Reap the Wild Wind [DVD]

I am watching the John Wayne movie reap the wild wind,it's good.

I don't know of any other Wayne film before the forgettable '47 "Tycoon" that was filmed in color. All those classic '40s Republic westerns and war movies were filmed in B&W. After his epic B&W '39 western: "Union Pacific", De Mille had the clout to insist that all his future films be shot in Technicolor, a rare luxury treatment in the '40s. In contrast to most other reviewers, this film is perhaps my favorite Wayne film(if we can consider it a Wayne film, since he was not originally given top billing). The Technicolor treatment is certainly one factor, but I guess I'm just hooked on DeMille's better films(In spite of several other fine '39 westerns, "Union Pacific" is my clear favorite for that year). The general style of the present film often apes that of "Gone with the Wind", to which it has often been disparagingly compared. I've never been a big fan of the latter film. If given a choice,I would see DeMille's film again. It is also commonly compared with Wayne's later film "The Wake of the Red Witch", which I haven't seen, but is said to be largely a reworked version of the present film. Considering the age of this film, I thought the DVD transfer quality was excellent, with vivid colors. I also enjoyed some of the extras. For example, we learn that much of the shooting was done on location in Charleston and around Key West, although the underwater action was done in a huge tank. Both Paulette Goddard and Susan Hayward had tried out for the role of Scarlett in "Gone with the Wind". It is speculated that Paulette lost the role because of her uncertain official relationship with her recent lover, Charlie Chaplin. By the time the present film was begun, that relationship had ended. There are so many complexities to this film and so many interesting, if sometimes stock, characters. I thought all of the main characters and most of the supporting characters were well cast. Captain Jack and Steve Tolliver seem destined to be at each other's throat throughout the story. Yet, occasionally, they fight together against a common enemy or help the other in a desperate situation. Captain Jack is a tragic figure, sometimes in hot water through no fault of his own, yet performing a dastardly deed to help win his love that precipitates the demise of many of the main characters. Raymond Massey sheds his Lincoln and John Brown images to become an engaging masterful villain. In one of the many convoluted relationships, Susan Hayward's character falls for Massey's handsome younger brother, who lives in his brother's shadow as a marginal villain. This romance, on the sneak, will become central to the tragic and redemptive events near the end of the story. In contrast to some viewers, I thought the talking dog and mischievous pet capuchin helped provide a bit of comic relief. I also enjoyed Lynne Overman's portrayal of Captain Phil, a classic old salt and grandfatherly figure.

Paulette falls in love with John Wayne from the beginning of the movie where she saves him after a shipwreck. Paulette wants John to get another ship but trouble arrives when the ship that John was captain of was wrecked and the shipment was lost to a salvage crew. Paulette decides to go in intervene for John and meets Ray and he is smitten with her from the start. Paulette decides to play up to Ray in hope to help John get another ship. Paulette starts falling for Ray but she is still quite smitten with John. John thinks that he is not getting the ship but Ray was told to check out John first and then give him the commission if found cleared. Ray has decided that Paulette will be his wife; he stops the marriage between John and Paulette. John later comes to Paulette with a preacher but Paulette puts it off saying she wants a church wedding and needs John to help her save her friend and Ray from being shanghaied on a whaler ship. As in all John Wayne's movies there are big fights. They save Ray and her old friend and find the commission papers and misunderstand why Ray has not given them to him before hand. Shortly after the fight John finds out the owner has died from bad guy, tricks John into believing that Ray will ruin him to keep him from Paulette. Several times John sees that Paulette is falling for Ray and wrecks another ship and doesn't know that Paulette's cousin, played by Susan Hayward, dies in that wreck. But during the trial it comes out and they must prove weather or not Susan was aboard that ship. They dive down into the ships hull and find the truth, oh and they find a giant octopus. Only one comes back.I received this movie 3 days from placing my order. Very pleased.

It was 1942, just after our entry into WW II and the American public needed some escapism fare to help assuage the bad news on the Pacific and European fronts. Who better to bring them some first class escapism than director/producer Cecil B. DeMille? And he delivered! This is a fine sea story/swashbuckler set in the 1840s, before railroads were widespread, when sailing ships were the heart of Americas commerce. Sailing ships also floundered with disconcerting frequency and salvage companies were a big business. This is the story of a shipping line headquartered in Charleston, SC; and two competing salvage companies, headquartered in the Florida Keys - one honest and one dishonest. Paulette Goddard, in one of her best roles as Loxi Claiborne, heads up the honest salvager. Raymond Massey as King Cutler, heads up the crooked one; and Ray Milland as Steven Tolliver, heads up the shipping company. John Wayne is ship captain, Jack Stewart, and after being shipwrecked - intentionally as it turns out - is nursed back to health by Loxi and they fall in love. Back in Charleston, Jack has to answer for losing his ship; but Loxi is there to help him and Steven (Milland) falls in love w/her too. Jack thinks he is being intentionally dealt a bad hand and his prospects, both in love and business, begin to spiral down. You will see some similarities between this film and the 1948 film, WAKE OF THE RED WITCH, with John Wayne starring. In both films. Wayne shows a darker side in both roles that he - very carefully - did not show often, and he was actually reluctant to do this film for that reason. Also look for Susan Hayward and Robert Preston in sub-plot romance that also has similarities to RED WITCH, which also had a similar sub-plot romance. This is a typical star-studded DeMille spectacle, and a very good old school classic...highly recommended.

The dude does not play many bad guys and I'd have to say he is in this one.. A great ending sene diving on the wreck he was responsible for.. Proving his gilt of a womans death.. This movie does not get the attention it should.

Great movie

although he young in this, you can see already what a great star he would become.

Cecil B. de Mille's typically lavish tale of wrecks and wreckers, Reap the Wild Wind, stars Paulette Godard, Ray Milland, John Wayne and that giant squid. Godard gets to play a Southern belle the way she'd have probably played Scarlett O'Hara had she got it, so we all had a lucky escape there, while Raymond Massey provides the black-hearted villainy as he lures the Duke's honest skipper onto the reefs in more ways than one. There's gorgeous Technicolor photography and some generally impressive special effects work - the studio tank work on the opening wreck is particularly striking - though I could have done without Ray Milland's ventriloquist act with the dog.Universal's DVD offers a superb transfer which corrects most of the audio problems with their video release and which includes a reissue trailer for good measure.

Purchased this for my elderly mother, she has watched it several times already

Saw this a long time ago and remembered it was exciting! It still is!May very well watch it again - not something I do very often with films.

Impressed with how quickly it was dispatched. Quality was good. Enjoyed watching the movie . Well worth watching and excellent value.