Movie Monday - Donovan's Reef

Movie Monday

Donovan's Reef

My personal favorite in the John Wayne library.

I chose this movie first for several reasons, mainly because it was made back when movies were made for the right reason, to make great movies.  Almost all movies in the last 30+ years have been made for other reasons, be it ego or action figures or cut to certain times so that it would be picked up in syndication, those aren't reasons to make films.

Like Cecil B DeMille, John Ford was a truly great filmmaker and this one is a load of fun.  It's got fights, a very lovely leading lady, excellent comedy, penguins ... I mean Nuns, and three adorable & talented kids, not to mention it takes place at Christmas time.

Set in the beautiful Hawaiian islands, John Wayne (Mike Donovan) & Lee Marvin (Gilhooley) lead a great cast in a story about a Navy doctor (Jack Warden as Dr William Dedham) who gets a visit from his estranged daughter (Elizabeth Allen as Amelia Dedham) from Boston, about 15 years after the end of WWII.

Wayne portrays a saloon & marine shipping owner with Marvin, his old Navy mate, who just happens to share a birthday.  Each year they get together but always end up in a brawl and Marvin has come to the island to celebrate again.

Legendary sex symbol, Dorothy Lamour (Miss Lefleur) adds some spice while legendary wrestler, Mike Muzurki (Monk) helps Marcel Dalio (Father Chuzeot) toss in some humor, as well as Cesar Romero (sans the Joker makeup) as the slippery, Marquis Andre de Lage.

The story revolves around the three children, Lelani, Luke & Sarah that Dr Dedham has had since living on the island, their mother lost in childbirth.  Dr Dedham's Boston dotter (Gilhooley's spelling, not mine) comes to the island to confront her father over a family will, and doesn't know about her three siblings.  Donovan & Gilhooley try to pass the three kids off as Donovan's until their former commander returns from the low islands where he is treating his patients.

The basic here is, it's just a great movie, one that the whole family can watch, and enjoy, made for the sake of making a good movie, and this one delivers a, one-two punch of fun!