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 | Female Slaps Male | Male Slaps Female | School Kids

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 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:

In later years, Cary Grant always claimed his role in this film was most like his real personality. He claimed he kept in touch with most of the girls as they grew up and had families of their own.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At one point, Walter is using the radio and he does not push the "talk" button, yet Frank answers him.

Quotes:

Walter Eckland: All those miles of open sea and back again a man would need something to keep warm, now, wouldn't he?
Commander Frank Houghton RAN: 2 bottles.
Walter Eckland: All of them, Frank.
Commander Frank Houghton RAN: Three.
Walter Eckland: All of them, Frank.
Commander Frank Houghton RAN: Five.
Walter Eckland: All of them, Frank.
Commander Frank Houghton RAN: Got a pencil?

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.