Reap the Wild Wind (1942)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Cecil B. DeMille

Writers:

Thelma Strabel (story)
Alan Le May (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 June 1942 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

Cecil B. DeMille's GREATEST TRIUMPH! OUT-THRILLS ALL OTHER SCREEN SPECTACLES! (original ad - all caps)

Plot:

Clipper ships taking the shortest route between the Mississippi and the Atlantic often end up on the shoals of Key West in the 1840s...

Plot Keywords:

Ship | 1840s | Pirate | Lawyer | Florida

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Ray Milland	...	Mr. Stephen 'Steve' Tolliver
John Wayne	...	Captain Jack Stuart
Paulette Goddard	...	Loxi Claiborne
Raymond Massey	...	King Cutler
Robert Preston	...	Dan Cutler
Lynne Overman	...	Capt. Phillip 'Phil' Philpott
Susan Hayward	...	Cousin Drusilla Alston
Charles Bickford	...	Bully Brown (mate of the Tyfib)
Walter Hampden	...	Cmmdre. Devereaux
Louise Beavers	...	Maum Maria, the Claiborne Maid
Martha O'Driscoll	...	Ivy Devereaux
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Mrs. Claiborne
Hedda Hopper	...	Aunt Henrietta Beresford
Victor Kilian	...	Mathias Widgeon
Oscar Polk	...	Salt Meat

Also Known As:

Cecil B. DeMille's Reap the Wild Wind (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Germany:12 | West Germany:12 (nf) | Australia:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #7468) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The world premiere was held on 18 March 1942 at the at the newly renovated El Capitan Theater on Hollywood Blvd. in Los Angeles, California, USA. In conjunction with the premiere was a celebration of Paramount's 30th year in business and Cecil B. DeMille's 30th year in films. It was attended by about 3,000 people with the proceeds going to the Navy Relief Fund.

Goofs:

Continuity: The second time Loxi talks to Jack, she points at him with the index finger of her left hand. In the next shot it is her right hand.

Quotes:

Loxi: Where is Captain Jack?
Capt. Phillip Philpott: He's on a diving job. He'll be back this afternoon
[chuckle]
Capt. Phillip Philpott: if his hat didn't leak!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in According to Dom (2009)

Soundtrack:

Sea Chantey (The Nellie B)

The Squid Is Ready When You Are...Mr. DeMille...

Cecil Blount DeMille, CB. The original 'Name Above The Title'. No matter what Frank Capra stated it was DeMille who put the Director/Producer over the title. His was a name that brought in the public and their money when Capra was still a 'gag man' for Mack Sennett. From the first feature film in Hollywood, THE SQUAW MAN (1914) to his last production, THE BUCCANEER (1958) he represented HollyWoods commercial success.

With DeMille people fall into two (2) camps. We HATE that hack and his hokey movies or we love him for he put our dreams on the screen. We fall into that second group seeing our first DeMille film circa 1957 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956). My late brother was four (4) and I was six (6) and we were enthralled with CB from then on. He dared to put BIG THINGS on the screen. They may not of always worked but he was unafraid to do them, stretching the envelope technically and did not give a damn what his critics thought and neither do we.

REAP THE WILD WIND (1942) was his second color film and we saw it in a re-release circa 1958. The plot is typical DeMille, obscure historical incident blown up for the big screen. Romance triangle punctuated by action sequences leading to a rousing conclusion. The film is well cast with Paramount Stars Paulette Goddard and Ray Milland. Not able to get Errol Flynn or Tyrone Power CB obtained John Wayne who turned in a credible and sincere performance. Milland stood up well to the 'Duke' and Ms. Goddard was a radiant love interest. A young Susan Hayward also showed her stuff with Robert Preston. Over shadowing all was Raymond Massey as the head villain with stooge Victor Kilian. Not to be forgotten was the CB stock company, from players who were with him during the silent era to Akim Tamiroff in a voice over for the 'Lamb'. Paramounts special visual effects wizard Gordon Jennings led that team and garnered a Oscar and Victor Young provide the score. Music being very important in carrying some of the fantastic goings on. Especially the Giant Squid scene that was directed underwater by CB himself.

The one (1) thing we never understood about CB is that he left many (BETTER) projects go fallow after investing money and time developing them. A few were THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, TITANIC and WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE. Two (2) were done by George Pal with CB as uncredited producer. It would have been very interesting to see how these would have turned out if made in the 1930s. Just thinking about the casting and how the special visual effects would have been done is a fascinating mind game.