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Huston vastly improved on Bradbury's script.

posted 12 years ago by knightwind88
4 replies | jump to latest

Warning: spoilers below.

Ray Bradbury apparently disputed have Huston's name added for screenplay credit, but Huston fully deserved the screen credit he received. Bradbury took out some of Melville's best scenes and words, which Huston wisely put back in. A comparison of the Bradbury's original screenplay and Huston's final product is very revealing:

Dialogue is about sixty percent Bradbury and forty percent Huston. The final talk between Ahab and Starbuck ('tis a mild, mild day) was restored to the script by Huston and also expanded.

Huston let Orson Welles run free with Father Mapple's sermon, so Welles beautifully rewrote it himself.

Bradbury took out the scene of the blacksmith forging a special harpoon for Ahab. Huston put it back in.

Huston didn't like Bradbury's choice of whaleman's songs so replaced them with a better selection and even increasing their number. They are all original to the era.

Bradbury clearly had Moby Dick die in the end. Huston kept it rather ambiguous, just like in the novel.

The idea of Ahab rising from the grave and "beckoning" is merely mentioned in Bradbury's script by Elijah the prophet. Huston brought it to cinematic reality, based on what happens to the book's character of Feddelah who does not appear in the movie. Huston made Ahab literally rises again from the sea and literally beckon to the crew to follow even though he is dead. That's the most chilling moment in the film. This is also the scene that so many people think is actually in the novel, but it's not. In the novel Ahab is pulled overboard by his own harpoon line and strangled to death, he does not drown strapped to the back of Moby Dick while repeatedly stabbing him.

It is quite clear that adding Huston's name for screenplay credit was justified. It is a better film because of his changes.

[–] wrfarley 12 years ago

I read the recently released screenplay too, and like you, feel about 75% of the final version is Bradbury, 25% Huston. Knowing the film as well as I do, the screenplay felt a bit hollow.

Still, the change from the novel of Fedallah being lashed to Moby Dick's back to Ahab being pinioned was all Bradbury.

You should check out my post "rare behind-the-scenes" photos to see how Gregory Peck was fastened to the "whale."

[–] OnceUponATimeInTheWest 12 years ago

Elijah played by Royal Dano for me is the best part of the film and especially where he reveals his "Secret"

"At sea one day, you'll smell land where there be no land. And on that day Ahab will go to his grave, but he'll rise again within the hour. He will rise and beckon -- then all, all save one, shall follow."

Although Elijah is in the novel. Those lines are were never spoken. I am not sure who wrote those lines but they are brilliant and for me ties the film together.

[–] critic-2 12 years ago

Bradbury clearly had Moby Dick die in the end. Huston kept it rather ambiguous, just like in the novel.

But at the end, Ishmael's voice is heard saying "The great shroud of the sea rolls over the Pequod, her crew - and Moby Dick". So there's really no doubt. And Ishmael doesn't say that in the book.

[–] murdoch1111 10 years ago

@critic-2 » Wed Mar 7 2012

You claim, "Bradbury clearly had Moby Dick die in the end. Huston kept it rather ambiguous, just like in the novel.

But at the end, Ishmael's voice is heard saying 'The great shroud of the sea rolls over the Pequod, her crew - and Moby Dick'. So there's really no doubt. And Ishmael doesn't say that in the book.'

I respond, "There may be no doubt in the film, but in the novel Meville is deliberately ambiguous as to what happens to the whale--and, for that matter, as to whether the whale actually has it in for Ahab."