Donovan's Reef (1963)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Edmund Beloin (story)
James Edward Grant (writer)

Release Date:

12 June 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

'Guns' Donovan prefers carousing with his pals Doc Dedham and 'Boats' Gilhooley, until Dedham's high-society...

Plot Keywords:

Church | Macho | Friendly Brawl | Faith | Colonial Protectorate

Cast

John Wayne	...	Michael Patrick 'Guns' Donovan
Lee Marvin	...	Thomas Aloysius 'Boats' Gilhooley
Elizabeth Allen	...	Ameilia Sarah Dedham
Jack Warden	...	Dr. William Dedham
Cesar Romero	...	Marquis Andre de Lage
Dick Foran	...	Australian Navy Officer
Dorothy Lamour	...	Miss Lafleur
Marcel Dalio	...	Father Cluzeot
Mike Mazurki	...	Sgt. Monk Menkowicz
Jacqueline Malouf	...	Lelani Dedham
Cherylene Lee	...	Sally Dedham
Jeffrey Byron	...	Luki Dedham (as Tim Stafford)
Edgar Buchanan	...	Boston Attorney
Jon Fong	...	Mister Eu

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #20357) | West Germany:12 (nf) | Finland:S | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Kaua`i, Hawaii, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

In the beginning, Gilhooley tells the captain who "shanghai'd" him that they were supposed to be at the island "on the 7th". Taking into account the time-line of the movie, ending on Christmas, that would make Donovan and Gilhooley's birthday as December 7th, the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The shadow of the camera is visible on the road when the children are forced to leave their home to move in with Donovan.

Quotes:

Marquis Andre de Lage: Well, there is our Mike Donovan. Three children and not one marriage. Oh, I do not say that he's the first man to put the cart before the horse, but three carts and no horse? Huh?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

A very entertaining film that doesn't take life too seriously

"Donovan's Reef" is set on an island in the Pacific, which is basically getting by on its own merits without much contact with the modern world. John Wayne and Lee Marvin team up to portray two navy buddies that seem to have two things in common--the same birthday and a desire to punch each others' lights out because of a quarrel that started several years before on that birthday. The rest of the cast occupy themselves trying to keep the two "friends" alive because they genuinely are decent guys.

Into this island bliss comes Elizabeth Allen, portraying a lady from Boston who is attempting to prove that her father, played by Jack Warden, has been living on the island in standards less than acceptable by Boston customs so she can claim his share of a family shipping business. Through one scene after another, the film takes a merry romp through its plot and gives the viewer a very enjoyable time.