349:). Meanwhile, an albino whale has been eluding harpooners, and bears the scars of many failed attacks against him. The animal's fame has reached epic proportions. One day, Ahab and Derek are on the same whaler as the whale heaves into view. Ahab raises his harpoon to kill the beast, but at that moment, Derek pushes him overboard and Ahab loses his right leg to the whale. Not long after this incident, the shallow Esther rebuffs Ahab as her suitor once she catches sight of his peg leg. Heartbroken at this turn of events, Ahab blames neither Esther nor his brother; instead he transfers blame and an undying hatred onto the whale. The following saga of Ahab's pursuit of the whale takes on the aura of a
942:
911:
631:
of the picture, for he has a great opportunity as the grim master of a whaler with a mixed crew of half-mad yellow, white and black scum". Hall praised the effectiveness of the scene in whichthe stump of Ahab's leg is cauterized, noting that several women in the audience found the scene hard to take. He believed that the exploits with the whale were not as effective as they could have been, concluding that "this is a good production and one which contains much interest, but it is not a great photoplay".
583:
322:, a story about a monomaniacal hunt for a great white whale. However, the film alters the novel's plotline by establishing prequel and sequel elements that are not in the original story—such as the romancing of Esther and Ahab's safe return, respectively—and substitutes a happy ending for Melville's original tragic one. Some of the characters in the film do not appear in Melville's original novel. The film was so successful that in 1930 Warner Bros redid it in English and German, under the title
457:
468:
519:
539:, and Bonner successfully sued the studio and won a considerable out-of-court settlement. Barrymore exploited the romantic scenes with Costello to their full potential in the film, displaying a "boyish enthusiasm" according to biographer Margot Peters, which made him fall out with Costello's mother. Barrymore drank heavily during the production of the film, and his eyes were constantly bloodshot, with stubble on his chin. Producer
38:
262:
639:
magazine wrote: "John
Barrymore gives his usual finished performance. His agony is almost too realistic in the scene wherein the sailors cauterize the bloody stump of the leg torn off by the sea beast. It's too gruemsome for the sensitive souls... Dolores Costello's beauty is a delight to behold, and
630:
devoted almost two columns to a review that detailed much of the unfamiliar plot. He found
Costello's performance “praiseworthy” noted the "energy, earnestness and virility" John Barrymore displayed in the role of Ahab Ceeley, stating that his "real triumph in this photoplay comes in the second half
268:
266:
264:
617:
heavily praised the cast and cinematography, referring to it as "a picture of rich, colorful beauty of heart-searing pathos, of poetry that sings in action of courageous deeds of emotions as violent and eternal as the terrific storms that sweep through the picture".
267:
654:
The film survives intact and was broadcast on television in the 1950s. The film is listed as being held by several archives around the world. It is available on DVD from
Televista. In May 2021 the film and a large poster became available on Alpha Video.
640:
her acting is unbelievably good for a comparative newcomer. The scene in which she first sees the havoc wrought upon her lover by the white whale reaches artistic heights that leave one trembling. And the scene is perfect pictorially." However,
265:
596:
proved to be "extremely popular" with the public, and was generally well received by critics when released in
January 1926. The romantic scenes between Barrymore and Costello were particularly well received.
526:
One of the most popular of
Barrymore's films, this version extends the story beyond the final battle of man versus whale in a variation on Melville's book. Adding publicity to the film was a bit of early
263:
646:
was less enthusiastic about the film, declaring that it "does not come up to expectations, principally because its story turns out to be quite preposterous".
607:
of
Pennsylvania called it a "remarkable picture" which "represents the finest in motion picture art", considering it to be the biggest picture of the year.
1141:
1677:
642:
734:
543:
said "that's a great makeup job" to director
Millard Webb, who retorted, "That's not makeup. It's a hangover". The ship used in the film,
1682:
1657:
1617:
1627:
1667:
1642:
1637:
1465:
1088:
1067:
1033:
1692:
1176:
547:, was actually a former fighting ship with decks stained with blood from fights. The theme in the orchestral score is "
1652:
1364:
742:
1632:
1622:
1380:
844:
1697:
1372:
1583:
664:
1687:
1612:
1647:
1514:
1472:
1200:
1662:
1396:
1388:
1329:
528:
1561:
1500:
819:
669:
74:
1672:
1486:
1238:
20:
1507:
958:
941:
910:
329:
with Joan
Bennett taking the role of Ahab's love because Dolores Costello was pregnant at the time.
