Donovan's Reef

source: Donovan's Reef

Donovan's Reef

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.

Donovan's Reef has it all, an all star cast, great humor, dealing with moral issues, drama, and an incredible South Pacific location. Lee Marvin and John Wayne fight it out at the opening bell, but Duke faces the most stiff competition from the Governor, none other than Cesar Romero. Both are fighting for the affections of the lovely Amelia (Elizabeth Allen). Dorothy Lamour and Jack Warden play supporting but very powerful roles. Does Amelia keep her Boston snobbishness and go through with her nefarious plans to steal dad's inheritance? Donovan's Reef has some surprises in store for her and anyone watching this delightful movie.

Donovans Reef was the last collaboration between John Ford and John Wayne. Its not a great film, but its a very good one. Like The Quiet Man its a pastoral symphony, but its pastoral with an edge. This is ,in fact an anti_racist, anti-Puritan film.This well cast, well acted, and very funny picture is worth watching and enjoying.

Oh gosh, how many times have I watched this truly entertaining movie? Probably fifteen or so, and I still enjoy it as much as the first time. As others have said, this is not John Wayne's best movie but it is enjoyable. My favorite part is the scene near the end when Amelia discovers that she is half sister to Dr. Dedhams three children and that the eldest of them is the reigning Princess of the island culture. It is a very touching scene that is preceded by a bevy of island women performing a stick dance that is absolutely beautiful to watch and listen to. I would rate it 9/10.

This movie is a little different from the average action picture starring John Wayne. While Wayne still is a hard-living, hard-drinking guy, this movie is neither a cowboy nor war picture but is about a middle-aged guy living in the South Pacific along with his goofy friends (including Lee Marvin). In many ways, Wayne and company play a group of older guys trying desperately to live like crazed frat boys. On that level, the movie actually works at times, though this also greatly detracts from the rest of the film. If this is a "kinder and gentler" John Wayne who can take care of children and romance a woman, then bar room brawling seems out of place and contrived--much like what occurred in another John Ford film, WHAT PRICE GLORY?. I really wish Ford had directed this film a little less like a party with his drinking buddies and stuck to the other 90-95% of the film. Still, it is a lot of fun to watch and is a very amiable time-passer.

"Donovan's Reef" is set on an island in the Pacific, which is basically getting by on its own merits without much contact with the modern world. John Wayne and Lee Marvin team up to portray two navy buddies that seem to have two things in common--the same birthday and a desire to punch each others' lights out because of a quarrel that started several years before on that birthday. The rest of the cast occupy themselves trying to keep the two "friends" alive because they genuinely are decent guys. Into this island bliss comes Elizabeth Allen, portraying a lady from Boston who is attempting to prove that her father, played by Jack Warden, has been living on the island in standards less than acceptable by Boston customs so she can claim his share of a family shipping business. Through one scene after another, the film takes a merry romp through its plot and gives the viewer a very enjoyable time.

With The Duke and Lee Marvin, I knew that this was going to be a fun movie to watch. No disappointment there. Filled with the splendor of the South Pacific and scored with beautiful music from the islands, it will appeal to any fan of the tropics. Elizabeth Allen is stunning as the leggy Boston blue blood who arrives on the island and gets everyone stirred up. She, along with Wayne, Marvin and Jack Warden make the film funny and appealing. If you want to watch a film that does not use today's hackneyed formula of gratuitous sex, profanity, explosions and car chases, fix yourself a Mai Tai, put on your flowered shirt and watch Donovan's Reef. Aloha.