A group of travellers, all with something to hide in their past, take shelter from a storm in an old inn. The inn-keeper seems a little mysterious...

根据梅尔．维尔的经典文学名著改编，由老牌导演约翰．休斯顿掌舵，加上格利高里．派克将高傲倔强的艾海伯船长塑造得入木三分，使本片成为海上冒险片的经典佳作。故事以一条全身纯白的巨型鲸鱼莫比敌为中心发展，它是一条被水手们视为魔鬼化身的凶猛鲸鱼。艾海伯在捕捉它的过程中被咬掉了一条腿，这种屈辱与伤痛更激发起他一定要打败这条巨鲸的决心，然而也因他这种偏执狂的意志导致很多无辜船员葬身海底的悲剧。本片的海上历险场面拍得相当壮观，在细腻的心理刻画之外也有不错的娱乐效果。

A bookmaker with a fancy for detective work attempts to prevent the execution of a potentially innocent man.