1439:
1289:
1279:
980:
548:
489:
379:
342:
301:
118:
1575:
1415:
1169:
1146:
924:
893:
1233:
1059:
598:
558:
was released in 1930 under
Melville's original book title, with Barrymore again in the role of
1154:
1078:
1023:
601:, whose father was an old friend of Barrymore's, said he saw the film half a dozen times. The
1567:
1345:
1337:
1321:
1313:
1274:
555:
324:
758:
499:
304:. The film was a major commercial success and one of the biggest pictures of 1926 becoming
8:
1607:
1423:
1218:
1135:
692:
Glancy, H Mark (1995). "Warner Bros Film
Grosses, 1921–51: the William Schaefer ledger".
614:
535:
was fired by Barrymore from the role of Wiscasset, in preference for his lover, actress
1458:
1255:
1162:
849:
626:
497:
and insisted on making this film first rather than the prospected first contract film
1552:
1431:
1208:
1117:
1111:
1084:
1063:
1048:
1029:
929:
738:
609:
415:
391:
400:
701:
571:
559:
536:
532:
430:
373:
367:
346:
297:
113:
1479:
1185:
1005:
898:
728:
603:
484:
448:
424:
345:) compete for the affections of a winsome minister's daughter, Esther Wiscasset (
313:
305:
95:
1542:
934:
903:
540:
409:
363:
338:
293:
108:
705:
1601:
1228:
1043:
621:
436:
69:
64:
724:
570:, was filmed simultaneously in Hollywood by Warner Bros. It was directed by
1213:
730:
Tiburón ¡Vas a necesitar un barco más grande! El filme que cambió Hollywood
582:
442:
289:
165:
139:
134:
51:
1124:
467:
456:
385:
350:
282:
232:
1105:
1547:
1055:
518:
285:
236:
1493:
1190:
635:
508:
318:
88:
19:
This article is about the 1926 film. For the 2022 animated film, see
1223:
1130:
902:. New Castle, Pennsylvania. April 17, 1926. p. 14 – via
566:
rather than following Melville's novel. A German-language version,
404:
395:
1521:
1184:
933:. Appleton, Wisconsin. April 15, 1926. p. 15 – via
37:
883:, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. writing in his autobiography, c.1980
1080:
The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry
353:
quest, far beyond the proportions of its first motivation.
790:
788:
493:. Barrymore had always wanted to do a film version of
800:
785:
531:
hype, unintentional though it may seem: the actress
1047:
483:John Barrymore signed a three film contract with
1599:
694:Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television
1170:
1147:more accessible version of Australian daybill
735:Festival Internacional de Cinema de Catalunya
507:became the first Warner feature to have the
503:. In retrospect and because of this delay,
1177:
1163:
953:
951:
822:. Picture-Play Magazine. March–August 1926
36:
894:"John Barrymore in "Sea Beast" Next Week"
581:
517:
466:
455:
260:
1678:Films with screenplays by Rupert Hughes
1021:
948:
1600:
1042:
806:
794:
719:
717:
715:
691:
1158:
1076:
839:
837:
562:. The 1930 film used the plotline of
337:At the beginning of the story, Ahab (
1077:Slide, Anthony (February 25, 2014).
723:
687:
685:
554:Due to the success of this film, an
487:in 1925 after the success of 1924's
712:
13:
1466:Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror
1028:. University of California Press.
834:
14:
1709:
1099:
1022:Nichols, Bill (January 1, 1985).
682:
574:, beginning his American career.
1381:Hakugei: Legend of the Moby Dick
1025:Movies and Methods: An Anthology
940:
909:
1683:Surviving American silent films
1014:
999:
973:
917:
886:
874:
649:
16:1926 American silent drama film
1658:Films directed by Millard Webb
1618:American black-and-white films
1142:Australian daybill long poster
865:
812:
776:
751:
665:List of American films of 1926
341:) and his half brother Derek (
1:
1628:American silent feature films
727:(October 2005). "Apéndices".
