mate), Karl Kortum, and Bill Bartz, who then sailed the ship to Hawaii.