The Sea Beast
Encyclopedia
The Sea Beast is a silent film
adaptation of the novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville
, a story about a monomaniacal hunt for a great white whale. However, the film alters the novel's plotline by establishing prequel(the romancing of Esther) and sequel(Ahab's safe return) elements that are not in the original story and substitutes a happy ending for Melville's original tragic one in which the entire crew of the ship Pequod, save for crew member Ishmael, is killed by Moby Dick.
Some of the characters in the film do not appear in Melville's original novel.
) and his half brother Derek (George O'Hara
) compete for the affections of a winsome minister's daughter, Esther Wiscasset (Dolores Costello
). Meanwhile, the albino whale has been eluding harpooners, and bears the scars of many failed attacks against him. His fame has reached epic proportions. One day, Ahab and Derek are on the same whaler as the whale heaves into view. With the visual drama enhanced by the water and pitching boat, Ahab raises his harpoon to kill the beast. At that moment, Derek pushes him overboard and Ahab loses a right leg to the whale. In this scene, Barrymore's portrayal of agonizing pain as an antiseptic is poured over what remains of his leg contributed to his fame as a silents actor. 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 super-human quest, far beyond the proportions of its first motivation. 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 Hollywood hype, unintentional though it may seem. The actress Priscilla Bonner
was fired by Barrymore from the role of Wiscasset, in preference for his lover actress Dolores Costello
, and in a curious parallel to Ahab and the mighty whale, Bonner successfully sued the studio and won a considerable out-of-court settlement. Doubtless due to the popularity of this film, an all-talking version
was released in 1930 under Melville's original book title, with Barrymore again in the role of Captain Ahab
. The 1930 film used the plotline of The Sea Beast, rather than following Melville's novel. A German language version, Daemon des Mers, was filmed simultaneously in Hollywood by Warner Bros. It was directed by Wilhelm Dieterle (soon to be known as William Dieterle
), just beginning his American career.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
adaptation of the novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Herman Melville
Herman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....
, a story about a monomaniacal hunt for a great white whale. However, the film alters the novel's plotline by establishing prequel(the romancing of Esther) and sequel(Ahab's safe return) elements that are not in the original story and substitutes a happy ending for Melville's original tragic one in which the entire crew of the ship Pequod, save for crew member Ishmael, is killed by Moby Dick.
Some of the characters in the film do not appear in Melville's original novel.
Plot summary
At the beginning of the story, Ahab(John BarrymoreJohn Barrymore
John Sidney Blyth , better known as John Barrymore, was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III...
) and his half brother Derek (George O'Hara
George O'Hara (actor)
George O'Hara was an American motion picture actor and screenwriter of the silent film era.- Biography :...
) compete for the affections of a winsome minister's daughter, Esther Wiscasset (Dolores Costello
Dolores Costello
Dolores Costello was an American film actress who achieved her greatest success during the era of silent movies. She was nicknamed "The Goddess of the Silent Screen"...
). Meanwhile, the albino whale has been eluding harpooners, and bears the scars of many failed attacks against him. His fame has reached epic proportions. One day, Ahab and Derek are on the same whaler as the whale heaves into view. With the visual drama enhanced by the water and pitching boat, Ahab raises his harpoon to kill the beast. At that moment, Derek pushes him overboard and Ahab loses a right leg to the whale. In this scene, Barrymore's portrayal of agonizing pain as an antiseptic is poured over what remains of his leg contributed to his fame as a silents actor. 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 super-human quest, far beyond the proportions of its first motivation. 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 Hollywood hype, unintentional though it may seem. The actress Priscilla Bonner
Priscilla Bonner
Priscilla Bonner was an American silent film actress.-Career:Born in Washington, D.C., Bonner made her film debut opposite Charles Ray in the 1920 film Homer Comes Home, after being signed to MGM that same year. She went on to co-star with Jack Pickford in The Man Who Had Everything , Lon Chaney, Sr...
was fired by Barrymore from the role of Wiscasset, in preference for his lover actress Dolores Costello
Dolores Costello
Dolores Costello was an American film actress who achieved her greatest success during the era of silent movies. She was nicknamed "The Goddess of the Silent Screen"...
, and in a curious parallel to Ahab and the mighty whale, Bonner successfully sued the studio and won a considerable out-of-court settlement. Doubtless due to the popularity of this film, an all-talking version
Moby Dick (1930 film)
Moby Dick is a 1930 film made by Warner Bros., directed by Lloyd Bacon, and starring John Barrymore and Joan Bennett. The film is a sound remake of the 1926 silent movie, The Sea Beast, starring Barrymore, which uses exactly the same plot as the 1930 version.- Plot :The film tells of a sea...
was released in 1930 under Melville's original book title, with Barrymore again in the role of Captain Ahab
Captain Ahab
Captain Ahab may refer to:* Ahab , the captain of the Pequod in Herman Melville's 1851 novel Moby-Dick* Captain Ahab , a Los Angeles based pop/electronic band...
. The 1930 film used the plotline of The Sea Beast, rather than following Melville's novel. A German language version, Daemon des Mers, was filmed simultaneously in Hollywood by Warner Bros. It was directed by Wilhelm Dieterle (soon to be known as William Dieterle
William Dieterle
William Dieterle was a German actor and film director, who worked in Hollywood for much of his career. His best known films include The Devil and Daniel Webster, The Story of Louis Pasteur and The Hunchback of Notre Dame...
), just beginning his American career.
Cast
- John BarrymoreJohn BarrymoreJohn Sidney Blyth , better known as John Barrymore, was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III...
as Captain Ahab CeeleyCaptain AhabCaptain Ahab may refer to:* Ahab , the captain of the Pequod in Herman Melville's 1851 novel Moby-Dick* Captain Ahab , a Los Angeles based pop/electronic band... - Dolores CostelloDolores CostelloDolores Costello was an American film actress who achieved her greatest success during the era of silent movies. She was nicknamed "The Goddess of the Silent Screen"...
as Esther Harper - George O'HaraGeorge O'Hara (actor)George O'Hara was an American motion picture actor and screenwriter of the silent film era.- Biography :...
as Derek Ceeley - Mike DonlinMike DonlinMichael Joseph Donlin was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals , Baltimore Orioles , Cincinnati Reds , New York Giants , Boston Rustlers , and Pittsburgh Pirates...
as Flask - Sam Baker as Queequeeq
- Kamiyama SojinSojinSōjin Kamiyama or just Sōjin was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in over 70 films between 1917 and 1954...
as Fedallah - George BerrellGeorge BerrellGeorge Berrell was an American actor of both the 19th and early 20th Century stage and of the silent era...
as Perth/As Himself - Sam Allen as Captain
- Frank Nelson as Stubbs
- Mathilde ComontMathilde ComontMathilde Comont was a French actress of the silent era. She appeared in 71 films between 1908 and 1937.She was born in Bordeaux, France and died in Hollywood, California from a heart attack.-Selected filmography:...
as Mula - James O. Barrow as Rev. Harper
- Vadim Uraneff as Pip
- Frank HagneyFrank HagneyFrank Hagney was an Australian actor. He appeared in over 350 films between 1919 and 1966.He was born in Sydney, Australia and died in Los Angeles.- Selected filmography :*Go Get 'Em Hutch...
as Daggoo - Joyzelle JoynerJoyzelle JoynerJoyzelle Joyner was an American actress and dancer. She appeared in at least thirty films between 1925 and 1935 gained some notoriety for her appearance in The Sign of the Cross.-Career:...
as Dancer in prologue