|
|
|
 |
| |
|
 |
| List Price: $9.98 |
|
Our Price: $4.00 |
|
You Save: $5.98 (60%) |
| | |
 |
|
Product Description
Two ex-Navy buddies are living a life of leisure on a South Pacific island until they are interrupted by a prim Bostonian in search of her father.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: NR
Release Date: 28-MAR-2006
Media Type: DVD
John Wayne's last film with mentor and long-time collaborator John Ford (The Searchers) is a 1963 comedy about a group of war veterans settled on a South Pacific island. When the daughter of one of them (Jack Warden) comes for a visit, the freewheeling status quo between the boys is disrupted. This is Ford in his chummy, amiable, roughhousing mode--think of Victor McLaglen's drunken fight scene in Ford's She Wore a Yellow Ribbon--and it is entirely pleasurable. Wayne is comfortable in his man's-man role, and Lee Marvin (who played Wayne's nemesis in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) is effectively roguish. --Tom Keogh
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customer Reviews: - Donovan's Reef 1963
Acclaimed director John Ford (1894-1973) and Screen legend John Wayne (1907-1979) team up for what could their final collaboration in this boistereous , rowdy South Sea escapade . The Duke , Lee Marvin (1924-1987) and Jack Warden (1920- ) play War II navy buddies who made the French Polynesian of Haleakolo their post-war paradise .Local headquarters is Donovans Reef , Wayne?s rough-and-tumble watering hole where bragging , brawling and full-blown misbehavior are the order of the day . But destined to create more turnmoil than any barron fistcuffs is sudden arrival of Elizabeth Allen (1934- ) , a straight-laced Boston blue blood . Shes hoping to locate her long-estraged father (Warden) , Affirm that he is of "not of good moral character" and then assume control of the familys shipping dynasty back home in the states . Suave , debonair Cesar Romeo (1907-1994) and a sarong-clad Dorothy Lamour (1914-1996) add to the laughs -and mayhem -in this tropical comedy treat . Made on location in Sunny Polynisian Island with breattaking scenery of tropical island . Recommended...more info - My shout for Donovans Reef
Something in me identified with this oddity, maybe 5 years in the Navy, or living on a tropical island. Big John was never my favourite, ah but Lee Marvin - I liked him in 'Paint Your Wagon' & Cat Ballou only, but the whole mixture of the cast and the setting - magic, like them Pearly Shells ! The ' Aussie ' sailors are a farce - struth strike me down with a feather, more like a mob of Irishmen !! The story has poignance, comedy, fun, and some romance. I watch it when I'm down, and it always is a upper !! especially when I sing a long to those monkeys from Sam Boanga......more info - HILARIOUS BUDDY PICTURE
You just know that in a movie starring John Wayne and Lee Marvin and directed by legendary John Ford that there was probably a heck of a lot of drinking going on and a lot of fun had by all in the making of the film. John Wayne is "Guns" Donovan who has retired to a South Sea island paradise after WWII with another buddy Doc Dedham played by Jack Warden. The third buddy is Lee Marvin as "Boats" Gilhooley who shares the same birthdate as Donovan as well as a long-standing rivalry with him over everything, but mostly women. As the movie opens, Gilhooley finds himself on a merchant ship swabbing the deck near the island and promptly hits the captain over the head with a broom and dives in to swim to shore...to be greeted by Guns.
The two exchange pleasantries in the bar Donovan owns called Donovan's Reef and soon it turns into their annual birthday slugfest as the two belt each other silly before Doc Dedham breaks up the brawl. When told they probably don't even remember the reason for their annual fight, Guns remembers it quite well as Gilhooley had tried to get Guns married to a "hoochie koochie" dancer years earlier. Just a hilarious scene. Doc Dedham's wife had passed away years earlier and he had then married a native women who had also passed but who had had two children Lelani and a boy named Luki. Doc also happens to have a wife by his first marriage who is now an adult and a rich society woman. Amelia Dedham travels to the island to hopefully find her father living the playboy life so he can be cut out of the money he is due from her mother's family. Gilholley suggests that they slip her a "mickey" but Guns has a more practical idea. He pretends that the Doc's kids are his own and no one mentions his native wife. Soon the prim and proper Bostonian woman finds herself falling in love with Guns and eventually learning the truth.
