Reap the Wild Wind
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.89 You Save: $7.09 (47%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $5.99 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Reap the Wild Wind
Movie Review: De Mille Sea Epic with John Wayne!
Summary: 4 Stars
People unfamiliar with John Wayne's vast filmography are often
surprised to discover he actually starred in a Cecil B. DeMille
extravaganza, although everybody seems to recall "The Film with the
Octopus" that Wayne made (it was actually a giant squid, but that's
really unimportant). In actuality, DeMille, who early-on saw Duke's
potential, twice attempted to team him with Gary Cooper in his
productions (he had been seriously considered for the role of Buffalo
Bill in "The Plainsman", and as the Mountie Preston Foster ended up
portraying in "North West Mounted Police"). Each time, scheduling
conflicts and studio pressure curtailed the pairings, and one can only
daydream about what might have been...
"Reap the Wild Wind", the one film Duke DID make with DeMille (one
of SEVEN 1942 productions he starred in), while not 'top-drawer', is still a
rousing Technicolor adventure, offering another of DeMille's 'American
history lessons'. A nautical tale set in the Florida Keys in 1840, of
salvage ships, their stalwart captains, and greedy profiteers (embodied
by Raymond Massey and Robert Preston), the film works best when
sticking to the 'physical' action, despite a sparkling performance by
Paulette Goddard as the head of one of two rival salvage companies.
Wayne is a hard-headed, impatient skipper who Goddard rescues and falls
for, but when lawyer Ray Milland arrives on the scene to investigate
Wayne's lost ship, the inevitable 'triangle' develops, with Duke
misreading things, and aligning with rival Massey. Milland, top-billed,
is given the meatiest role (and is excellent), but Wayne, who
eventually comes to his senses, is actually quite good, as well.
Expect little subtlety (this IS a DeMille film!), some 'over-the-top'
performances (Massey's hiss-able villain, Lynne Overman's crusty
sailor), a 'star-in-the-making' turn by young Susan Hayward (who, 14
years later, would again work with Wayne, in the infamous "The
Conqueror"), and the unforgettable (if not quite realistic) climactic
confrontation with the squid (which DeMille plays to the hilt, not
letting audiences know WHO sacrificed his life until the last moment).
"Reap the Wild Wind", while certainly a career 'boost' for the Duke, is
not generally listed among his best films (or DeMille's), but remains
an entertaining time-passer from early in WWII, the heady days of John
Wayne's meteoric rise to superstardom.
It certainly is worth a place in your 'John Wayne' collection of DVDS!
Movie Review: Perfect Stock Character Movie in Glorious Technicolor!
Summary: 4 Stars
This movie is based on Thelma Strabel's story that first appeared in the Saturday Evening Post and DeMille had the story published in book form by Triangle publications in 1942, when the film came out! It concerns the state of the United States one hundred years prior. The subject is about ships foundering off the Florida Keys and salvage profits to local compaines who take 50% of the cargo value. Of course this leads to corrupt practices where ship captains are bribed to deliberately wreck their ships on the shoals in exchange for something on the side. The movie is as one previous reviewer has so admirably stated "Gone With The Wind" on the sea. It is a movie that shifts between barely civilized Florida and "Gentlemenly" Charleston, South Carolina. The movie is deliberately stocked with crazy characters that are memorable and funny. This is of course, the old south and slaves are everywhere and speak and act accordingly. There are also idiotic southern belles and rich eccentrics along with a few great performances. A standout is Raymond Massey as "King Cutler", the worst of the salvage pirates. There are also looney sea captains that remind you of Popeye the Sailor and the film is FULL of Sea Jargon and terminology that will make you laugh. The two main stars, Wayne and Milland are good and the climax scene in the encounter with a giant squid in their diving suits makes for the stuff of hollywood legend. DeMille's method of working with a hugh cast also does well in this movie. The only problem being the background scenery, which reminds you of cheap movies where a guy is driving in a car and you see "road film" in the background. Some of these scenes are cheesy and DeMille uses multiple backgrounds in some of the situations to make the scene seem bigger than it really is. If you like stock characters, this movie is full of them! From bald headed thugs with rings in their nose that don't speak but grunt to typical mammies and characters that today would be played by Robin Williams! The movie is VERY colorful and wonderfully preserved in Technicolor which is worth the price of admission. Consider this as entertainment and you will be pleased. The DVD also contains the original trailer with commentary by DeMille at the beginning of the trailer explaining what he tried to accomplish.Movie Review: Paulette Goddard shines in her own version of "Gone with the Wind"
Summary: 4 Stars
Paulette Goddard was the frontrunner to play Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind" until Vivien Leigh pipped her at the post. Four years later, Goddard finally got the chance to play another firebrand Southern belle in Cecil B. DeMille's REAP THE WILD WIND, a costume adventure with the emphasis on costume--and filmed in glowing early Technicolor.
