"I seen it done."
Life on the idyllic French Polynesian island of Haleakaloha tends to be calm, but once a year paradise is disrupted. The cause of the disruption is a 21-year unbroken tradition of an all-out brawl between Michael "Guns" Donovan (Wayne) and Thomas "Boats" Gilhooley (Marvin), that happens on their birthday every year. Guns Donovan and Gilhooley are corralled by their US Navy pal Dr.William Dedham (Warden). A few weeks before Christmas, Dr. Dedham takes a trip to the outer islands, leaving his 3 children, Lelani (Malouf), Sally (Lee), and Luki (Stafford), in the care of Donovan.
Meanwhile, in Boston, the Dedham family has gathered to discuss the future of their shipping company. After the death of the largest share holders, the person holding the most company shares is Dr. Dedham. His daughter, Amelia (Allen) is the current company president and has never met her father. The board sends her to Haleakaloha to convince her father to give away his shares or find a reason that they should be removed. She arrives unannounced while Dr. Dedham is away. To protect their friend Donovan, Gilhooley, Marquis Andre de Lage (Romero), and Father Cluzeot (Dalio) agree to pretend the kids belong to Donovan until Dr. Dedham can find a way to tell his daughter about his other children.
John Wayne is best known for westerns (he made many), but he also did well in comedies. Wayne often worked with director John Ford (who directed Wayne's big break Stagecoach). Most of their collaborations were westerns, but for their final collaboration they turned to comedy.
I have loved this film for years, it has a little bit of everything and is still entertaining all these years later. From the opening scene with Gilhooley on the boat, you know it's going to be an entertaining movie. But it is more than just a funny film, it also has a lot of heart and is anti-racism.
Wayne is joined by Lee Marvin, who he previously worked with in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. This time they are looking for any excuse to get into a fight, which is truly entertaining to watch. The rest of the cast are entertaining as well, specifically the kids and Cesar Romero.
The music is gorgeous and features traditional Hawaiian songs. The film celebrates Hawaiian culture and customs. The Christmas Paegent, with the kings of different "countries", is funny as well.
Not as well-known as other Wayne films, but still worth checking out.
Donovan's Reef (1963) 109 minutes
Director: John Ford
Starring: John Wayne as Michael "Guns" Donovan
Lee Marvin as Thomas Aloysius "Boats" Gilhooley
Elizabeth Allen as Amelia Dedham
Jack Warden as Dr. William Dedham
Cesar Romero as Marquis Andre de Lage
Dorothy Lamour as Miss Lafleur
Jacqueline Malouf as Lelani Dedam
Cherylene Lee as Sarah "Sally" Dedham
Tim Stafford as Luki Dedham
Marcel Dalio as Father Cluzeot
Mike Mazurki as Sergeant Monk Menkowicz
Jon Fong as Mr. Eu
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