Moby Dick

Moby Dick

Year: 1956

Runtime: 116 mins

Language: English

DramaAdventure

In 1841, young Ishmael signs aboard the New Bedford whaler Pequod. Under the iron‑handed Captain Ahab, who lost his leg to the legendary white whale Moby Dick, the crew is driven into a relentless hunt for vengeance. Ahab’s obsessive quest consumes the ship, promising an epic and perilous adventure.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Moby Dick yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Moby Dick (1956)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Moby Dick (1956). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1841

Set in 1841, the story sits at the height of American whaling culture and maritime exploration. Sailors endured long, dangerous voyages, brutal weather, and the heavy toil of chasing and processing whales for oil. Social hierarchies and frontier spirit shape the crew's dynamics during this era.

Location

New Bedford, Massachusetts, Atlantic Ocean (aboard the Pequod), Bikini Atoll, Madagascar coast

New Bedford, Massachusetts, is a bustling 19th-century whaling port that serves as Ishmael and Queequeg's starting point. The town's taverns and shipyards anchor the human world before the voyage, highlighting the daily life behind the hunt. The Pequod's voyage carries the crew from this port to remote oceans and through perilous waters toward a distant and dangerous pursuit.

🏙️ Town ⚓ Maritime 🌊 Ocean voyage

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:32

Main Characters – Moby Dick (1956)

Meet the key characters of Moby Dick (1956), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ishmael (Richard Basehart)

The thoughtful narrator who signs onto the Pequod with Queequeg. He observes crew dynamics with a calm, reflective lens and provides a human counterpoint to Ahab's mania. His bond with Queequeg anchors his perspective and keeps him grounded through the voyage.

🗺️ Narrator 🧭 Observant 🤝 Outsider

Queequeg (Friedrich von Ledebur)

A fearless Pacific Islander harpooner whose skill and loyalty earn Ishmael's trust. He brings calm, courage, and a sense of camaraderie to the crew, bridging cultural differences with quiet strength.

🪶 Friend ⚓ Maritime 🌍 Cultural outsider

Captain Ahab (Gregory Peck)

The vengeful and charismatic captain whose obsession with Moby Dick drives the entire journey. He exerts magnetic but dangerous leadership, blurring ethical lines in pursuit of his quarry.

🔥 Obsession ⚓ Leadership 🗡️ Revenge

Starbuck (Leo Genn)

First mate and moral counterweight to Ahab. Pragmatic and cautious, he tries to steer the crew away from Ahab's fixation while negotiating loyalty and duty.

⚖️ Morality 🧭 Leadership 🧫 Prudence

Stubb (Harry Andrews)

Second mate known for his blunt practicality and wry humor. He contributes to the ship's morale and participates in the crew's attempts to navigate Ahab's dangerous leadership.

😂 Humor ⚓ Sailor 🧭 Loyalty

Flask (Seamus Kelly)

Third mate who represents the disciplined, rule-following side of the crew. Though less central to the plot, he embodies the chain of command on the Pequod.

⚓ Discipline 🧭 Authority

Captain Gardiner (Francis de Wolff)

Captain of the Rachel who asks Ahab to help search for his missing son, serving as a foil to Ahab's single-minded pursuit and illustrating competing loyalties on the sea.

⚓ Captain 🛡️ Foil 🧭 Duty

Elijah (Royal Dano)

A prophetic figure who warns of doom and foretells the peril surrounding Ahab's voyage. His ominous appearances frame the sense that fate encroaches on the crew.

🔮 Prophet 🕯️ Omen

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:32

Major Themes – Moby Dick (1956)

Explore the central themes of Moby Dick (1956), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔥 Obsession

Captain Ahab's fixation on Moby Dick drives every decision aboard the Pequod. His relentless pursuit blurs the line between leadership and madness, pulling the crew toward dangerous recklessness. The film uses this obsession to explore the destructive cost of revenge.

🌊 Man vs Nature

The voyage pits human skill and grit against an indifferent, powerful ocean and a legendary whale. Storms, typhoons, and constant peril test the crew's resilience and cohesion. The sea acts as a vast, unpredictable force shaping fate and outcome.

🔮 Prophecy

Warnings and omens pepper the journey, suggesting that fate may govern the sailors' lives. Elijah's foreboding message and occult signs hint at doom for those who chase the white whale. Ishmael's narration frames these prophecies as a haunting, shaping how characters respond.

👥 Leadership

Starbuck embodies caution and moral responsibility, challenging Ahab's reckless authority. The tension between duty and obedience exposes the fragility of command when obsession overrides safety. The crew's loyalty is tested, revealing different visions of what true leadership entails.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:32

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Obsessive quest movies like Moby Dick

Stories where a single-minded obsession consumes a character and leads to ruin.If you were captivated by the relentless, tragic obsession in Moby Dick, explore these movies about characters driven to the brink by a single, all-consuming goal. This collection features similar high-intensity dramas with dark tones and bleak endings, focusing on the destructive nature of monomania.

obsessivedrivenfatalistictragicsomberpsychologically intenseheavybleak

Narrative Summary

The narrative arc is defined by a protagonist's escalating fixation on a goal, which alienates allies and warps their perspective. The story steadily builds tension around this obsession, leading to a final, catastrophic confrontation that underscores the futility and hubris of the quest.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a destructive character obsession, a dark and heavy emotional tone, and a narrative structure that builds steadily towards a tragic, often fatal, conclusion. The central similarity is the theme of an individual's will being shattered by the object of their pursuit.

Claustrophobic survival stories like Moby Dick

Tense stories of confined groups unraveling under pressure in hostile environments.For viewers who appreciated the confined, oppressive atmosphere of the Pequod in Moby Dick, this list features movies with similar claustrophobic settings and psychological tension. Discover other films about groups unraveling during perilous journeys, where the environment itself becomes a character driving the narrative towards disaster.

claustrophobicoppressiveparanoidunravelingsombermelancholictensefatalistic

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a group confined in a dangerous, isolating environment. An external threat or a leader's dangerous obsession creates immense internal pressure, leading to fractured loyalties, rising paranoia, and a collective march towards a disastrous outcome.

Why These Movies?

These films share a potent mix of a claustrophobic setting, a dark and oppressive mood, and a focus on psychological disintegration under duress. The similarity lies in the experience of being trapped with a growing sense of dread, where the real enemy is often the madness brewing within.

Unlock the Full Story of Moby Dick

Don't stop at just watching — explore Moby Dick in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Moby Dick is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Moby Dick Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Moby Dick, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Moby Dick Summary

Moby Dick Timeline

Track the full timeline of Moby Dick with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Moby Dick Timeline

More About Moby Dick

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Moby Dick: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Moby Dick

Similar Movies to Moby Dick

Discover movies like Moby Dick that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.