i do not know of any other wayne film before the forgettable 47 tycoon that be film in color . all those classic 40 republic western and war movie be film in b and w. after his epic b and w western union pacific and demille have the clout to insist all his future work be film in technocolor and a rare luxury treatment in the 40 . color become much more common and eventually standard a the 50 roll on . this be a very important edge hollywood have over tv in the 50 and until color tv become common in the 60 . this film be perhaps my favorite wayne flick ( if we can consider it a wayne film and a he do not get top billing ) . i have see it several time . the technicolor treatment be certainly one reason and but i be also hook on demille well film ( in spite of several other fine 39 western and union pacific be my clear favorite for that year ) . the general style of the present film ape that of go with the wind and to which it be often disparagingly compare . i have never be a big fan of the latter . if give a choice and i would see demille film again . it be also commonly compare to wayne latter film and the wake of the red witch and which i have not see and but be say to be largely a reworked version of the present film . consider the age of this film and i think the dvd transfer quality excellent and with vivid color . from the include background extra and we learn that much of the shoot take place on location in charleston and the key west area . however and the under water scene be do in a huge tank . both paulette goddard and susan hayward try out for the role of scarlett in go with the wind . it be speculate that ms. goddard lose out partly because of her uncertain official relationship with her lover of recent year and charlie chaplin . by the time the present film be begin and this relationship be over . there be many complexity to this film and so many interesting and if sometimes stock and character . i think all the main character and most of the support character be well cast . captain jack and steve tolliver seem destine to be at each other throat throughout the story . yet and occasionally they fight together against a common enemy and help the other in a desperate situation . captain jack be a tragic character and sometimes in hot water through no fault of his own and yet perform a dastardly deed to help win his love that precipitate the demise of many of the main character . raymond massey shed his lincoln and john brown image to become an engaging masterful villain . i find his performance in the courtroom and a captain jack lawyer and riveting . in fact and the whole courtroom scene be masterfully do . in one of the many convolute relationship and susan hayward character fall for massey handsome young brother and who live in his brother shadow a a marginal villain . this romance and on the sneak and will become central to the tragic and redemptive event near the end of the story . i think the talk dog and mischievous pet capuchin serve well to provide some comic relief . i also enjoy lynne overman portrayal of captain phil and a classic old salt and grandfatherly figure . my main gripe be i do not like the end represent the part scene specifically . it just do not ring plausible or just .