675:
478:
255:$ 938,000 (worldwide rentals)
1668:English-language drama films
1643:American films about revenge
1638:1920s English-language films
1515:Moby Dick and Mighty Mightor
1473:The Call of the Wretched Sea
577:
7:
1693:Silent American drama films
658:
312:is the first adaptation of
10:
1714:
1562:Green Shadows, White Whale
670:John Barrymore filmography
196:January 15, 1926
18:
1535:
1487:Dopey Dick the Pink Whale
1450:
1407:
1356:
1297:
1288:
1265:
1247:
1199:
706:10.1080/01439689500260031
308:' highest grossing film.
251:
243:
228:
220:
210:
187:
172:
156:
148:
127:
101:
83:
57:
47:
35:
30:
21:The Sea Beast (2022 film)
1653:Films based on Moby-Dick
1280:Fast-Fish and Loose-Fish
1633:American survival films
1623:American disaster films
1585:In the Heart of the Sea
1577:In the Heart of the Sea
959:"The Sea Beast reviews"
511:soundtrack rather than
356:
332:
181:Gaumont Warner Brothers
1698:Silent adventure films
1050:The House of Barrymore
961:. Silentsaregolden.com
599:Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
590:
523:
522:Barrymore and Costello
475:
464:
421:Frank Nelson as Stubbs
273:
1373:Moby Dick - Rehearsed
871:Nichols (1985), p.117
585:
549:Love's Old Sweet Song
521:
470:
459:
451:as Dancer in prologue
271:
1688:1920s American films
1613:1920s disaster films
820:"The Hollywood Navy"
782:Slide (2014), p. 223
1648:Films about whaling
1416:Moby Dick—Rehearsed
987:. November 22, 2017
615:Appleton, Wisconsin
556:all-talking version
412:as Perth/As Himself
281:is a 1926 American
1663:Warner Bros. films
1459:Age of the Dragons
1333:(1971; unfinished)
853:. January 16, 1926
850:The New York Times
627:The New York Times
591:
524:
476:
465:
274:
1595:
1594:
1531:
1530:
1090:978-1-135-92554-3
1069:978-0-6717-4799-2
1035:978-0-520-05409-7
930:The Post-Crescent
610:The Post-Crescent
269:
259:
258:
176:Warner Bros.(US)
1705:
1673:1926 drama films
1295:
1294:
1268:special subjects
1179:
1172:
1165:
1156:
1155:
1138:at SilentEra.com
1094:
1073:
1054:. New York, NY:
1053:
1039:
1008:
1003:
997:
996:
994:
992:
977:
971:
970:
968:
966:
955:
946:
945:
944:
938:
921:
915:
914:
913:
907:
890:
884:
878:
872:
869:
863:
862:
860:
858:
841:
832:
831:
829:
827:
816:
810:
804:
798:
792:
783:
780:
774:
773:
771:
769:
755:
749:
748:
733:(1st ed.).
721:
710:
709:
689:
572:William Dieterle
537:Dolores Costello
533:Priscilla Bonner
431:James O. Barrows
376:as Esther Harper
374:Dolores Costello
347:Dolores Costello
298:Dolores Costello
270:
203:
201:
114:Dolores Costello
40:
28:
27:
1713:
1712:
1708:
1707:
1706:
1704:
1703:
1702:
1598:
1597:
1596:
1591:
1527:
1480:Capitaine Achab
1446:
1403:
1352:
1284:
1267:
1261:
1243:
1195:
1186:Herman Melville
1183:
1152:
1102:
1097:
1091:
1070:
1036:
1017:
1012:
1011:
1004:
1000:
990:
988:
979:
978:
974:
964:
962:
957:
956:
949:
939:
925:"The Sea Beast"
923:
922:
918:
908:
899:New Castle News
892:
891:
887:
879:
875:
870:
866:
856:
854:
845:"The Sea Beast"
843:
842:
835:
825:
823:
818:
817:
813:
805:
801:
793:
786:
781:
777:
767:
765:
759:"The Sea Beast"
757:
756:
752:
745:
737:. p. 113.
