Not one of John Ford's most "personal films" which means there's not a lot of annoying Irish comedy. But it is a Ford movie: there is lyricism, beautiful photography and handling, lingering over depictions of ceremonies (a wedding), a portrayal of a tight-nit outpost, a drunken Thomas Mitchell, a martinet (Raymond Massey).
This has two superb villains, both entirely believable types: John Carradine as a nasty overseer, and Raymond Massey as a self righteous "I must enforce the law" type.
Hall and Lamour are very sweet. This was Hall's best film and performance - he is full of youthful energy and charm, a bright smile, with the drama deck stacked in his favour. The injustice of his cause is excellently conveyed: picked on because he's a native, slapped in the face, punches a man who happens to be well connected, given six months harshly, ignored by pompous Massey, beaten by guards, driven to suicide, eventually escaping. Carradine's look of triumph when this happens is chilling as is Massey's look of delight when Hall kills a guard - you can see the vindication in their eyes. This is all too familiar from people we see today.
Indeed, I was kind of disappointed Massey didn't die in the hurricane - he deserved to - and that Hall didn't kill Carradine - indeed, deserved. I wouldn't have minded if Thomas Mitchell, the boozy doctor, had died and felt for nice C Aubrey Smith and his parishoners being killed in a church which is wiped out. But that's a strength of the film - it "goes there".
You could argue the island cops the hurricane from God because it helps Hall. Just saying.
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