SSF: “White Whale,” Featuring Orson Welles

I stumbled across a fascinating clip of the incomparable Orson Welles reading from Melville’s “Moby Dick” a few days back, and was reminded that it is (sometimes) good that the InterWebs exist. Welles at his mesmerizing best, really, and a great reminder that a striking backdrop and hi-tech audio work and images are all well-and-good. But not necessary. …at least not if you’re as magnetic as Welles.

Now, I’d heard that he was fascinated by “Moby Dick,” and I’d seen his galvanizing appearance as Father Mapple in Huston’s film adaptation. And I think I was vaguely aware of his various attempts to capture a cinematic version of his own. But I had no idea there was so much footage floating around out there. (That Spanish-ized clip comes, I suspect, from the unfinished 1971 project, of which additional clips can be found here and here. The blue backdrop gives it away.)

But that’s not even today’s short. That’s just prologue, really. Because after I’d shared that amazing little clip on Facebook, a friend sent me this.

“We ourselves see in all rivers and oceans. It is the image of the ungraspable phantom of life; and this is the key to it all.” The voice of Orson Wells, reading Melville’s Moby Dick, introduces us to a unique sailing adventure in the remotest corners of the Arctic Ocean featuring the travel filmmaker Guille Cascante and Goroka, guided by captain Bargúes and his crew. Produced and directed by Goroka, presented by Nowness.

What a jaw-droppingly fabulous use of that monologue. What wonderful images.

Attribution(s): All artwork, publicity images, and stills are the property of Eldorado Experience and all respective creators and/or distributors; “Moby Dick” by A. Burnham Shute via C. H. Simonds Co. and licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.