One of the gaps in my movie viewing has always been Columbia films of the 1930s. Fortunately, some of these titles are now starting to appear on DVD, and none was more welcome than Walter Lang's "Whom the Gods Destroy". Superbly edited by longtime Columbia contractee Viola Lawrence in a style obviously influenced by contemporary Russian and avant garde and featuring an astonishing "Titanic" scene in which lavish studio footage is cleverly intercut with stock material from E.A. Dupont's "Atlantik" (1929), "Whom the Gods Destroy" is one of the few films to indelibly brand its hero a coward. The only other one I can call to mind is John Huston's equally powerful "Red Badge of Courage" (1951) (which at present is available on a most disappointing DVD which contains only the familiar 69-minute cutdown and not so much as a single foot of the shelved scenes). In "Whom the Gods Destroy", the hero's cowardice is even more despicable, although three or four minutes have been censored from the shipboard and beach scenes in the 2009 DVD, considerably lessening their impact. Nonetheless, Walter Connolly acquits himself with honor, while young Robert Young is luckily called upon to be inadequate – which he is!
9 Reviews
Connolly In The Lead
boblipton28 February 2023
Walter Connolly is a big shot Broadway producer who loves, in no particular order, the theater, his wife Doris Kenyon, and his son (played at various ages by Scotty Beckett, Macon Jones, and Robert Young). He's planning on a trip to London with wife and child, but first he has to retool his forthcoming production; by the time he can go, the school year has begun, and Miss Kenyon wants to stay with the boy.
So Connolly goes alone, and the ship sinks. Connolly gives his life preserver to a lady, and is helping the crew make sure it's women and children, when he has an attack of nerves, puts on an abandoned lady's coat and survives. There's mockery aplenty for the coward, but no one knows who he is. He is succored by Hobart Bosworth (in a small but typically beautiful performance). By the time he gets back to New York, there's a plaque on his theater proclaiming him a hero. He's ashamed, and hides, eventually becoming a puppeteer for tyrannical Henry Kolker.
Then his son quits college to produce his own play, and it's an embarrassing flop.
We're so used to Connolly in comedy roles, it's hard not to be astonished at his fine performance here. This being a Columbia movie, it's clear that director Walter Lang didn't have an extravagant budget, but his cast is a fine one, with Maidel Turner, Rollo Lloyd, Akim Tamiroff, and Walter Brennan in small roles. Young is appropriately callow. It's a little too sentimental for my taste, but certainly well done.
So Connolly goes alone, and the ship sinks. Connolly gives his life preserver to a lady, and is helping the crew make sure it's women and children, when he has an attack of nerves, puts on an abandoned lady's coat and survives. There's mockery aplenty for the coward, but no one knows who he is. He is succored by Hobart Bosworth (in a small but typically beautiful performance). By the time he gets back to New York, there's a plaque on his theater proclaiming him a hero. He's ashamed, and hides, eventually becoming a puppeteer for tyrannical Henry Kolker.
Then his son quits college to produce his own play, and it's an embarrassing flop.
We're so used to Connolly in comedy roles, it's hard not to be astonished at his fine performance here. This being a Columbia movie, it's clear that director Walter Lang didn't have an extravagant budget, but his cast is a fine one, with Maidel Turner, Rollo Lloyd, Akim Tamiroff, and Walter Brennan in small roles. Young is appropriately callow. It's a little too sentimental for my taste, but certainly well done.
Hidden gem with a wonderful performance
HotToastyRag17 April 2019
I only rented this very obscure movie because I was honoring Robert Young as Star of the Week, so imagine my surprise to discover an incredibly acted tearjerker with an interesting directing style. Walter Connelly is not a household name, but if you recognize his face, it'll most likely be from It Happened One Night, where he played Claudette Colbert's father. Talk about hidden talents-Walter can act!
Walter starts the film as a successful Broadway producer, and he sails on a Titanic-esque ocean liner that crashes into unexpected debris and sinks. While the women and children are being helped into lifeboats, Walter panics. He thinks of his loving wife and adoring little son at home, and in a moment of desperation, he dons women's clothes and gets into a lifeboat. As it turns out, all the men go down with the ship, and when the women get rescued, Walter develops pneumonia. No one knows his name, so no one can get word to his family that he's survived.
Walter finally makes it back to New York, and he sees that his wife Doris Kenyon is in mourning, praising her hero husband who helped save lives before sacrificing his own. There's a bronzed likeness of him at the theater with an engraved similar sentiment. Walter feels sick, and in his intense shame and fear of what would happen to his family if he made his survival story known, he retreats into the shadows.
