content: This movie starts great, with Ishmael hiking through New England to the sea. From here it keeps getting better. Every scene is intensely acted and crafted, and the performances are riveting. Alright, it takes several viewings to get Gregory Peck's Ahab, but in the end you realize how good it is. Yes, he looks like lincoln. No, he's not so much insane as very annoyed. Anyone mauled by a ten ton whale, and who lived, would be slightly nuts. But the treat here are the bit roles and cameos. The quaker shipowners are a delight,and the actor who appears on the dock, and delivers the prophecy of doom, is superb for all 5 lines. But for me, the whole point is the church scene. The eery hymn gives way to the entrance of Orson Welles' preacher. He hauls himself up into the ship-prow pulpit, and roars forth a sermon straight from God, in Gods own voice.Incrediable!!