Donovan's Reef
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Movie Reviews of Donovan's Reef
Movie Review: Brawlers in Paradise
Summary: 5 Stars
In this comedy-drama Wayne plays WW2 veteran Michael "Guns" Donovan, who after being released from the Navy returned to the South Seas island of Haleakaloa, scene of one of his greatest adventures, and settled down to become, over the 18 years since, a respectable businessman (the title comes from the classy saloon he owns, and he also has a fleet of sailing craft which ply the islands with passengers and freight). Also dwelling there is Boston-bred Dr. William Dedham (Warden), who stayed on after receiving word of his wife's death, married the granddaughter of the last hereditary prince of the island group, and had two daughters and a son by her before her death some five years ago. Complications begin when their old shipmate, Aloysious "Boats" Gilhooley (Marvin in one of his most delightful roles), dives off a passing ship and swims to shore to celebrate his and Donovan's shared birthday with their customary annual brawl, and continues when Dedham's daughter by his first wife, whom he has never seen, arrives with the intention of getting the doctor to sign over his shares in the family's shipping empire. Despite the bewildered protests of Leilani, the eldest member of Doc's second family, Donovan takes the children into his own apartment above the saloon and pretends they're his, fearing how the strait-laced Miss Amelia Dedham will react when she discovers she has "half-caste" siblings. Meanwhile the islanders are preparing for their regular observance of Christmas, complete with a visit by an Australian Navy corvette (with whose crew Donovan and Gilhooley have a second brawl) and a re-enactment of the Nativity (in which Gilhooley solemnly appears as "the King of America," complete with jauntily angled gold-paper crown). Despite the difference in their ages, Donovan and Amelia, with suitable stumbles, misunderstandings, and outright clashes (reminiscent of those between Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in McLintock! (Authentic Collector's Edition) and of the classic story line of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew (The Pelican Shakespeare)), become attracted to each other and even overcome the slyly good-humored efforts of the island's French governor, the Marquis Andre LaLage (Cesar Romero), to sabotage the relationship so he can pay court to Amelia and use her millions to get out of what he views as "exile" (one especially delightful sequence occurs as he is dictating a letter to his cousin, a high official in the Colonial Service, to get him transferred). Dorothy Lamour plays the half-caste singer Fleur, whose pursuit of Gilhooley furnishes the secondary romantic interest; Mike Mazurki is wonderful as Monk, local Sergeant in the Foreign Legion; Edgar Buchanan has a small but telling role as the shrewd and plain-spoken attorney whose advice leads to Amelia's undertaking the voyage; Jon Fong is Mr. Yu, the Marquis's snappily-dressed secretary (Amherst, Class of '53); and Marcel Dalio plays Father Cleuzot, who ministers to the spiritual needs of the island-dwellers. Humor abounds, pathos is not missing, and the characters are unforgettable, splendidly cast, and well drawn. Even if you're not ordinarily a Wayne fan, you should give this film a try.Movie Review: Dated, thanks to itself
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie seems dated, over 4 decades later -- but only because of its own influence on society.
While "South Pacific" was a morality play surrounded by adventure and scenery, "Donovan's Reef" was adventure and scenery with a morality play buried inside. Today, even the phrase "half-caste" is archaic (younger readers: this means someone with parents from different races, in this case a Caucasian father and a Polynesian mother), but this was about the politest way to describe such a person in the early 1960s. Remember, this was a time in American history when some parts of the country considered non-whites to be so different that there were laws to keep them separate.
By embedding the lesson in the midst of a beautiful environment, and by showing literally dozens of beautiful and graceful Polynesian and Filipino women, "Donovan's Reef" gave generations of white American men something interesting to look at, and white American women reason to be jealous.
John Ford's direction made it impossible to see these women as anything but admirable -- and of the four American women in the film, one is pleasantly and completely senile, two are cold statues, and the other is calculating, mercenary and scheming, until she slams head-on into a society which sees little value in the things which Boston society considers the pinnacle of success.
Contrast the meetins of the two shipping companies -- the one in Boston is in a paneled boardroom, with a huge table people as icy as the snowstorm outside, while the one in Polynesia is over a desk in a corner of a barroom.
"Donovan's Reef" again shows the versatility of John Wayne as a character. Sure, he's the Duke wherever you put him, but that character FITS everywhere also. Cowboy, pilot, detective, it doesn't matter. The Duke is defender of the weak (in this case, his friend and the friend's children), and that's always a good role to play.
While their names were in the "also" list, the three child actors do well with their roles, and let's face it, the kids ARE the story, from the early maturity of the princess who calmly tells the Boston socialite "I respect the beliefs of my people" to the boy who braves the storm to get his baseball hat.
Interestingly, the other child, Cherylene Lee, has gone beyond decades of acting to become a playwright, largely focussing on race issues!
Yes, the film is dated, but that's because of the influence that it had, many years ago and on the generations since.
