Wake of the Red Witch (DVD, 2001, 45th Anniversary Edition)

THIS IS A WONDERFUL MOVIE IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ONES WITH JOHN WAYNE THIS ONE BEING ON TOP THE SECOND ONE IS ANGEL AND THE BAD MAN

This is a great movie. It is also one of eight movies that John Wayne is killed in, and one of two movies that he is killed deep sea diving. This classic 1948 black & white movie is based on the best selling contemporary novel by the same title, which was published two years earlier. John Wayne plays a Dutch sea captain who falls in love with Gail Russell's character. They also were together in "The Angel And The Badman". Anyhow, most of the movie is told through flashbacks by conflicting characters at ends with each others. It differs from the novel in several ways (as many novels and movies do). There is lots of action and adventure on the high seas in the lush South Pacific Ocean. The exciting climax takes place on the wreck of the RED WITCH. The ending is very similar to that of John Wayne's previous movie "REAP THE WILD WIND". Even the same diving gear was used, but in "WAKE OF THE RED WITCH"; John Wayne uses the helmet used by "REAP THE WILD WIND" co-star Ray Milland in that particular movie. To all you diving equipment historians and collectors (such as this reviewer) out there...no one knows who made the helmets for these movies. They are made to look 1800's style, but are obviously 1940's made. Also, John Wayne did not actually do the diving in this movie, as he had in "REAP THE WILD WIND". Any scene of John Wayne underwater; never reveals his face. When it does; it is a close-up of his face through the face-window of the helmet, that was filmed top-side. The diving also is clearly animated with the scene of John Wayne's character, Ralls, descending what looks to be several hundred feet down to the wreck with the mainmast still intact. Also, when the lifeline and hose are severed; his helmet floods, which is also not what would actually happen, except of course, in a Hollywood movie. There is also a digitally colorized version of this movie, but this is the better version. This reviewer prefers color movies, but only if they were originally filmed in color. "WAKE OF THE RED WITCH" would have been even more fantastic if having been filmed in color, as was the earlier 1942 "REAP THE WILD WIND". Anyhow, this reviewer gives "WAKE OF THE RED WITCH" a 5 star rating for a cassic film. Two thumbs up!