Goddard plays Loxi Claiborne, the feisty manager of a ship salvage company in 1840s Key West, Florida. Loxi falls in love with Captain Jack Stuart (John Wayne); but later finds herself caught under the spell of his attractive arch-rival, Steve Tolliver (Ray Milland). Playing one man off the other, Loxi gets caught in the middle of a dangerous battle between rival shipping companies, masterminded by scheming King Cutler (Raymond Massey).
REAP THE WILD WIND, based on a story written by Thelma Strabel, is an energetic movie with something for everyone: costume drama, romance, pirates, action, and a spectacular sequence featuring a giant squid (the film picked up an Academy Award for 'Best Visual Effects' in 1943).
Paulette Goddard is a sensation playing the firebrand heroine Loxi Claiborne; she would have been a superb Scarlett O'Hara. John Wayne and Ray Milland also provide strong performances as the two men vying for Loxi's hand. A very young Susan Hayward and Robert Preston are touching, playing ill-fated forbidden sweethearts (they would later be re-united for "Tulsa" in 1949).
A top movie.
Movie Review: The Duke and his Majesty
Summary: 4 Stars
This DVD transfer is very good to excellent. All the technicolor splendor is preserved for us.
This is a major effort from Paramount and Cecile B. DeMille and it shows. Not only do we get a tremendous cast: John Wayne, Ray Milland, Paulette Goddard, Raymond Massey, Susan Hayward, Robert Preston, Charles Bickford and Louise Beavers, the sets and locations are first rate as well. DeMille gives us a real feel for the period with location shoots in antebellum Charleston and beautiful costuming fitting the period (1840's). The giant squid monster (shot completely underwater with the actors AND the dierecor, DeMille!) is real enough to give even modern audiences a shiver.
The plot is simple. Two men (Wayne as a sea captain and Milland as a lawyer) fight pirate salvagers who have been sinking ships and claiming the cargoes. Both fall in love with the beautiful Loxi (Paulette Goddard) which creates tension between our two heroes. They work in opposition for the same goal.
This is a great film for the whole family although I'm inclined to put a PG rating on the film for the sea monster attack on our protagonists. It's not too bad though.
Recommended for: All adventure fans, family viewers, John Wayne fans, Cecile B. DeMille fans. This is a top quality offering and one you'll watch more than once.
Movie Review: This Film Surprised Me
Summary: 4 Stars
I enjoyed this film more than I expected to. Another reviewer called it "predictable" but I was surprised several times. Paulette Goddard is enjoyable as the spunky heroine who expects too much of John Wayne's ship captain and not enough of Ray Milland's gentleman lawyer. I too kept expecting John Wayne to display his legendary heroism, but this movie casts him in the role of the weaker man, one led to disastrous decisions through a combination of pride and stubbornness.The supporting cast, including a young Robert Preston, provide solid backing to the leads, which is always nice. The sets and costumes are beautiful. The pace is brisk, and I never got bored.
The film won a special effects Oscar, and I'm sure the climactic underwater sequence thrilled original viewers -- but I found the rubber giant squid more silly-looking than scary, and its use as a plot device unsatisfying.