The performance of Samuel L. Jackson, inspired by Gregory Peck

The second part of the so-called “Monsterverse”, Kong: Skull Island, Additionally, Brie Larson and Tom Hiddleston are part of a group of soldiers and scientists who meet the gigantic primate. Jackson portrays Preston Packard, a helicopter pilot who seeks revenge on the Kong after the deaths of his men. Jackson said he based the character in some ways on Captain Ahab from the classic novel Moby Dickand said: “It’s the nature of how we work – an eye for an eye!”

When speaking with Film inkJackson also revealed that Packard owed one of the stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. “I’m Gregory Peck,” he said. “I had none of it Apocalypse now Crap. No John Wayne, none of that! Gregory Peck!” The Apocalypse now Comparisons are obvious since the film takes place during the Vietnam War and was partly shot in the country. However, Jackson clearly wanted to avoid taking the obvious route.

Peck played Ahab in the 1956 film version Moby Dickwhich was directed by John Huston. Herman Melville’s vengeful seal, whose leg was torn off by the famous white whale, had previously been played by silent film star John Barrymore. Orson Welles portrayed the character in a 1955 play that was made into a film, but the footage was unfortunately lost. More modern interpretations include Patrick Stewart and William Hurt in two miniseries from 1998 and 2011, respectively, and Barry Bostwick in the 2010 contemporary retelling of the story.

Although Jackson was clearly a fan, Peck’s interpretation of Ahab was met with mixed opinions at the time of the film’s release. Maybe that one Skull Island The actor exaggerated his opinion because, as he said, he is such a big fan of the man behind it Foster’s Daily Democrat. “I met Gregory Peck,” he said. “And I felt like, ‘That was great!’ One day he called me and left a message on my phone and I said, “Oh man! It’s Gregory Peck!’ I saved that on my messaging device for about three years and played it for people.” While Peck and Jackson never worked together, the latter appeared in A time to killwhich was loosely based on this To kill a mockingbirdin the film version of which Peck starred as Atticus Finch.

Most people wouldn’t immediately recognize the connection King Kong And Moby Dickbut Jackson is such a pro that he’s used to finding new ways to rework classic performances. Even if the finished product is a little shaky, its performance is fine Skull Island is great fun.

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