Gregory Peck's Ahab

I read that he didn't like his performance.

I think he was good in the part--having a leading man type for it made sense to me-he's a tragic figure--but so was Achilles, yet he was a heroic persona--a leader of men. Walter Huston--supposedly John Huston's preferred choice...I just don't think he would have been appropriate for it.

 I agree with a Peck comment that he was too young but I don't think it harmed the role most of the time. The only scene I find jarring is his very first dialogue shot--where he summons Starbuck. Felt kind of weird, muted.

But the rest of the time, I think he carried the role fine (even more so after reading he got no direction from Huston).

Most importantly he had the voice for it. He was kind of like a scarred Abe Lincoln!

I cannot imagine Charlton Heston or Sterling Hayden or someone else in the same age category doing the role as well.

I think his performance may have influenced Robert Shaw's Quint.