PhiloMoby Dick (1956)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Viewer Rating
Rating: 7.6
Overview
In 1841, young Ishmael signs up for service aboard the Pequod, a whaler sailing out of New Bedford. The ship is under the command of Captain Ahab, a strict disciplinarian who exhorts his men to find Moby Dick, the great white whale. Ahab lost his leg to that creature and is desperate for revenge. As the crew soon learns, he will stop at nothing to gain satisfaction.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Philo
Apple TV
Google PlayBias Dimensions
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Race Swap: Yes
Christianity: Positive
Overview
In 1841, young Ishmael signs up for service aboard the Pequod, a whaler sailing out of New Bedford. The ship is under the command of Captain Ahab, a strict disciplinarian who exhorts his men to find Moby Dick, the great white whale. Ahab lost his leg to that creature and is desperate for revenge. As the crew soon learns, he will stop at nothing to gain satisfaction.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
PhiloApple TVGoogle PlayDetailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Center
Primary
The film's central conflict revolves around the universal themes of obsession, revenge, and man's destructive hubris against nature, which lack a strong inherent political valence in mainstream discourse. While it critiques tyrannical leadership, the narrative primarily functions as a timeless cautionary tale about human nature rather than promoting a specific political ideology.
The film features a diverse cast of characters as depicted in its classic source material, without explicitly recasting traditionally white roles with minority actors. The narrative explores themes of obsession and human struggle, with its central white male character portrayed as complex and tragic due to personal flaws, rather than as a critique of traditional identities.
Secondary
The film portrays several characters, including Queequeg (canonically Polynesian), Tashtego (canonically Native American), and Daggoo (canonically African), with actors of different racial backgrounds than established in the source novel.
The film presents a nuanced view of Christianity, contrasting Father Mapple's orthodox faith and Starbuck's moral compass with Captain Ahab's blasphemous obsession. The narrative condemns Ahab's perversion of faith into vengeful fanaticism, aligning with the virtues of humility and respect for divine power rather than critiquing Christianity itself.
The 1956 film "Moby Dick" does not contain any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The narrative is solely focused on the traditional adventure story of Captain Ahab's pursuit of the white whale, with no explicit or implicit queer representation.
The film "Moby Dick" (1956) is set almost entirely at sea on a whaling vessel, featuring an overwhelmingly male cast. There are no significant female characters depicted in any action or combat roles throughout the film.
The 1956 film adaptation of Herman Melville's novel retains the established genders of all major and significant characters from the source material. No characters canonically or widely established as one gender are portrayed as a different gender in the movie.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
7.6
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
User Ratings
7.3
7.0
Critic Ratings
8.1
7.8
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