I won't tell you any more of what happens, only that it's an incredibly sad and touching story. Bring out a box of Kleenex when you watch Whom the Gods Destroy. Walter's transformation from boisterous millionaire to hopeless, homeless dishwasher is nothing short of incredible. After you watch this hidden gem, you'll be filled with admiration for a man whose greatest claim to fame was saying, "I haven't the faintest idea," after Claudette Colbert runs away from her wedding.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. There are several scene transitions that have spinning camerawork or montages faded over one another, and it will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Walter starts the film as a successful Broadway producer, and he sails on a Titanic-esque ocean liner that crashes into unexpected debris and sinks. While the women and children are being helped into lifeboats, Walter panics. He thinks of his loving wife and adoring little son at home, and in a moment of desperation, he dons women's clothes and gets into a lifeboat. As it turns out, all the men go down with the ship, and when the women get rescued, Walter develops pneumonia. No one knows his name, so no one can get word to his family that he's survived.
Walter finally makes it back to New York, and he sees that his wife Doris Kenyon is in mourning, praising her hero husband who helped save lives before sacrificing his own. There's a bronzed likeness of him at the theater with an engraved similar sentiment. Walter feels sick, and in his intense shame and fear of what would happen to his family if he made his survival story known, he retreats into the shadows.
I won't tell you any more of what happens, only that it's an incredibly sad and touching story. Bring out a box of Kleenex when you watch Whom the Gods Destroy. Walter's transformation from boisterous millionaire to hopeless, homeless dishwasher is nothing short of incredible. After you watch this hidden gem, you'll be filled with admiration for a man whose greatest claim to fame was saying, "I haven't the faintest idea," after Claudette Colbert runs away from her wedding.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. There are several scene transitions that have spinning camerawork or montages faded over one another, and it will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Known as "Shipwreck" in 1934
walsh25tudor5 September 2003
Warning: Spoilers
I saw "Shipwreck" in Radio City Music Hall in 1934 (when I was 7). I especially enjoyed seeing Robert Young for perhaps the first time. I don't recall the semi-happy ending noted in your Summary. Instead, I thought the Walter Connolly character died in his son's office after his wife recognized him. (Maybe I anticipated that ending later on in "Tomorrow Is Forever.") Did time play tricks on me? I erroneously believed that the female lead was Ann Harding, only to find in IMDb that it was lookalike Doris Kenyon. I especially recall the lifeboat scramble and the beatings Connolly received in Newfoundland when his fellow passengers and the locals discovered he had disguised himself as a woman by placing a ladies fur coat over his head.
The man who had it all
myriamlenys12 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
A successful director/producer who likes to travel in style, sails first class on a superb ship called the "Balkan". Alas, the ship collides with a wreck, with disastrous results. The director/producer does his best to help, but eventually he succumbs to temptation. Grabbing a discarded ladies' coat he steps into a lifeboat meant for women and children only...
The premise of "Whom the gods destroy" is simple but effective : a prosperous, well-regarded citizen succumbs to a moment's temptation and finds his life utterly changed. On the whole the premise is well executed, although the last third veers dangerously into tearjerker or soap territory. At its best the movie breathes a genuine sense of tragedy. As befits a tragedy, there is a cruel irony to be reckoned with : the protagonist can't return to his former life because public opinion back home has proclaimed him a hero.
Walter Connolly gives a great lead performance as a man brought low both by his own actions and by misfortune.
The depiction of the "Balkan" disaster is impressive, mainly because it gives a good idea of the sheer speed with which a naval catastrophe unfolds. Here, a magnificent vessel is undone in far less time than it takes to cook a chicken or to clean up after a party. One minute passengers are relaxing in safety and comfort ; the next they are stampeding towards the nearest lifeboat. Quite a lot of things get lost within the struggle : things like lifebelts, furs, logic, dignity and self-respect.
It is a disquieting thought that only a few years after the making of "Whom the gods destroy", World War II would cast its dark pall over the oceans, complete with submarine crews getting paid for CAUSING naval disasters such as this. The unending imperfections of human nature...
The premise of "Whom the gods destroy" is simple but effective : a prosperous, well-regarded citizen succumbs to a moment's temptation and finds his life utterly changed. On the whole the premise is well executed, although the last third veers dangerously into tearjerker or soap territory. At its best the movie breathes a genuine sense of tragedy. As befits a tragedy, there is a cruel irony to be reckoned with : the protagonist can't return to his former life because public opinion back home has proclaimed him a hero.
Walter Connolly gives a great lead performance as a man brought low both by his own actions and by misfortune.
The depiction of the "Balkan" disaster is impressive, mainly because it gives a good idea of the sheer speed with which a naval catastrophe unfolds. Here, a magnificent vessel is undone in far less time than it takes to cook a chicken or to clean up after a party. One minute passengers are relaxing in safety and comfort ; the next they are stampeding towards the nearest lifeboat. Quite a lot of things get lost within the struggle : things like lifebelts, furs, logic, dignity and self-respect.
