Father Goose

"So far you're shared me out of my clothes, my food and my house. Now, how about sharing some of my things with me."

Walter Eckland (Grant) wants to be left alone to sail around and drink.  His plans are interrupted by the Royal Australian Navy, who force him to serve as a coast watcher to report the movements of the Japanese Navy and planes.  He is stationed on Matalava Island, a deserted island, to live in a shack and communicate with Houghton and his men by radio, using the code name "Mother Goose."  To further encourage him, the Navy hide his alcohol around the island.

When the position of another watcher is compromised, he travels to another island to rescue the man and gain his freedom.  However, when he arrives at the island, the only person he finds is Catherine Freneau (Caron), the daughter of a French diplomat and her seven students, who are all daughters of diplomats.  With the Japanese closing in, he takes them back to his island.  It is too dangerous to remove the women, so they are forced to work together.


This is one of Cary Grant's last films (the last is Walk, Don't Run).  In this film he plays the most against type, shedding his typically suave and sophisticated film personality.  Apparently, Grant considered this character to be the most like his actual personality.

This film returns Grant to his comedy roots, after a dramatic turn in Charade.  He is funny and charismatic, like all good Grant characters.  He is matched by Leslie Caron, who is also funny and endearing in her role.  The girls are hilarious and work well as a team and as individuals with unique personalities.  The Navy officials are equally entertaining.  The relationship between Trevor Howard's Frank and Grant's Walter really sells the story and delivers the laughs.

An enjoyable flick with a great cast and funny story.

Father Goose (1964) 118 minutes
Director: Ralph Nelson
Starring: Cary Grant as Walter Eckland
Leslie Caron as Catherine Freneau
Trevor Howard as Frank Houghton
Jack Good as Lieutenant Stebbings
Sharyl Locke as Jenny
Pip Sparkle as Anne
Verina Greenlaw as Christine
Stephanie Berrington as Elizabeth
Jennifer Berrington as Harriet
Laurelle Felsette as Angelique
Nicole Felsette as Dominique