722:
713:
690:
683:
678:
661:
652:
604:New Castle News
586:A trade ad for
580:
568:Daemon des Mers
485:Warner Brothers
481:
454:
449:Joyzelle Joyner
425:Mathilde Comont
382:as Derek Ceeley
359:
335:
314:Herman Melville
306:Warner Brothers
261:
213:
206:
199:
197:
190:
178:
168:
161:
159:
144:
123:
96:Herman Melville
93:
79:
43:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1711:
1701:
1700:
1695:
1690:
1685:
1680:
1675:
1670:
1665:
1660:
1655:
1650:
1645:
1640:
1635:
1630:
1625:
1620:
1615:
1610:
1593:
1592:
1590:
1589:
1581:
1573:
1565:
1558:
1550:
1545:
1543:Moby Dick Coin
1539:
1537:
1533:
1532:
1529:
1528:
1526:
1525:
1518:
1511:
1504:
1497:
1490:
1483:
1476:
1469:
1462:
1454:
1452:
1448:
1447:
1445:
1444:
1443:(2019 musical)
1436:
1428:
1427:(1990 musical)
1420:
1411:
1409:
1405:
1404:
1402:
1401:
1393:
1385:
1377:
1369:
1360:
1358:
1354:
1353:
1351:
1350:
1342:
1334:
1326:
1318:
1310:
1301:
1299:
1292:
1286:
1285:
1283:
1282:
1277:
1271:
1269:
1263:
1262:
1260:
1259:
1251:
1249:
1245:
1244:
1242:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1205:
1203:
1197:
1196:
1182:
1181:
1174:
1167:
1159:
1150:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1133:
1122:
1114:
1101:
1100:External links
1098:
1096:
1095:
1089:
1074:
1068:
1044:Peters, Margot
1040:
1034:
1018:
1016:
1013:
1010:
1009:
998:
985:Lcweb2.loc.gov
972:
947:
935:Newspapers.com
916:
904:Newspapers.com
885:
873:
864:
833:
811:
809:, p. 278.
799:
797:, p. 282.
784:
775:
750:
743:
711:
680:
679:
677:
674:
673:
672:
667:
660:
657:
651:
648:
579:
576:
541:Jack L. Warner
480:
477:
453:
452:
446:
440:
434:
433:as Rev. Harper
428:
422:
419:
413:
410:George Berrell
407:
401:Sōjin Kamiyama
398:
389:
383:
377:
371:
364:John Barrymore
360:
358:
355:
339:John Barrymore
334:
331:
316:'s 1851 novel
294:John Barrymore
257:
256:
253:
249:
248:
245:
241:
240:
230:
226:
225:
222:
218:
217:
214:
211:
208:
207:
205:
204:
193:
191:
188:
185:
184:
174:
173:Distributed by
170:
169:
164:
162:
157:
154:
153:
150:
146:
145:
143:
142:
137:
131:
129:
128:Cinematography
125:
124:
122:
121:
116:
111:
109:John Barrymore
105:
103:
99:
98:
85:
81:
80:
78:
77:
72:
67:
61:
59:
55:
54:
49:
45:
44:
41:
33:
32:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1710:
1699:
1696:
1694:
1691:
1689:
1686:
1684:
1681:
1679:
1676:
1674:
1671:
1669:
1666:
1664:
1661:
1659:
1656:
1654:
1651:
1649:
1646:
1644:
1641:
1639:
1636:
1634:
1631:
1629:
1626:
1624:
1621:
1619:
1616:
1614:
1611:
1609:
1606:
1605:
1603:
1587:
1586:
1582:
1579:
1578:
1574:
1571:
1570:
1566:
1564:
1563:
1559:
1556:
1555:
1551:
1549:
1546:
1544:
1541:
1540:
1538:
1534:
1524:
1523:
1519:
1517:
1516:
1512:
1509:
1505:
1503:
1502:
1498:
1496:
1495:
1491:
1489:
1488:
1484:
1482:
1481:
1477:
1475:
1474:
1470:
1468:
1467:
1463:
1461:
1460:
1456:
1455:
1453:
1449:
1442:
1441:
1437:
1434:
1433:
1429:
1426:
1425:
1421:
1418:
1417:
1413:
1412:
1410:
1406:
1399:
1398:
1394:
1391:
1390:
1386:
1383:
1382:
1378:
1375:
1374:
1370:
1367:
1366:
1362:
1361:
1359:
1355:
1348:
1347:
1343:
1340:
1339:
1335:
1332:
1331:
1327:
1324:
1323:
1319:
