Donovan's Reef

John Ford
USA 1963
109 min
V'04

The hilarious <i>Donovans</i> <i>Reef,</i> one of John Ford's rare but memorable forays into comedy, is set on the South Sea island of Haleakoloha, where two navy buddies have decided to stay after World War II. Michael \"Guns\" Donovan (John Wayne) and Aloysius \"Boats\" Gilhooley (Lee Marvin), who like to celebrate their mutual birthday every year by trying to beat the hell out of each other, are enacting the ritual in Guns's bar, Donovan's Reef. Dr. William Dedham (Jack Warden), scion of a wealthy family and another societal dropout, breaks up the fight after an appropriate amount of damage has been done. He soon learns that his very proper daughter, Amelia (Elizabeth Allen), is about to arrive from Boston, unaware that he's had three children by a Polynesian princess. Dedham persuades Guns to pretend to be the father of his kids during the visit in order to be spared Amelia's wrath. While Dedham's daughter is initially put off by the juvenile antics of Donovan's crew, the tavern owner's feelings toward her are far more positive. After she beats him in a swimming competition, she begins to see his appeal. Filmed in Kauai, Hawaii, this entertaining family-oriented comedy is stoked with broad physical gags and the inspired tomfoolery of the cast. The most notable performance belongs to Wayne, who ends his long, hugely successful, and artistically triumphant collaboration with Ford on a high and suitably revelatory note, their last film together a roisterous, laugh-filled party.

I wouldnt like to live on an island. I like to go to Honolulu for a couple of weeks on leave, but after that, the island closes in on me. Of course, I know guys whove done exactly that, and are still in the South Seas own old sea saloons, and doing very well thirty or forty Navy children, five or six Navy wives. But its not the life for me.
The writer knew nothing about Boston, and I certainly do know Boston and those people. Half of them are half-witted and half of them are bright, but theres always a couple of cooks among them.<i>
</i>John Ford talking with Peter Bogdanovich, 1966
<i>
</i>
Were the Bostonians in overdone?

talking with
Documentary Film Group, 1968

Credits
  • John Wayne - Michael Patrick «Guns» Donovan
  • Lee Marvin - Thomas Aloysius «Boats» Gilhooley
  • Elizabeth Allen - Amelia Sarah Dedham
  • Jack Warden - Dr. William Dedham
  • Cesar Romero - Konsul André de Lage
  • Frank S. Nugent
  • James Edward Grant
  • nach einer Erzählung von Edmond Beloin
  • adaptiert von James Michener
  • William Clothier
  • Hugo Grenzbach
  • Charles Grenzbach
  • Otho Lovering
  • Cyril Mockridge
  • Hal Pereira
  • Eddie Imazu
  • Edith Head
Ford Productions, Paramount
Hollywood Classics
35 mm
col