It is a disquieting thought that only a few years after the making of "Whom the gods destroy", World War II would cast its dark pall over the oceans, complete with submarine crews getting paid for CAUSING naval disasters such as this. The unending imperfections of human nature...
How long does a man have to pay for one big mistake?
planktonrules12 November 2023
John Forrester (Walter Long) is a rich and very successful Broadway producer. He takes a trip to Europe and leaves his wife and young son behind. Unfortunately, on his way back, the ship sinks! At first, John is very noble and gives his life jacket to a woman who hasn't got one. But, when the boat is near sinking, he does something very cowardly...he dresses as a woman to get aboard a lifeboat. Once ashore, this is discovered and most of the rescuers hate his guts. Some time passes, as John is quite ill following the wreck but eventually he decides to return home to let them know he's okay. But when he arrives at his theater, he sees a memorial to this 'great man' who gave up his lifejacket for another....and now he's worried his real actions might come out and destroy his career and family. So he decides it's better to be a dead hero than a coward and disappears...creating a new life for himself.
Over the years, John keeps contact with his son's progress...watching in the wings as he graduates and other events during the boy's life. Now, John Jr. Is in trouble....he tries to be a producer just like his dad...but he's an utter failure. What can John Sr. Do to help his boy without exposing himself and his shame?
The plot to this film is incredibly original and unusual...and this is the movie's greatest strength. Additionally, while Walter Connelly was known as a supporting actor, he's very good here in the lead. My only quibbles are logical ones. John Sr. Returns to help his son and he looks very much like he did long ago except for a new beard. Wouldn't you think the son would have seen photos of his sainted dad and recognized him?? Plus, how long can this pretense be maintained? Still, if you turn off your brain and just watch, it's a dandy old film.
Over the years, John keeps contact with his son's progress...watching in the wings as he graduates and other events during the boy's life. Now, John Jr. Is in trouble....he tries to be a producer just like his dad...but he's an utter failure. What can John Sr. Do to help his boy without exposing himself and his shame?
The plot to this film is incredibly original and unusual...and this is the movie's greatest strength. Additionally, while Walter Connelly was known as a supporting actor, he's very good here in the lead. My only quibbles are logical ones. John Sr. Returns to help his son and he looks very much like he did long ago except for a new beard. Wouldn't you think the son would have seen photos of his sainted dad and recognized him?? Plus, how long can this pretense be maintained? Still, if you turn off your brain and just watch, it's a dandy old film.
A forgotten masterpiece
tapetodisk6 July 2000
I've just recently had the pleasure of seeing this film, which is virtually unknown, and it's one of the finest films I've seen this year. Veteran character actor Walter connolly, a familiar face but not a well known name, gives a tour-de-force understated performance in this tasteful soaper....The film includes several of the most beautiful image montages ever assembled...a lost classic worthy of renewed interest!
Walter Connolly is Just Tremendous
kidboots4 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Walter Connolly was a successful stage actor who appeared in over 22 productions but by the time talkies came in he became typecast, usually as the exasperated business tycoon or newspaperman and often as the flustered father of the star ("It Happened One Night" (1934)). They say most actors have one magnificent performance in them and with Connolly it would have to be his almost Emil Jannings characterization of the imposing impresario,John Forrester in "Whom the Gods Destroy". He was just tremendous and the movie opens with the delay of his much anticipated cruise, he is staying behind to put some finishing touches on his soon to open play and also to show the viewers the bond he shares with his wife and little son (a very cute Scotty Beckett) - John just idolizes the child.
With scenes and a storyline plucked from the famed Titanic, it is not too long before disaster strikes at sea and there are vivid scenes of frantic terror and pandemonium as hysterical people vye for the very few lifeboats available. A dazed Forrester sees a woman's coat and a means of escape but when his identity is discovered in a small fishing village, he is vilified as a coward. Only Hobart Bosworth playing an old mariner takes his part and convinces him to return to his family - but proceeding him to New York is the woman to whom he gave up his life jacket to and she has proclaimed him a hero!! Once he reaches the theatre and sees a plaque erected to his bravery does he realise he must now live in the shadows.
Now starts his redemption as he goes from cleaner to cook to watchman at a puppet theatre, all the while keeping an eye on his family. Finally Jack (now played by handsome Robert Young) wants desperately to produce his own play but it proves a dismal failure. Just when he feels at his lowest ebb with newspapers mocking his presumptuous efforts, it is here Forrester reappears as the "friend of his father" to provide him with hope and encouragement and all his experience in the theatre, to restore Jack's confidence and make sure his next play is worthy of the Forrester name!!
