Higgledy-Piggledy Whale Statements

In this episode, we take a break from the talkies, with the 1926 silent film The Sea Beast. This adaptation of Moby Dick, starring John Barrymore, takes it to strangely conventional new places with love-lorn hero Ahab Ceeley seeking the hand of his sweetheart in competition with his half-brother Derek. The ending may surprise you! So may a lot of things, including the occasional eruption of fidelity to the novel.

Next episode: We had to put it off, but now we can put it back on: A look at Orson Welles' various and variably complete efforts to adapt Moby Dick.

This week, we watched The Whale God (1962), a gothic, black and white kaiju drama adaptation of a novel by the same name that adapted Moby Dick to the world of Japanese whaling in (we think) the later 19th century. It's an intense story of a village's reigning madness of revenge after generations of terror at the hands of a monstrous and unstoppable whale - the majority of the cast are Ahabs, which makes for a wild and sometimes harrowing ride. It's an adaptation that goes a lot further from Moby Dick than the 1956 movie, which means there's a lot to talk about!

Next episode: We piece together a bunch of fragments from Orson Welles' long, frustrated effort to produce his own adaptation of Moby Dick.

And now, Moby Dick - in living color! We regret to inform you the whale is still white. For the first Whale Statements Appendix, we watched Moby Dick (1956), starring Gregory Peck, directed by John Huston, and with a screenplay by John Huston and Ray Bradbury. Yes, that Ray Bradbury, and you'll hear plenty more about him from Ben if you listen to this episode. Join us as we discuss the changes made to the movie, the decisions (some fun, some baffling) made in the adaptation, and the overall effect of our first film outing on the Pequod. There's some Orson Welles in there too!

Next episode: We watch The Whale God (1962). Moby Dick tokusatsu? Don't mind if we do!

Cleaning up loose ends, we rank our favorite chapters with an infallible device, discuss the various characters, and talk a bit about the structure of the thing. Then, most importantly, we answer your questions! Including some thematic, some specific, and a few impish. Also, a bunch of theoretical rambling about science fiction, for some reason.

Next episode: we watch Moby Dick (1956), in the first of the Appendices.

A dead whale or a stove boat.

Next episode: We look back over the book, respond to listener questions, and generally clean up our loose ends. Please send your questions to [email protected]!

The chase enters the second day, and Ahab will not swerve.

Next episode: Chapter 135, and the Epilogue. The whole act’s immutably decreed.

Omens and misgiving abound, and even Ahab almost turns aside... but too late. The White Whale is sighted, the doubloon is earned, and the chase has begun.

Next episode: Chapter 134, The Chase – Second Day.

Update your logbooks, everyone. This week, we have the last episode of relatively normal chapters before the chase begins. But ‘relatively’ doesn’t mean much: Ahab’s intensity has reached fever pitch, and everyone on board has to deal with it. The carpenter shows up and Ben does hand gestures on a podcast again, Pip and Ahab have a series of moments, and we meet the saddest damn ship in the Pacific. Finally, Ahab receives an unsettling avian omen, but disregards augury.

Next time: Chapters 131-133. The last chance to turn aside, and after that... there she blows– there she blows!

The Typhoon has arrived, and we now see Ahab in all his fatal pride.

Next episode: We read chapters 125 through 130, through the intensity and omens of The Hat.

The Pequod has entered the Pacific, and Ishmael is delighted by the mild sea. Ahab’s deep and tempestuous thoughts, however, take up most of these chapters. We meet the blacksmith, who would be singularly unhappy if Ahab wasn’t right there, and witness the creation of a lance to slay God. From there, we dwell on the beauty of the ocean’s surface, and Stubb swears oaths, before crossing wakes with the luckiest damn ship in the Pacific. Whales are slain, and that night, Fedallah and Ahab discuss uncertain dreams. Finally, Ahab destroys an expensive piece of equipment for intense symbolic reasons.

Next episode: Chapters 119-124, from The Candles to The Needle. When the typhoon comes, the veil of nature is torn.