1316:
1315:
1311:
1308:
1307:
1306:The Sea Beast
1303:
1302:
1300:
1296:
1293:
1291:
1287:
1281:
1278:
1276:
1273:
1272:
1270:
1264:
1258:
1257:
1253:
1252:
1250:
1246:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1229:Father Mapple
1227:
1225:
1222:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1206:
1204:
1202:
1198:
1193:
1192:
1187:
1180:
1175:
1173:
1168:
1166:
1161:
1160:
1157:
1153:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1137:
1136:The Sea Beast
1134:
1132:
1128:
1127:
1126:The Sea Beast
1123:
1120:
1119:
1118:The Sea Beast
1115:
1113:
1109:
1108:
1107:The Sea Beast
1104:
1103:
1092:
1086:
1083:. Routledge.
1082:
1081:
1075:
1071:
1065:
1061:
1057:
1052:
1051:
1045:
1041:
1037:
1031:
1027:
1026:
1020:
1019:
1007:
1002:
986:
982:
976:
960:
954:
952:
943:
936:
932:
931:
926:
920:
912:
905:
901:
900:
895:
889:
882:
877:
868:
852:
851:
846:
840:
838:
821:
815:
808:
803:
796:
791:
789:
779:
764:
760:
754:
746:
744:84-96129-72-1
740:
736:
732:
731:
726:
720:
718:
716:
707:
703:
699:
695:
688:
686:
681:
671:
668:
666:
663:
662:
656:
647:
645:
644:
643:Movie Monthly
638:
637:
632:
629:
628:
623:
622:Mordaunt Hall
619:
616:
612:
611:
606:
605:
600:
595:
594:The Sea Beast
589:
588:The Sea Beast
584:
575:
573:
569:
565:
564:The Sea Beast
561:
557:
552:
550:
546:
542:
538:
534:
530:
520:
516:
514:
513:The Sea Beast
510:
506:
502:
501:
496:
492:
491:
486:
474:
473:The Sea Beast
471:A still from
469:
463:
462:The Sea Beast
458:
450:
447:
444:
441:
438:
437:Vadim Uraneff
435:
432:
429:
426:
423:
420:
417:
414:
411:
408:
406:
402:
399:
397:
393:
390:
387:
384:
381:
380:George O'Hara
378:
375:
372:
369:
365:
362:
361:
354:
352:
348:
344:
343:George O'Hara
340:
330:
328:
326:
321:
320:
315:
311:
310:The Sea Beast
307:
303:
302:George O'Hara
299:
295:
291:
287:
284:
280:
279:
278:The Sea Beast
272:The full film
254:
250:
246:
242:
238:
234:
231:
227:
224:United States
223:
219:
215:
209:
195:
194:
192:
186:
182:
179:
175:
171:
167:
163:
155:
152:Rupert Hughes
151:
147:
141:
138:
136:
133:
132:
130:
126:
120:
119:George O'Hara
117:
115:
112:
110:
107:
106:
104:
100:
97:
91:
90:
86:
82:
76:
73:
71:
70:Rupert Hughes
68:
66:
65:Bess Meredyth
63:
62:
60:
56:
53:
50:
46:
39:
34:
31:The Sea Beast
29:
26:
22:
1584:
1576:
1568:
1560:
1553:
1520:
1513:
1499:
1492:
1485:
1478:
1471:
1464:
1457:
1438:
1435:(2010 opera)
1430:
1422:
1414:
1395:
1387:
1379:
1371:
1363:
1344:
1336:
1328:
1320:
1312:
1305:
1304:
1266:Chapters and
1254:
1214:Captain Ahab
1189:
1151:
1125:
1116:
1106:
1079:
1049:
1024:
1015:Bibliography
1001:
991:November 22,
989:. Retrieved
984:
975:
963:. Retrieved
928:
919:
897:
888:
880:
876:
867:
855:. Retrieved
848:
824:. Retrieved
814:
802:
778:
766:. Retrieved
762:
753:
729:
697:
693:
653:
650:Preservation
641:
634:
633:
625:
620:
608:
602:
593:
592:
587:
567:
563:
560:Captain Ahab
553:
544:
525:
512:
504:
498:
494:
490:Beau Brummel
488:
482:
472:
461:
443:Frank Hagney
368:Captain Ahab
336:
323:
317:
309:
290:Millard Webb
288:directed by
277:
276:
275:
212:Running time
189:Release date
180:
177:
166:Warner Bros.
