The Sea Beast

The Sea Beast is a Silent Screen adaptation of Moby Dick featuring John Barrymore in action as Captain Ahab Ceely. At the beginning of the story, Ahab and his step brother Derek (George O'Hara) compete for the affections of the 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 moves 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 an outstanding 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 superhuman 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 Priscella Bonner was fired by Barrymore from the role of Wiscasset, and in a curious parallel to Ahab and the mighty whale, she successfully sued the studio and won a considerable out-of-court settlement. No doubt due to the popularity of this film, another was released in 1930 under Melville's original book title, with Barrymore again in the role of Captain Ahab.

This silent screen adaptation of Moby Dick stars John Barrymore as Ahab Ceeley, a sea captain competing against his brother for the heart of a woman. Things are tense to begin with, but get even worse when the brothers encounter the famed albino whale others have tried to kill with no success.