wes-connors In Cecil B. DeMille's 1840 America, pretty Paulette Goddard (as Loxi Claiborne) is a Southern belle who runs a "salvage business" inherited from her daddy. After a hurricane hits the Florida Keys with "wild winds," Ms. Goddard heads out to inspect a ship wreck. She helps rescue the ship's manly skipper, a wounded and light-headed John Wayne (as Jack Stuart). Nursing Mr. Wayne back to health are Ms. Goddard and her superstitious mammy Louise Beavers (as Maum Maria). Goddard and Wayne kiss and pledge their love, although he must go to sea and she travels to Charleston with pretty cousin Susan Hayward (as Drusilla Alston). At a fancy tea party, Goddard sings a song badly. This doesn't bother the third part of the film's love triangle, seafaring ventriloquist and lawyer Ray Milland (as Stephen 'Steve' Tolliver)...Getting cozy, Goddard and Mr. Milland exchange come hither looks and talk about marriage. As you might expect, the men clash over Goddard. Mr. De Mille gets some good costumes and color photography (by Victor Milner and William V. Skall) for his effort, but fails to make this an artful epic. Apparently, something approaching "Gone with the Wind" (1939) was intended. While nicely decorated, many of the ship set scenes seem directed to look small. The relationships between the three leads – Goddard, Wayne and Milland – is confused and juvenile. Better acting honors go to the squirrelly monkey, the talking dog and the giant squid; although Robert Preston (as Dan Cutler) somehow finds his character and makes it work. Still, the film was a success at the box office and won an "Academy Award" for special effects.***** Reap the Wild Wind (3/18/42) Cecil B. DeMille ~ Paulette Goddard, John Wayne, Ray Milland, Raymond Massey

mark.waltz Comparissons to "Gone With the Wind" will be inevitable in this Cecil B. DeMille epic which actually has a different time period and different historical battle as its focus. Dealing with the problems of the shipping industry in the 1840's, "Reap the Wild Wind" is a beautiful color epic where a Scarlet O'Hara like belle (Paulette Goddard) reigns over men's hearts while her Melanie-like cousin (Susan Hayward) finds tragedy. Boat Captain John Wayne and dashing Ray Milland are the two men after Goddard's heart, while a young Robert Preston vows revenge after a boating accident takes his sweetheart's life. The film has epic storm scenes, a fight between Wayne, Milland and a huge squid, as well as a trial sequence where secrets of the sea are revealed.This lavish epic drama has some amazing photography, special effects, costumes and music, and is probably DeMille's best non-Biblical epic. It is ironic that both Goddard and Hayward ended up in this after they auditioned for the role of "Gone With the Wind's" Scarlet, and it is a change of pace to see Hayward in a rather gentle, submissive role, while Goddard (an underrated actress) steals every moment she is on. The lovable Louise Beavers is a more gentle version of Mammy, unable to control her charge (Goddard), yet loving her as if she were her own child. Such memorable character performers as Elisabeth Risdon, Raymond Massey, Charles Bickford and even Hedda Hopper got involved in the mix to make this one of the more exciting color epics of the World War II era praising American heroism.

moonspinner55 Cecil B. DeMille epic, shot in mighty color and with an ostensibly strong cast of actors, is rendered foolish today by its campy writing and ham-handed performances, hoary stereotypes, and for submerging two of its stars permanently before the final credits. Paulette Goddard is a feisty Southerner in 19th century Key West in charge of salvaging cargo from sunken ships; she's romantically caught between two men involved in a personal war, a shipwrecked captain and the officer in charge of the shipping lines. It's difficult discerning who is more miscast in the principle male roles--John Wayne or Ray Milland--and neither actor comes off terribly well. Milland is, perhaps, the more displaced, completely unconvincing as a swashbuckling rogue...and who could believe him taking the Duke out in a fistfight? Wayne is unsure and callow, however he works well with Goddard and is at the peak of his youthful handsomeness. In a secondary love-plot, Susan Hayward and a robust Robert Preston steal much of the attention, although a third-act courtroom sequence (as well as an underwater battle with a giant squid) will leave most viewers underwhelmed. ** from ****

malvernp Having seen this film many times, I can understand those critics who regard it as yet another ripe example of director Cecil B. DeMille hokum and excess. But for me, it is far easier to side with folks who like "Reap the Wild Wind" as a prime example of rousing old-fashioned screen storytelling at its best.Made just at the outbreak of World War II, Paramount spared no expense to mount this super-lavish yarn about romance, treachery, maritime adventure, shipwrecks, salvage risks involving "dead" ships, and the spectacle of rivals searching for evidence in the deep-----where diving to find it involves less danger than the chance encounter with a giant squid lurking in a sunken hull.John Wayne appears in an uncharacteristic role-----a flawed anti-hero (long before that term was ever coined) who is likable, weak, not too swift but yet charming and easy to root for. Ray Milland also does an unusual turn here. He is both a man of intellect and action----clever, funny and brave. Paulette Goddard is a revelation to those who are unfamiliar with her screen work. Remember, this was 1942. The super-independent, feisty woman she plays with such enthusiasm----while a role model for today's feminists----also shows an understandable human vulnerability. She has never appeared in another film that allowed her to be strong, sexy and appealing all at the same time.The extraordinary supporting cast is an absolute delight. They carry off some of the most outrageously cornball dialogue ever spoken with such conviction that it becomes enjoyable. Raymond Massey's slimy over-the-top villain is unique---and so is Robert Preston's pathetic character as Massey's far less crafty brother. Preston is given the task of uttering one of the film's most unforgettable lines when arriving at a prearranged meeting with his girl friend (a very young Susan Hayward) that may never EVER have been topped as a "groaner.".Special mention should be made of the beautiful Technicolor employed in "Reap the Wild Wind", the engrossing special effects (outstanding for their time) and the exciting musical score written by Victor Young.Altogether, this is a film that holds your interest from the start and never lets it down. It is grand entertainment from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Almost 65 years old, it is still fun to watch. Lots of fun!