Donovan's Reef (1963)

Comedy subtly dealing with moral issues such as racial bigotry, corporate greed, American belief of societal superiority and hypocrisy.

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Frank S. Nugent (screenplay) (as Frank Nugent), James Edward Grant (screenplay)

Stars:

John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Elizabeth Allen

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Wayne	...	Michael Patrick 'Guns' Donovan
Lee Marvin	...	Thomas Aloysius 'Boats' Gilhooley
Elizabeth Allen	...	Ameilia Dedham
Jack Warden	...	Dr. William Dedham
Cesar Romero	...	Marquis Andre de Lage
Dick Foran	...	Australian Navy Officer Sean O'Brien
Dorothy Lamour	...	Miss Lafleur
Marcel Dalio	...	Father Cluzeot
Mike Mazurki	...	Sgt. Monk Menkowicz
Jacqueline Malouf	...	Lelani Dedham
Cherylene Lee	...	Sarah 'Sally' Dedham
Jeffrey Byron	...	Luki Dedham (as Tim Stafford)
Edgar Buchanan	...	Boston Attorney Francis X. O'Brien
Jon Fong	...	Mister Eu

Storyline

In an ideal society on a picturesque South Sea island, there are people of several races and backgrounds living together in harmony. John Wayne is a WWII hero, who worked hard to own a shipping company and finds his true love. She is as strong a woman as he is a man. An adventure and love story.

---

Plot Keywords:

falling into water | priest | roof leak | swimming in the ocean | medical doctor | 

---

Taglines:

Wild, Wayne and Wonderful!

---

Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Romance

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

19 July 1963 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Donovan's Reef

Filming Locations:

Hanamaulu Bay, Kauai, Hawaii, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,686,585 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

John Ford Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Ford was not allowed to drink on the set because of health problems he had at 68 years old.

---

Goofs

Ameilia presents Gilhooley with a Christmas present then goes out back of the bar to confront Donovan. When she returns, not more than a couple of minutes later, Gilhooley already has the train set put together on the bar and is playing with it.

---

Quotes

Ameilia Sarah Dedham: Say, I have a wonderful idea! How would you like to spend Christmas at my house?
[as everyone stares at her, she suddenly realizes she had just committed a faux pas]
Michael Patrick 'Guns' Donovan: You mean that would be better than putting up a Christmas tree in a saloon?
Ameilia Sarah Dedham: ...No. I... Well, naturally you would want to spend Christmas with your father.
Lelani Dedham: Thank you, Amelia. I think it would be nice to spend Christmas in your father's house.
Michael Patrick 'Guns' Donovan: Well, that settles that... Father!
[Cluseot]
Michael Patrick 'Guns' Donovan: Not that way. That's a saloon. The gate.

---

Connections

Referenced in Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That (2005)

---

Soundtracks

Frere Jacques
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by the children

User Reviews

This is why you go to the movies. Because it's fun.

Donovan's Reef is fun. It has a decent story, good characters, and stunning scenery. This is why you go to the movies, isn't it? If compared against Ford's acknowledged masterpieces, Dononvan's Reef does not measure up, but measured against other escapist films, it is a great movie. John Wayne's performance is consistently good, and as always, believable. Wayne was so real in his films, that he is never considered to be a good actor, but if you look at his body of work, you have to admit he could do it all. His Guns Donovan character is certainly up to snuff, and he does well with what he has. His interaction with Lee Marvin as Boats Gilhooley is as good as any of his other brawling, head-butting clashes with legends like Ward Bond or Victor McGlaglen. Lee Marvin is very funny and clever in his scenes, and very rarely over the top. He could always deliver on a character that was supposed to be likable, but mentally ill.

Aside from the fun, we have a significant plot element of prejudice considering the behavior of Guns, Boats, and Andre, where they hide the Doctor's half-caste Polynesian children from the All-White Bostonian daughter, Amelia. Paradoxically, we have Chinese stereotypes in the form of goofy looking morons with toothy grins and heavy accents. Still, in the end reason prevails in that the young Leilani shows wisdom beyond her years. When she sings a prayer of thanks to the goddess of the canyon where Guns chops down their Christmas tree, Amelia asks if she believes in gods and goddesses. Leilani replies, "I believe in one God, as we all do, but I respect the customs and beliefs of my people." Amelia subsequently accepts the cultural differences with a gracious bow to Leilani, who is being honored as the last hereditary princess of the island. That is a nicely done scene.

If you focus on what Donovan's Reef isn't, it will be a disappointing film. If you enjoy it for what it is, you will have a great time.