Moby Dick

Don't even bother with the new versions, stick to the tried and true 1956 classic. John Huston , working with a Ray Bradbury adaptation of Herman Melville's legendary novel, directs Gregory Peck to absolute perfection here. I mean, he IS Captain Ahab, much like he IS Atticus Finch. It is always special to watch him work. Orson Welles as Father Mapple is stunning and in an odd twist of fate Peck and Welles would switch roles in a later version of MOBY DICK. Richard Baseheart and Leo Genn more than hold their own along side two giants of the screen and Huston shows his genius in the casting of Friedrich von Ledeber as Queequeg. On a trivial note Agent Scully of the X-FILES would name her dog after this character, yes THAT dog the fans hated so much the producers decided to have it eaten by a giant aligator. The special effects, by today's standards, may make you cringe but for acting and direction you'd be hard pressed to find better.