Reap the Wild Wind is a typical CB DeMille adventure epic concerning shipwreck salvaging around Key West in the middle of the 19th century. With a solid cast of established and fresh faces it features John Wayne on the verge of superstardom and Paulette Goddard giving us a glimpse of what her Scarlett O'Hara would have been. Colorful and crowded as in most of his pics it is a touch stilted at times but offers a well balanced rivalry between Wayne and first billed Ray Milland competing both in business and for the same woman.
A studio made high adventure the film's major draw is the climactic underwater struggle with a giant squid leaving the outcome of the two protagonists in doubt until they reach the surface. In this day an age of technology, the scene holds up quite well. In it's day on a big screen it must have really thrilled the audience which back then was well aware that CB delivered epic entertainment like no other.
A studio made high adventure the film's major draw is the climactic underwater struggle with a giant squid leaving the outcome of the two protagonists in doubt until they reach the surface. In this day an age of technology, the scene holds up quite well. In it's day on a big screen it must have really thrilled the audience which back then was well aware that CB delivered epic entertainment like no other.