In the very begining of the movie when Ishmael goes into the tavern, I could swear I hear John Huston's voice when the bar tender speaks to him! It obviously is not John Huston playing the part, but his voice is very destinctive! Was his voice dubbed over the original actors voice for some reason?
shareYes, it is listed as the first item in the trivia section. I noticed it right off that it was Huston and came here to confirm it.
shareYes, it is indeed John Houston's voice dubbed over for the bartender. But I don't know why it was done. Perhaps the original actor's voice didn't come through and he wasn't available later to dub it himself.
shareWonder if maybe the real bartender spoke in an Irish accent, which would have been out of place in New Bedford at the time.
shareJoseph Tomelty is the wonderful Irish actor (also playwright) who played the bartender. I believe he was seriously injured in a car accident around the time "Moby Dick" was filming. So I'm guessing he wasn't available to loop his dialogue. Too bad because he was always a delight onscreen. If you ever get the chance, check him out in the charming (and very funny) '53 comedy "Meet Mr. Lucifer". It's got a great cast (Stanley Holloway, Peggy Cummins, Gordon Jackson, Jean Cadell, Kay Kendall) but Tomelty steals every scene he's in.
share"New Bedford's overstocked"
"With what?"
"Heads of course!"