Just a terrific movie with impressive performances throughout - the ending not at all predictable. Doris Kenyon's part is small but as always she has a graceful and believable presence and convinces you that it will work out. Robert Young, by 1934, must have been beginning to wonder whether stardom had passed him by (it had, sort of) but he was still giving interest and emotion to the one dimensional roles they gave him.
Highly Recommended.
With scenes and a storyline plucked from the famed Titanic, it is not too long before disaster strikes at sea and there are vivid scenes of frantic terror and pandemonium as hysterical people vye for the very few lifeboats available. A dazed Forrester sees a woman's coat and a means of escape but when his identity is discovered in a small fishing village, he is vilified as a coward. Only Hobart Bosworth playing an old mariner takes his part and convinces him to return to his family - but proceeding him to New York is the woman to whom he gave up his life jacket to and she has proclaimed him a hero!! Once he reaches the theatre and sees a plaque erected to his bravery does he realise he must now live in the shadows.
Now starts his redemption as he goes from cleaner to cook to watchman at a puppet theatre, all the while keeping an eye on his family. Finally Jack (now played by handsome Robert Young) wants desperately to produce his own play but it proves a dismal failure. Just when he feels at his lowest ebb with newspapers mocking his presumptuous efforts, it is here Forrester reappears as the "friend of his father" to provide him with hope and encouragement and all his experience in the theatre, to restore Jack's confidence and make sure his next play is worthy of the Forrester name!!
Just a terrific movie with impressive performances throughout - the ending not at all predictable. Doris Kenyon's part is small but as always she has a graceful and believable presence and convinces you that it will work out. Robert Young, by 1934, must have been beginning to wonder whether stardom had passed him by (it had, sort of) but he was still giving interest and emotion to the one dimensional roles they gave him.
Highly Recommended.
Different Kind of Survivor's Guilt
view_and_review27 April 2024
"Whom the Gods Destroy" is a wonderful movie. It was tragic, intelligent, and moving with a stellar performance from Walter Connolly. This was a story of sacrifice that wasn't your typical sacrifice tale.
John Forrester (Walter Connolly) was a brilliant stage play producer. He gave everything to his craft. The only thing more valuable to him than his productions was his wife Margaret (Doris Kenyon) and his young son Jack.
When John sailed to Europe the ship collided with something that damaged it catastrophically. The whole ship had to be abandoned. In the melee John gave his life belt (not called a life vest) to a female passenger. As all the women and children were being evacuated John stood and reflected on his wife and son. The next time we saw John he was being carried from a lifeboat in a women's overcoat on the shores of Ireland or Scotland (I'm guessing based upon the accents). For that he was heavily ridiculed by the locals. He was so ashamed he didn't even give his real name, he gave the name Eric Jann (pronounced yan).
John wanted to get back to his home and his family, but he was too ashamed. It didn't help matters that back home he was being heralded as a hero. He was believed dead in New York; how was he going to show his face in New York without being labeled a coward?
It was a doozy of a predicament that had me completely hooked. He was overwhelmed by his thoughts of ridicule, jeers, and public criticism. He would bring shame to himself and his family. I certainly wanted to know what he'd do.
Walter Connolly turned in a pleasant performance as the torn producer. He struck me as a professional actor in an industry plagued by amateurs. It wasn't just his age, it was his entire presence.
I don't want to insult the writers by giving so much praise to Connolly. I loved this story. In an era where more than half the movies were about high-society and their trivialities, this movie seemed so much heavier.
Free on Odnoklassniki.
John Forrester (Walter Connolly) was a brilliant stage play producer. He gave everything to his craft. The only thing more valuable to him than his productions was his wife Margaret (Doris Kenyon) and his young son Jack.
When John sailed to Europe the ship collided with something that damaged it catastrophically. The whole ship had to be abandoned. In the melee John gave his life belt (not called a life vest) to a female passenger. As all the women and children were being evacuated John stood and reflected on his wife and son. The next time we saw John he was being carried from a lifeboat in a women's overcoat on the shores of Ireland or Scotland (I'm guessing based upon the accents). For that he was heavily ridiculed by the locals. He was so ashamed he didn't even give his real name, he gave the name Eric Jann (pronounced yan).
John wanted to get back to his home and his family, but he was too ashamed. It didn't help matters that back home he was being heralded as a hero. He was believed dead in New York; how was he going to show his face in New York without being labeled a coward?
It was a doozy of a predicament that had me completely hooked. He was overwhelmed by his thoughts of ridicule, jeers, and public criticism. He would bring shame to himself and his family. I certainly wanted to know what he'd do.
Walter Connolly turned in a pleasant performance as the torn producer. He struck me as a professional actor in an industry plagued by amateurs. It wasn't just his age, it was his entire presence.
I don't want to insult the writers by giving so much praise to Connolly. I loved this story. In an era where more than half the movies were about high-society and their trivialities, this movie seemed so much heavier.
Free on Odnoklassniki.
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