By filming in Hawaii, Ford and Wayne were able to work with some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, so the film is worth watching just for that.
All in all, this is one of the finest unsung films of all time, and a lot of fun to watch.
Movie Review: A fine, frivolous and fun comedy
Summary: 5 Stars
John Wayne is not known for his comedies but he did do some fine work. The same could be said for Director John Ford. This film is proof of their talents. It is not something to be taken seriously but it is at once fun, sweet, dated and a precious Hollywood relic.
John Wayne stars as Michael Donovan, a saloon keeper and shipping owner on a South Seas paradise island. Lee Marvin plays Gilhooley, a brawling friend who shows up every birthday for a ritual fight. Jack Warden rounds out the trio as the Doc. What all of them have in common is that they were shipwrecked on the island durnign WWII while it was under Japanese occupation and led a resistance movement but all of that is in the past. Now the war is over and each has carried on with life. In the case of the Doc, he married the hereditary princess of the island and had three wonderful kids. The problem is that he has a daughter from a prior marriage back in Boston who is scheming to be heiress of a major shipping line there and who comes out to the island to get evidence against her father she can use to show he is unfit. She arrives while the doc is making house calls to other islands and John Wayne steps in to protect the doc by claiming the kids as his own. Naturally, the Duke and the heiress fuss and feud but we all know that she is destined to be his lady.
Much of this film is silly but that does not stop it from being fun. The film tries to be racially diverse in a style that would never go over today but was quite a step forward in the 50s. There is little or know physical danger beyond that which is alluded to from the war. The barroom brawls are handled as entertainment for all concerned. As I said, it is silly but it works.
John Wayne plays himself as he does in all of his films. Lee Marvin plays a buffoon who manages to be fun even when he is being insulting. Jack Warden does little himself but what he does do, he does well and believably. Caesar Romero plays the French governor of the island and is fun as a good hearted, light villain scheming to marry the heiress himself. He too contributes to the success of this south seas romp. Perhaps the most fun is had from the 3 kids. They are not "actors" but they are first quality hams and they tend to steal the show with their campy lines.
Sit back and enjoy this one.
Movie Review: NOT A GREAT MOVIE, JUST ONE OF THE BEST EVER!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Save the critical eye, ear and mind for the 20th viewing of this story.
It is a multiple love story, POSSIBLY with the greatest love story involving a dead South Pacific princess and her still-devoted husband.
There is the polygamous masculine love story of "The Duke's" title character and his two old WWII shipmates.
There is the raucous relationship of an incredible Lee Marvin-created character and a somewhat bawdy Dorothy Lamour, who yearns for Donovan, but is perfectly happy settling for Marvin and his new toy train.
There is the love story of the new arrival from Boston, the real hero's daughter by a Boston shipping aristocrat. She arrives on a commercial venture intended to boost her own selfish economic position, quickly learns to love the father and her father's three children with the princess.
But first she must wander through the smokescreen generated by shipmates determined to protect their old friend, wander through the spectacular beauty of a tropical island and see through the "cover identities" of half the cast.
This is one of the best temporary ensemble creations ever. Thinly disguised as a comedy, clearly a true John Ford morality story, a hell-raising Wayne/Marvin and Aussie Navy saloon brawl, with a dutiful nod toward the self-sacrificing roles of good men answering the call to where they are needed, deeply respectful of primitive traditions and religions, and dripping sweet, wild honey from every scene.
Not a bit of sacahrin to be found. Just pure wild honey.
Again, leave critiques for the 20th viewing. By about the 15th viewing, you will begin to understand all the sub-plots and the truly fine acting of genuine professionals.
That is, in between the belly laughs and tears and cheers.
Movie Review: One Of A Kind
Summary: 5 Stars
Although John Wayne didn't particularly like this movie (He stated that in a bio I've read), this is another in a long line of wonderful movies he's been in. It's an entertaining and happy movie, with the usual brawls - what's a John Wayne movie without a brawl!
The other reviewers have done an excellent job of telling what's in the movie, so no need to repeat it here. For what it's worth, I pull this out and watch it a couple of times every year.
There have been reviewers who've addressed the "racism" aspect. That "racism" was not practiced on the island of Haleakuloa by any of the Polynesian or White residents... rather I read the movie pointing a finger at the liberal Boston crowd.
Another review aptly talked about too much being edited out and left on the cutting room floor. I can't agree more. There were several times when it was clear that important scenes were omitted... by the dialogue which followed. If those scenes could ever be returned to the movie, it would flow much better.
Also, it's apparent that some scenes were shot at quite different times of the day. If you check the scene toward the end where Donovan agrees to marry Amelia, you'll notice how the shadows indicate the shots from different angles were taken at greatly different times. Things like that bother me, but may not bother you.
If you're looking for a fun movie, this is one you should try. Add to it beautiful scenery, and a Lee Marvin character different from what you'd expect, beautiful girls, great music, and you have a winner.