Moby-Dick (1956) – Film Screening

Friday, January 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM

From Academy Award–winning director John Huston comes Moby Dick—a sweeping, visually arresting adaptation of Herman Melville’s timeless novel about obsession, fate, and the fury of nature.

In 1841, young sailor Ishmael (Richard Basehart) signs aboard the whaling ship Pequod in New Bedford, where he meets the enigmatic harpooner Queequeg and the ship’s brooding captain, Ahab (Gregory Peck). Ahab, consumed by vengeance after losing his leg to the legendary white whale, Moby Dick, drives his crew into a perilous hunt across the world’s oceans. What begins as a whaling voyage becomes a relentless pursuit—culminating in a haunting clash between man and beast.

With a screenplay by Huston and celebrated author Ray Bradbury, and a stirring score by Philip Sainton, Moby Dick is more than an adventure—it’s a profound meditation on obsession and the human spirit.

The film premiered on June 27, 1956, here in New Bedford, the historic whaling port that inspired Melville’s novel. The event was a citywide celebration, complete with a seven-mile parade, thousands of spectators, and appearances by Gregory Peck and John Huston—cementing New Bedford’s place in cinematic history.

Film Run Time: 116 minutes.

Following the screening, viewers are welcome to explore the Museum, including the most recent interpretation of Melville's novel, Ahab's Head: American Vengeance, an installation by Heidi Whitman.