Father Goose (1964)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Ralph Nelson

Writers:

S.H. Barnett (story)
Peter Stone (writer)

Release Date:

10 December 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Romance | War

Plot:

During WW2, a man persuaded to live on an isolated island and spot aircraft finds himself responsible for a teacher and several students, all female.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Plane | Parachute | School Kids | Liquor

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. July 16

6:00 PM

TCM

Cast

Cary Grant	...	Walter Christopher Eckland
Leslie Caron	...	Catherine Freneau
Trevor Howard	...	Commander Frank Houghton
Jack Good	...	Lieutenant Stebbings
Sharyl Locke	...	Jenny
Pip Sparke	...	Anne
Verina Greenlaw	...	Christine
Stephanie Berrington	...	Elizabeth Anderson
Jennifer Berrington	...	Harriet MacGregor
Laurelle Felsette	...	Angelique
Nicole Felsette	...	Dominique

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Japanese

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11 | Australia:G

Company:

Granox Productions

Trivia:

The film features the same piece of stock footage of a submarine firing a torpedo that was used in Cary Grant's previous World War II comedy Operation Petticoat (1959).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: As Walter looks at the hole in his boat right after Frank hits it you can see that most of the actual "hole" is black paint on the side. It is apparent as you can see water lapping up against it rather than go through.

Quotes:

[Eckland has just discovered that there was no snake when Houghton, who believes Catherine is dead, is calling]
Commander Frank Houghton RAN: Walter? Are you there, Walter? I have the chaplain, I thought it might be a comfort if he said a few words.
Walter Eckland: Never mind the chaplain, Frank. She's alive. The snake's dead.
Commander Frank Houghton RAN: Walter, explain yourself.
[Eckland puts down the microphone]
Commander Frank Houghton RAN: Walter? Walter?
[shouting]
Commander Frank Houghton RAN: Walter!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 42nd Annual Academy Awards (1970) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Pass Me By

Gallons of fun...

This film is lots of fun and goes down smooth. Grant is classic as the grizzled boozer who plays look-out for the Allies and a gaggle of young lassies. It is one of the more well-executed romantic comedies (that's how I would classify it, anyway) and the tension of the final scenes is excellent considering the difficulty of weaving in such weighty material to an otherwise farcical film. Nobody does those twisted-lip facial expressions of exasperation better than Grant.

I will always remember a certain Sunday in lil ole Luverne, Alabama, having a great time with my family watching trusty TBS (the way it used to be). It's not the greatest movie ever, but it is a fine choice for a lazy afternoon or light evening fun. I give it a 7/10 and it might deserve higher marks. Break out the Orville Reddenbocker, and follow with an "Operation Petticoat" chaser.