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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

Wild, Wayne and Wonderful!

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Romance

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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

Actor John Qualen dubbed the voice of the sailor who yells "Man overboard!" in the opening scene, though it is not Qualen on-screen.

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Goofs

Ameilia reads aloud the full names of Donovan, Gilhooley, and Doc Dedham off the plaque on the war monument. Later, a screen shot of the plaque shows only the person's first initial and last name.

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Quotes

Marquis Andre de Lage: Well, there is our Mike Donovan. Three children and not one marriage. Oh, I do not say that he's the first man to put the cart before the horse, but three carts and no horse? Huh?

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Connections

References They Were Expendable (1945)

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Soundtracks

Frere Jacques
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by the children

User Reviews

I'd have gone straight for Elizabeth Allen....

This was a beautiful film, not least because of the warm and lively music, and also because of the cool, sensual presence of Elizabeth, who died only recently. The comedy, as written above, could indeed be a little ham-handed, but there's no substitute for the scene when Amelia, riding the back of a jeep, is vaulted off the rear as it hits a bump and lands flat on her a**. John Wayne looks down at her and asks quietly, "Did you hurt your ---- self?" This is a pleasant, human drama, with a strong anti-racist message built around a great cast of characters. A solid, pleasing John Ford / John Wayne partnership, and Elizabeth Allen was a pure pleasure.