Moby Dick (1956) is a classic Hollywood adventure film adaptation of Herman Melville’s 1851 novel, directed by John Huston. The screenplay was written by Huston and famed science-fiction author Ray Bradbury, and the movie stars Gregory Peck as the obsessive Captain Ahab, Richard Basehart as Ishmael, and Leo Genn as Starbuck, with supporting roles from actors such as Orson Welles. It was a major production for its time, distributed by Warner Bros, and remains one of the most well-known screen versions of Melville’s story.

The film was both a critical and commercial success on its release, earning positive reviews and a strong box-office performance given its ambitious scope for the era. It ranked among the top films of 1956 in critical circles, with Huston winning Best Director honours from the National Board of Review and Basehart winning Best Supporting Actor. While the movie’s interpretation of the novel isn’t universally considered entirely faithful to every theme of Melville’s tome, its dramatic visuals and performances made it a memorable cinematic adaptation that still sparks discussion among critics and audiences today.

Part of the film’s exterior shooting took place in Goodwick and Fishguard Harbour on the Pembrokeshire coast of Wales in 1954, chosen because its dramatic seascapes and relatively unchanged harbour gave Huston a convincing backdrop for 19th century whaling scenes. Local history records affirm that the production company shot scenes around Fishguard Bay and Ceibwr Bay, with the ship Pequod and related action filmed in these coastal waters. Many local people photographed cast members and film equipment at the time, capturing a unique moment of Hollywood presence in this Welsh town.

During the filming period, the cast and crew needed accommodation close to set, and many stayed at The Bay Hotel in Goodwick, which was privately rented out and closed to the public while shooting was under way. This gave the town a real taste of Hollywood life: local lore holds that the stars relaxed on Goodwick beach between shoots, and the presence of American and British movie talent became part of the town’s living memory. Additionally, the dramatic coastal scenery was part of the reason Goodwick and Fishguard were attractive choices for Huston – the rugged coast helped evoke the open sea and provided atmospheric settings for the whaling narrative.