This is not your typical John Wayne movie. It's very much like GONE WITH THE WIND, with Paulette Goddard playing the Scarlett role, torn between two men. Surprisingly, John Wayne gets the cute-but-weak Leslie Howard role, while Ray Milland is macho Clark Gable, aside from his quirky habit of using his little dog as a ventriloquist dummy. This film has it all: romance, shipwrecks, Southern belles in ballgowns, a courtroom scene where the verdict will mean life or death, and of course an underwater battle with a giant squid. When this film was released, audiences were genuinely terrified by the squid. Today's viewers may be inclined to laugh, because up to this point the film is a harrowing adventure tale, and then suddenly in floats a giant rubber squid. It's a bit hard to follow the action during the fight, and you may have trouble telling Wayne from Milland in their diving suits & helmets. But after watching the special features, I had a lot more respect for this scene. Though it may look silly to folks used to advanced CGIs, it is in fact exactly what it looks like: Milland and Wayne actually underwater (no stunt doubles here!), actually being grabbed by the huge arms of the mechanical squid. The actors could have been killed. Shows the lengths to which filmmakers would go to create realism before computers existed. Love it or hate it, the squid scene is a must-see. The rest is an engaging antebellum drama that I could watch again and again.Read full review
Although second billed on the cover, Susan Hayward was a starlet at the time and received seventh billing in this tale of illegal ship salvaging off the Florida Keys. John Wayne, Paulette Goddard and Ray Milland play the leads and are supported with some of best actors in the business. DeMille has not lost his touch for the "Grand Opus" he has become synominous for. Goddard is spunky and tends to overact at times, as the female lead but is overshadowed by a young Hayward (who plays her visiting cousin from Havana) and seen for the first time in glorious color. She plays Goddard's cousin who is having a secret romance with the brother (Robert Preston) of a notorious salvager who wrecks ships for their cargo (Raymond Massey). Two of the highlights of this action packed film is the giant squid and Hayward's death cry which has been noted as one of the most realistic on film (she is a stowaway on a ship that is about to be scuttled). The film has a brief court scene that leads to an underwater search for Hayward where Wayne meets his demise from the giant squid. Beautifully photographed and transferred to DVD, this a a movie collector's dream and belongs in any library of action packed fun and classic films.Read full review
Excellent adventure with allstar cast. The Duke and Ray Millan mix it up over the love of a girl, the sea and duty of honor among America's sea captains against the evil of greed for salvage profits set in early America. Wayne is marvelous as the wayward Jack Stewart fighting for the girl he loves, played with great flair by Paulette Goddard as Loxie Clayborne. Loxie is pursued by Millan as Steve Tolliver, the lawyer who represents Jack Stewart's boss Admiral Devereaux, owner of the Southern Cross, finest ship in the Devereaux fleet and Stewart's dream command. But Cap'n Jack goes astray and sinks the ship for King Cutler(Raymond Massey in a great role)leader of the salvage pirates in a thrust and parry of emotion over the love of Loxie. In the end Cap'n Jack regains his honor with the ultimate sacrifice. This is one of my favorite John Wayne movies and with Susan Hayward and Robert Preston thrown in the mix as a forbidden romance, it's a great adventure movie and I highly recommend it to all swashbuckling adventure fans! You can't go wrong.Read full review
The quality of the color is very good and the movie has given no problems and I'm satisfied. I like older movies that have now been remade on DVD. This is a very old John Wayne movie that I was very excited to recieve. The prices have been reasonable and I can also give gifts to my elderly relatives that like older movies. I hope to order more in the future and fill my DVD library with some of the AFI's most critically acclaimed movies.
Played fine, shipped quick. Thanks!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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