This is a beautifully filmed movie with spectacular South Seas scenery. It's a brawling, screwball comedy with fantastic performances not only by the stars, but also by the supporting cast including Cesar Romero as the French Governor of the island who wants off until he learns of Amelia's millions. Dorothy Lamour is an aged barfly who is constantly after Gilhooley to marry her and big Mike Mazurki is Monk the tough former sergeant who keeps the peace at Donovan's place. This film will make you yearn to have an island paradise all to your own!
Reviewed by Tim Janson
...more info - John WAYNE
If you are a John Wayne fan this is a must have. It is so cute and filmed on the beautiful Island of Kauai, Hawaii.
Also if you are a Lee Marvin fan because it is a part that is not his usual character and it is funny.
It is my third favorite John Wayne movie behind El Dorado and In Harm's Way.
I find great pleasure in watching these three movies again and again.
...more info - One Of A Kind
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....more info - One of John Wayne's Best Movies
This is one of the Duke's best movies. It shows more acting ability than the traditional one-role actor he was made to perform. With a great supporting cast, this movie has the best of everything. It has the adventure, romance and tradition that only the best movies offer....more info - Donovan's Reef
I ordered this DVD for a friend who wanted it, so I can't really rate the movie except to say that anything with John Wayne in it has to be good. I will say that I was very pleased with the prompt service I received from Amazon. The DVD arrived in just a couple of days, and my friend was very pleased....more info - Fine underrated comedy effort by John Wayne
Last film made by John Ford-John Wayne combination, this movie have been generally panned by many professional critics. Well, they can all go and watch Chariot of Fire or whatever since I found Donovan's Reef to be highly entertaining lightweight comedy that proves to be a real pleasure to watch. Like in all John Wayne movies, his effectiveness reflect strongly on how he interact with his supporting cast. In this movie, John Wayne proves to be well supported by Lee Marvin and by Jack Warden who played his naval buddies from the war but the real enjoyment come when Elizabeth Allen come ashore to stirred up some misperceptions due to her strait-laced New England upbringing. Both Wayne and Allen have a wonderful chemisty together which made this movie a delight to see. The three children actors in the movie proves to be great and they all have a great interaction with Wayne which helped the movie out greatly.
The movie may appears to be bit dated but its a reflection of the contempory thought when the movie was made. While common today in our nation, half white/half non-white children were not so common back then and by society norm of that period, they were not well regarded. The movie reflects on that perception although to us today, it sounds bit of an over reaction.
The performances of all the cast proves to be total delight and the light script told an interesting story that benefited from both comedy and understanding the island life. John Ford's sure handed direction kept the pace going and the movie is rarely ever boring. Mostly filmed on the island of Kauai, the movie portaryed a way of life which have basically disappeared in this overmodernized world.
Although panned by the critics, most John Wayne fans will flocked to buy this DVD. There are very little not to like in this movie and it reflects the skills that Wayne processed when playing in a comedy movie. The images appears to be quite good, its nice to see it in widescreen although its Dolby Digital, the sound is still mono. There is almost no extra features with the DVD as well....more info - Lost scenes
The movie was still very good, but I couldn't believe how many scenes were cut. Even scenes that I have recently scene on tv were missing. And I saw no reason for it.
The major scene missing is one where you see the daughter riding in the back of the jeep into town. The jeep bounces and she falls onto the ground. At the end of the movie this happens again and you hear John Wayne say "not again". Which makes no sense since the first time is missing.
Except for the missing scenes, the movie is very enjoyable....more info - Superb Wayne / Lee Marvin in Hawai'i movie
Obviously not the first of last time
Wayne and Marvin got together but it
was a very fun time for the 'Duke'.
