 Barrymore had always wanted to do a film version of Moby Dick and insisted on making this film first rather than the prospected first contract film "Don Juan".In retrospect and because of this delay, "Don Juan" became the first Warner feature to have the Vitaphone soundtrack rather than "The Sea Beast".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.