140:Frank Kesson
135:Byron Haskin
87:
52:Millard Webb
25:
1557:(whaleship)
1508:Möbius Dick
1290:Adaptations
1058:. pp.
981:"Sea Beast"
965:December 7,
857:December 7,
826:December 7,
807:Peters 1990
795:Peters 1990
763:www.tcm.com
725:Sala, Ángel
545:The Narwhal
460:Scene from
386:Mike Donlin
351:super-human
292:, starring
237:intertitles
216:100 minutes
75:Jack Wagner
48:Directed by
42:Film poster
1608:1926 films
1602:Categories
1548:Mocha Dick
1357:Television
1234:Bulkington
1201:Characters
1121:at TCM.com
1056:A.A. Knopf
1006:Oldies.com
881:Salad Days
676:References
479:Production
418:as Captain
286:drama film
252:Box office
200:1926-01-15
158:Production
58:Written by
1572:(TV film)
1569:The Whale
1501:Leviathan
1494:Dicky Moe
1440:Moby-Dick
1432:Moby-Dick
1424:Moby Dick
1397:Moby Dick
1389:Moby Dick
1365:Moby Dick
1346:Moby Dick
1338:Moby Dick
1330:Moby Dick
1322:Moby Dick
1314:Moby Dick
1209:Moby Dick
1191:Moby-Dick
768:April 10,
700:: 55–73.
636:Photoplay
578:Reception
529:Hollywood
509:Vitaphone
495:Moby-Dick
445:as Daggoo
416:Sam Allen
392:Sam Baker
325:Moby Dick
319:Moby-Dick
247:$ 503,000
235:(English
149:Edited by
89:Moby-Dick
1275:Cetology
1224:Queequeg
1131:AllMovie
1046:(1990).
659:See also
505:Don Juan
500:Don Juan
405:Fedallah
396:Queequeg
388:as Flask
229:Language
183:(Europe)
102:Starring
84:Based on
1536:Related
1522:Railsea
1219:Ishmael
427:as Mula
221:Country
198: (
160:company
1588:(film)
1580:(book)
1419:(1955)
1400:(2011)
1392:(1998)
1384:(1997)
1376:(1965)
1368:(1954)
1349:(2010)
1341:(1978)
1325:(1956)
1317:(1930)
1309:(1926)
1256:Pequod
1194:(1851)
1087:
1066:
1032:
741:
439:as Pip
370:Ceeley
283:silent
244:Budget
233:Silent
92:(1851)
1554:Essex
1451:Other
1408:Stage
1248:Ships
1298:Film
1112:IMDb
1085:ISBN
1064:ISBN
1030:ISBN
993:2017
967:2014
859:2014
828:2014
770:2023
739:ISBN
357:Cast
333:Plot
300:and
1239:Pip
1188:'s
1129:at
1110:at
1060:641
702:doi
624:of
613:of
551:".
403:as
394:as
366:as
94:by
1604::
1062:.
983:.
950:^
927:.
896:.
847:.
836:^
787:^
761:.
714:^
698:15
696:.
684:^
515:.
296:,
1510:"
1506:"
1178:e
1171:t
1164:v
1093:.
1072:.
1038:.
995:.
969:.
937:.
906:.
861:.
830:.
772:.
747:.
708:.
704::
327:,
239:)
202:)
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
