Reap the Wild Wind

Vigorous 19th century romp, with the freight route of America's eastern seaboard prey to ruthless salvagers along the treacherous Florida coast. Goddard's flighty Southern belle soon finds herself torn between Wayne's brawny captain and dandy-ish shipping magnate Milland, who still manages to put in a credible performance despite a ridiculous perm and a penchant for canine ventriloquism. Lavish balls and voodoo drums, fist fights and shipwrecks contend with Massey's ultra-ripe turn as the rolling-eyed salvager in chief. Irresistible tosh it is too, until a dreary courtroom confrontation saps the spirit, and only an impressive giant squid attack saves the day - though a nimbler action director than DeMille might have made even more of the Oscar-winning effects work.