Donovan's Reef (1963)
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60% of critics liked it
(10 reviews) -
73% of users liked it
(8,418 ratings)
John Ford's last film to deal with World War II, Donovan's Reef is an alternately comical and sentimental look back on the fighting Navy men from that war, and how and where -- in Ford's eyes, and Frank Nugent and James Edward Grant's script -- they should have ended up. Michael… More John Ford's last film to deal with World War II, Donovan's Reef is an alternately comical and sentimental look back on the fighting Navy men from that war, and how and where -- in Ford's eyes, and Frank Nugent and James Edward Grant's script -- they should have ended up. Michael "Guns" Donovan (John Wayne), Thomas "Boats" Gilhooley (Lee Marvin), and Dr. William Dedham (Jack Warden), a trio of navy veterans who fought on the Pacific island of Haleakalowa during the war, now live on the island. Donovan and Gilhooley, biding time and enjoying themselves, engage in rough-house hijinks among themselves, and are both part of the doctor's extended family, enjoying the good will of the islanders for whom they fought during the war. While Dedham is away on a call to a neighboring island, his grown daughter, Amelia (Elizabeth Allen), from his first marriage, whom he has never seen, announces that she is arriving from Boston to determine Dedham's fitness of character to inherit the majority shares in the family shipping business. Donovan contrives to present Dedham's three Polynesian children, whom the doctor had with the island's hereditary princess, as his own, and also squires Amelia around the island in her father's absence. In the process, the cold Bostonian woman discovers a whole world -- of passion, joy, heroism, and a life among men and women whose lives have been about something other than making money -- that she's never known. She also understands all of the good that her father has accomplished away from Boston, even though it entailed abandoning her. Sparks and even a few fists fly between Donovan and Amelia (and between Donovan and several other characters), in the usual Ford rough-house manner, before their eventual reconciliation and a romantic clinch at the end, in this sweet, sentimental comedy-drama. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Ford
- Written By
- Frank S. Nugent, James Edward Grant
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1963 Wide
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Though not in top form, director John Ford and star John Wayne, building on previous and better collaborations in this easy-going (and lazy) adventure set in the Pacific, offering good old fun with the Duke, Jack Warden, Dorothy Lamour and Lee Marvin.
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
For once director John Ford used his cornball sense of humor in a proper setting.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A so-called fun film aimed at those who find it a hoot when someone gets hit over the head with a beer bottle.
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Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Playful fisticuffs + John Wayne + gorgeous Hawaiian location = fun John Ford.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Brilliant John Ford comedy with serious commentary on racism
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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John Wayne
as Michael Patrick "Guns" Donovan
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Lee Marvin
as Thomas Aloysius "Boats" Gilhooley
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Jack Warden
as Dr. William Dedham
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Elizabeth Allen (I)
as Amelia Sarah Dedham
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Dick Foran
as Australian Navy Officer
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Cesar Romero
as Marquis Andre de Lage
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Dorothy Lamour
as Miss Lafleur
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Jacqueline Malouf
as Lelani Dedham
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Mike Mazurki
as Sgt. Menkowicz
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Marcel Dalio
as Father Cluzeot
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Jon Fong
as Mr. Eu
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Tim Stafford
as Luki Dedham
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Carmen Estrabeau
as Sister Gabrielle
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Frank Baker
as Capt. Martin
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Edgar Buchanan
as Boston notary
- Harold Fong
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Duke Green
as Mate
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Sam Harris
as Family council member
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Cheryline Lee
as Sally Dedham
- Carl Leviness
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Cliff Lyons
as Officer
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Mae Marsh
as Family council member
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Midori
as Servant
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Yvonne Peattie
as Sister Matthew
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Chuck Roberson
as Festus
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Charles Seel
as Grand uncle Sedley Atterbury
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Sara Taft
as Family council member
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Ralph Volkie
as James
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Patrick Wayne
as Navy Lieutenant
- June Kim
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King Lockwood
as Lawyer
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Ron Nyman
as Naval Officer
- Scott Seaton
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Aissa Wayne
as Native girl
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Fred Jones
as Family council member
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John Stafford
as Child
