REAP THE WILD WIND

US, 1942, 123 minutes, Colour.
John Wayne, Ray Milland, Paulette Goddard, Susan Hayward, Raymond Massey, Robert Preston.
Directed by Cecil B. de Mille.

This as one of several spectacular de Mille adventures between 1935 and 1947: The Plainsman, Union Pacific, North West Mounted Police, The Story of Dr Wassell, Unconquered. Paulette Goddard featured in several of these films and she is the strong heroine of this adventure. Ray Milland is effective as the nice guy hero. John Wayne appears in his typical style as hero but swerves towards villainy at the end. This may have been convincing in 1941. However, his subsequent career makes his evil behaviour in this film somewhat unbelievable. Susan Hayward was at the beginning of her career. Raymond Massey snarls most effectively, perhaps exaggeratedly, as the villain. Robert Preston appeared also in several of de Mille's films.

The film is definitely of its time, rousing, very American in tone, especially with de Mille's own prologue and explanation. The re-creation of the period and the colour photography is quite spectacular and the use of studio sets and special effects very good. The fight with the giant octopus at the end is probably going to be seen with the eyes of later disaster films rather than as the climactic adventure it was at its time. One of the most enjoyable of de Mille's American adventures.

1. An entertaining Cecil B. de Mille's adventure romance? Audience expectations of a de Mille production, of the forties? Magnitude, special effects, stars, adventure? Entertainment style? everything writ large? The Americanism especially as exemplified in de Mille's own spoken prologue? The spirit of the United States in the forties (and the war effort)?

2. Production values: colour photography, sets, special effects especially the sea, storms, the giant octopus? The re-creation of the 19th century, its atmosphere and flavour, costumes and decor? The maritime aspects of the film? Key West. Charleston, the various kinds of sailing ships, steamers. diving. the weather and the seasons of the sea? The score, the songs and the flavour of the times? genteel and salty? The group of stars assembled?

3. The film and its presentation of a man's world: action. adventure, heroism, honour? Women in a man's world and becoming part of it? A strong world?

4. Paulette Goddard's presence and personality as Lexi? Lexi as the focus of the whole film? for the men, for the women. for society, for the maritime issues? Her beauty, spirit? Seeing her as a lady at the beginning, her transition for work, the salvage firm? her admiration for and love for Jack, helping him? Her coquettish behaviour in Charleston society, her relationship with Stove? Her interfering and its consequences? Her dishonesty in leading him on? Her playing off Stove and Jack against each other? Her relationship with Drusilla and helping her? The build-up to her refusal of Stove's proposal at the ball, her attempts to marry Jack? Her not wanting to believe in Jack's guilt? Her acceptance of the blame for all that vent wrong? The strength of her character, seeing her at home. her attempts to get the salvage and the cargo, her behaviour in Charleston and the singing of the ballad, the romantic interludes with Stove, the ball and her denunciation of him, the attempts at marriage? Her reaction to Carter and the shanghai? The discovery of the letter and her false conclusions? The taking of her ship and her cutting the mast? Her dismay at Jack's crashing the ship? Her behaviour in the court, Stove's protection of her? Her anxiety about the diving? Her admiration for Jack? The happy ending with Steve? A satisfying heroine, her carrying the film?

5. Ray Milland's style for Steve as hero? The contrast with John Wayne's active style as Jack? His initial impression as part-villain, fop? The ventriloquism with the dog? His power over the ships? The audience knowing that he had stood up for Jack with the Company? His being humiliated by Lexi and yet still being honourable? His suspicions about the crashing of the ships, his attempts to discover the truth about Carter and get evidence? The attempts on his life, the threats? His eluding the shanghai, the clash with Lexi, the attempt to go to Havana to save the steamship? His honourable behaviour in the court, his skill in interrogating the witnesses, the attack on Carter, the protection of Lexi? The heroism of the dive, the experience of the danger, the discovery of the evidence of Drusilla's death? Jack saving his life? The happy ending? Conventional hero for this kind of film ? how well done?

6. John Wayne's style as Jack? the man's man, the ship's captain, the crashing of the ship and his innocence, his skills, honour, love for Lexi? His reaction to his lack of promotion, suspicions of Steve? The attempts to marry Lexi? The ironies that all would have been different had he married her? His wanting to help and then being involved in saying Stove from the shanghai? The irony of the letter, his listening to Carter and his change of heart? how convincing? Trying to turn Drusilla away and the irony of her being present on the ship? His wrecking the ship and his motives? His behaviour in the court, his decision to dive, the danger with the octopus, his decision to save Steve's life? the de Mille hero-villain? redeeming himself?


7. Carter as villain, Raymond Massey's style, snarl, cruelty? His wrecking the ships, getting the salvage, his attempts on people's lives and yet his respectability. his persuasiveness with Jack, the press gang techniques, his work as a lawyer in the court, influence over his brother, his death?

10. Dan as a rough sailing type, sharing the views of his brother, the change with his love for Drusilla? The romantic interludes, the shawl? The news of her death, the melodrama on the dock of the ship and the death of the two Carters?

11. The various seagoing types? Captain Philpot and his involvement with Lexi and Jack, with the shanghai? The people of Charleston, the authorities, the ordinary sailors? The double-dealing mates who could be bribed, the whalers and the press gangs? The world of the sea in the 19th century?

12. Cargo issues, the presentation of the markets, the salvage, Charleston and its wealth, the bids for power? The explanation of America and its role on the seas?

13. Presentation of society? Key West and Charleston? Lexi, her home, her mother, her maid and Maria's presence as the Mammy, black comedy of the times?

14. The contrast with Charleston society and its elegance, Ivy and her love for Steve, the sea ballad, the gentility, Lexi in this society? its being mocked as well as admired?

15. The ships, the storms, the wrecks, the fog. salvage, the diving?

16. The build-up to the final wreck? the onlookers, the helplessness, the fog, Drusilla and her hopes, the black sailor, the recapitulation of all this in the court sequence with the court-style dramatics and tensions?

17. The build-up to the climax with the octopus? melodrama and diaster material?

18. The significance of the title, de Mille's explanation in the prologue, its indication of themes and the picture of the American heritage?