Donovan's Reef (1963)

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Edmund Beloin (story)
James Edward Grant (writer)

Release Date:

12 June 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Romance

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Irish American | Singing | Pipe Smoking | Polynesian | Family Reunion

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	...	Sergeant 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:

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

Filming Locations:

Kaua`i, Hawaii, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Actor Mickey Simpson is sometimes mistakenly credited as the mate hit with a mop by Lee Marvin in the opening scene. It is not Simpson but 'Duke Greene' .

Goofs:

Continuity: When Amelia first starts skiing, she loses her bathing cap. After falling in the water, the cap is back on her head.

Quotes:

Australian Navy officer: I beg your pardon sir. Did I understand you to say, "Limeys?"
Diminutive Australian Navy Officer: I heard him.
Australian Navy Officer: Me too.
Michael Patrick 'Guns' Donovan: [Enters] Gilhooley! Where the Hell is my suit?
Diminutive Australian Navy Officer: [Slaps Donovan on the chest] Stay out of this little man. You might get hurt.
Thomas Aloysius 'Boats' Gilhooley: You guys uh, looking for trouble?
Australian Navy officer: Tipperary born and bred Limeys.
Michael Patrick 'Guns' Donovan: Oh Monk, you're not gonna let three guys gang up on one guy even if it is Gilhooley.
Sergeant Monk Menkowicz: [Shakes his head] I seen it done.
Australian Navy officer: Three against two.
[...]

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.