This movie and McClintock came out
about year, 1963, before President
Kennedy's murder. JFK loved the Duke
as well as most of the rest of Ame-
rica. This was when movies made sense....more info - donovan's reef
one of the duke's few comedies. good match with lee marvin who usually plays a tough guy....more info - Donovans Reef
I love this movie. It brings back memories of my childhood with my father and sharing this with him. ...more info - Donovan's Reef
The final collaboration of John Ford & John Wayne was perhaps their weakest effort. Donovan's Reef is beautifully filmed in color & Ford gives loving detail much as he did with The Quiet Man. I sense that this movie was made on a "working" vacation, they make the movie on location in Hawaii & get paid to do it. How much better can it get? Donovan's Reef is shown in a widescreen format though the aspect ratio isn't extreme. The cast is good & it's not Ford's usual stock company of actors. It has Lee Marvin, Elizabeth Allen, Jack Warden, Cesar Romero, Dick Foran & Dorothy Lamour. Patrick Wayne has a small role as an Australian sailor.
Donovan's Reef is the saloon that's owned by "Guns" Donovan (John Wayne) who had first come to the island during WWII when the destroyer he was on was sunk. Two of his friends, Gilhooley (Lee Marvin) & Dr. William Dedham (Jack Warden), were survivors also. After the war they returned to the island to live. Donovan & Dedham had been living there for years while Gilhooley shows up for the annual birthday bash between himself & Donovan; they share the same day. The premise of the story that introduces Amelia Dedham (Elizabeth Allen) to the island is that she's there to meet her father, main shareholder in the family shipping business, & to get him to sign over the shares to her. Dr. Dedham had remarried, he had become a widower but hadn't seen his first wife in years, & had three children by his now deceased Polynesian wife who was the last surviving member of the island's royalty. The friends of Dr. Dedham decide to move the children to Donovan's home because they're not sure how Amelia will react to them. Of course, Donovan & Amelia don't like each other at first then they fall in love. This romance is a little hard to believe because of the age difference, Donovan is old enough to be her father. All turns out well in the end. This movie doesn't break any new ground though it does have some funny moments. You can look at it as a more comedic version of The Quiet Man. Donovan's Reef is an average movie that's elevated because of Ford & Wayne....more info - NOT A GREAT MOVIE, JUST ONE OF THE BEST EVER!!!
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....more info - Donovons Reef
Loved the movie. Was in excellent condition and watched it after I received it. Will purchase more in the future. You had a movie that I just love and noone else had it or could find it for me. You did the impossible and I am greatful for that. Thanks a million....more info - The Last Great John Ford-John Wayne Collaboration
This film has a lot of endearing and great elements. The film is set in the South Pacific with a rowdy cast of characters - John Wayne, Jack Warden and Lee Marvin. War buddies from World War II and living on the island ever since the end of the war, the Doc (Jack Warden) has a daughter who visits the island. Chaos ensues as the doc's friends cover his back while he's away visiting the outer islands. The daughter, heiress to a huge shipping company, might be offended by her father's marriage to a local native princess and their offspring. They don't appreciate such a relationship in tight-laced Boston. The other actors like Mike Mazurki and Cesar Romero add to the fun lustre of the film.
...more info - The Duke in a Comedy
This is one of the Duke's family movie night specials that isn't a western. Sometimes us girls like a little comedy and romance in our movies and this one is packed with both....more info - Classic John Wayne
If you like John Wayne and Lee Marvin, then you'll enjoy the two of them together in this South Sea Island story. The prim and proper New England daughter of the island doctor comes for a visit while the doctor is on another island. John Wayne pretends that the doctor's half Polynesian children are his own causing clashes and comedy and leading to romance. In the meantime, Lee Marvin is an old Navy buddy of John Wayne's and comes to the island to take the bar (Donovan's Reef) away from John. Fights, misunderstandings, and romance make for a good John Wayne movie....more info - Under appreciated John Wayne
The most fun movie John Wayne ever made. Amazing landscape shots of Hawaiian islands. This movie technically qualifies as a Christmas movie. Story line begins on the 7th of December and ends at Christmas. Part romantic comedy this family fun film can be appreciated by all ages. Play drinking game using character names and action shots (fights, breaking bottles, etc.). ...more info - Dated, thanks to itself
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....more info
|
|
| |
|
|
|
