Reap the Wild Wind (1942)

Clipper ships taking the shortest route between the Mississippi and the Atlantic often end up on the shoals of Key West in the 1840s. Salvaging the ships' cargos has become a lucrative ... See full summary »

Director:

Cecil B. DeMille

Writers:

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

Stars:

Ray Milland, John Wayne, Paulette Goddard

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ray Milland	...	Stephen Tolliver
John Wayne	...	Capt. Jack Stuart
Paulette Goddard	...	Loxi Claiborne
Raymond Massey	...	King Cutler
Robert Preston	...	Dan Cutler
Lynne Overman	...	Capt. Phillip Philpott
Susan Hayward	...	Cousin Drusilla Alston
Charles Bickford	...	Bully Brown
Walter Hampden	...	Cmmdre. Devereaux
Louise Beavers	...	Maum Maria
Martha O'Driscoll	...	Ivy Devereaux
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Mrs. Claiborne
Hedda Hopper	...	Aunt Henrietta Beresford
Victor Kilian	...	Mathias Widgeon
Oscar Polk	...	Salt Meat

Storyline

Clipper ships taking the shortest route between the Mississippi and the Atlantic often end up on the shoals of Key West in the 1840s. Salvaging the ships' cargos has become a lucrative business for two companies -- one headed by a feisty young woman. Then she falls in love with the captain of a wrecked ship while he recuperates at her home. She travels to Charleston and is charming to the man most likely to be head of the captain's company, thinking she will be able to get the captain the position he wants on the company's first steam ship.

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Plot Keywords:

ship | 1840s | florida keys | florida | lawyer | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 June 1942 (UK)

Also Known As:

Cecil B. DeMille's Reap the Wild Wind

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the filming of a fight scene with John Wayne, an accident cost actor 'Victor Kilian (I)' the use of one eye.

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Goofs

The first time Loxi talks to Jack, her hat ribbon repeatedly changes position around her neck, between shots.

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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!

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Hist-o-Rama: John Wayne (1961)

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Soundtracks

"Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean"
(1843) (uncredited)
Written by David T. Shaw
Arranged by Thomas A. Beckett
In the score at the start of the movie

User Reviews

Cecil B. DeMille's Reap the Wild Wind is good old-fashioned entertainment

Reap the Wild Wind is Cecil B. DeMille's contribution to such sea-faring adventure classics as The Sea Hawk or 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. John Wayne plays a ship captain, Ray Milland plays a lawyer, and Paulette Godard a feisty southern belle who comes between them. There's plenty of fights, a trial, and an entertaining squid. There's Susan Hayward, Robert Preston, Louise Beavers, and Raymond Massey. There's a wonderful music score and beautiful Technicolor. There's a playful monkey and a talking dog (coutesy of Milland's ventriloquism). And it begins with DeMille's narration to set the tone for an action-packed, if occasionally talky, picture. This is good old-fashioned filmaking at its finest! For fans of all of the above, plus Hedda Hopper in her last role not playing herself, I highly recommend you definitely seek this one out!