{"id":84737,"date":"2022-06-10T09:33:36","date_gmt":"2022-06-10T16:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=84737"},"modified":"2022-06-10T09:33:36","modified_gmt":"2022-06-10T16:33:36","slug":"donovans-reef-1963","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=84737","title":{"rendered":"Donovan&#8217;s Reef (1963)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Here we are, the three of us, on one of the most beautiful islands on Earth.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Poster-222x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"222\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-84738\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Poster-222x300.png 222w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Poster-95x128.png 95w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Poster-200x270.png 200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Poster.png 611w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 222px) 100vw, 222px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn French Polynesia, shortly after Navy veteran &#8220;Boats&#8221; Donovan (John Wayne) has an annual birthday brawl with his buddy &#8220;Guns&#8221; Gilhooley (Lee Marvin), Donovan learns that the wealthy grown daughter (Elizabeth Allen) of their mutual buddy &#8220;Doc&#8221; Dedham (Jack Warren) is coming into town, and decides to pretend Doc&#8217;s three half-Polynesian children &#8212; Leilani (Jacqueline Malouf), Sally (Cherylene Lee), and Luke (Jeffrey Byron) &#8212; are his.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cesar Romero Films<\/li>\n<li>Dorothy Lamour Films<\/li>\n<li>Heiresses<\/li>\n<li>John Ford Films<\/li>\n<li>John Wayne Films<\/li>\n<li>Lee Marvin Films<\/li>\n<li>Mistaken or Hidden Identities<\/li>\n<li>South Seas<\/li>\n<li>Veterans<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAfter 25 years and 13 films together &#8212; all listed in <em>GFTFF<\/em> &#8212; John Ford and John Wayne partnered for the final (14th) time in this South Seas comedy (shot on Kauai) about a stuffy Boston heiress (Allen) who gradually loosens up during her time on the island, with all misunderstandings and concerns neatly resolved by the storybook ending. Indeed, many have pointed out what a pure fantasy this film is on numerous dimensions, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s264ford.html\">DVD Savant<\/a> describing it as &#8220;the ultimate Navy fantasy, where grown men get to live in a state of frozen adolescence&#8221;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Hand-Shaking.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Hand-Shaking-1024x571.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"357\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Hand-Shaking-1024x571.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Hand-Shaking-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Hand-Shaking-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Hand-Shaking-768x428.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Hand-Shaking-484x270.png 484w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Hand-Shaking.png 1297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; &#8220;the dark floozy [Dorothy Lamour] gets to marry her hunk instead of dying off in the last reel&#8221;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Lamour3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Lamour3-1024x578.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84755\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Lamour3-1024x578.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Lamour3-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Lamour3-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Lamour3-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Lamour3-478x270.png 478w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Lamour3.png 1291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; &#8220;and the <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=50502\">Clementine Carter<\/a> character [Allen] stops being such a priss and gets down to basic chemistry with the hero.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Romance.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Romance-1024x579.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84742\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Romance-1024x579.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Romance-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Romance-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Romance-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Romance-478x270.png 478w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Romance.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, there&#8217;s also plenty of cultural stereotyping, with the worst aimed at local Asians. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Store-Owners.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Store-Owners-1024x579.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84744\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Store-Owners-1024x579.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Store-Owners-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Store-Owners-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Store-Owners-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Store-Owners-477x270.png 477w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Store-Owners.png 1303w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Ford once again shows his fascination with &#8220;half breed&#8221; children and the challenges they encounter &#8212; though in this case the kids&#8217; royal lineage ultimately uplifts them far beyond the insults they endure. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Three-Kids.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Three-Kids-1024x574.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84745\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Three-Kids-1024x574.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Three-Kids-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Three-Kids-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Three-Kids-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Three-Kids-482x270.png 482w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Three-Kids.png 1305w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, this is also a &#8220;Christmas story&#8221;, complete with singing carols, a moving Nativity sermon, a homecoming, and a tree. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Christmas-Tree.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Christmas-Tree-1024x574.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84752\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Christmas-Tree-1024x574.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Christmas-Tree-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Christmas-Tree-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Christmas-Tree-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Christmas-Tree-482x270.png 482w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Christmas-Tree.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Indeed, Donovan&#8217;s Reef could truly be considered a &#8220;kitchen sink&#8221; Ford film, given how many of his favorite tropes are thrown in and baked into a fantastical concoction: a &#8220;stern&#8221; but beautiful (and conveniently wealthy) woman is tamed (including receiving a spanking); guy friends get to continue their playful barroom brawling without serious injury; racial tensions dissipate (though not without leaving plenty of individuals behind to be ridiculed); a generation of fatherly neglect melts away; kids are charmingly adorable; an understanding female partner is waiting loyally for even the most juvenile of men; and beauty, singing, and tropical dancing abound. Welcome to Ford&#8217;s version of Paradise.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Cesar Romero&#8217;s role as a local marquis hoping to snag Allen is pretty much wasted. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Wayne-Romero.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Wayne-Romero-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Wayne-Romero-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Wayne-Romero-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Wayne-Romero-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Wayne-Romero-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Wayne-Romero-480x270.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Wayne-Romero.png 1299w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>William Clothier&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Dancers.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Dancers-1024x574.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84753\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Dancers-1024x574.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Dancers-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Dancers-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Dancers-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Dancers-482x270.png 482w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Dancers.png 1297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Cinematography3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Cinematography3-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84739\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Cinematography3-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Cinematography3-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Cinematography3-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Cinematography3-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Cinematography3-480x270.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Donovans-Reef-Cinematography3.png 1285w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo; this one is only must-see for Ford fans. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0057007\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/donovans-reef\/review\/2030282378\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s264ford.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/donovans-reef\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/6ioDWfwdLB8\">Chasing the Classics Video Review (very informative!) <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Here we are, the three of us, on one of the most beautiful islands on Earth.&#8221; Synopsis: In French Polynesia, shortly after Navy veteran &#8220;Boats&#8221; Donovan (John Wayne) has an annual birthday brawl with his buddy &#8220;Guns&#8221; Gilhooley (Lee Marvin), Donovan learns that the wealthy grown daughter (Elizabeth Allen) of their mutual buddy &#8220;Doc&#8221; Dedham (Jack Warren) is coming into town, and decides to pretend Doc&#8217;s three half-Polynesian children &#8212; Leilani (Jacqueline Malouf), Sally (Cherylene Lee), and Luke (Jeffrey Byron)&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=84737\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84737","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=84737"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84737\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84761,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84737\/revisions\/84761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=84737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=84737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=84737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}