NR | 1h 49m | Adventure, Comedy, Romance | 1963
The film has been criticized as not being up to the experience expected from a Ford and Wayne collaboration, yet “Donovan’s Reef” was never meant to have profound messages. It’s just a humorous romp with a feel-good vibe and happy ending.
The film is about three U.S. Navy veterans on a fictional island called Haleakaloha in the French Polynesian archipelago. While Michael Patrick “Guns” Donovan (John Wayne) and Dr. William Dedham (Jack Warden) enjoy relatively happy-go-lucky existences, Dedham, a widower, is the region’s sole physician, caring for the natives’ medical needs while raising three children, whom he fathered with the island’s former princess.
The men’s idyllic lives are disrupted when Thomas Aloysius “Boats” Gilhooley (Lee Marvin in top form) decides he’s had enough of working on board a freighter passing by, jumps overboard, and shows up on the island’s shores.
After receiving a warm welcome by the locals, Gilhooley, who served with Donovan on the same ship, has a few beers at Donovan’s bar, appropriately named “Donovan’s Reef.” Upon seeing each other, Donovan and Gilhooley immediately brawl, a tradition they’ve honored for many years to mark Donovan’s birthday—even though they don’t know why.
Things get complicated when Dr. Dedham’s estranged daughter, Amelia (Elizabeth Allen), a proper Bostonian, learns that her father has inherited valuable shipping company stock that she desperately wants. According to the will, she can only claim the inheritance if she proves that her father has violated an old-fashioned Boston moral standard.
Determined to do so, Amelia travels to meet her father, only to find he is visiting neighboring islands in order to provide medical care to the locals. Donovan, ever the supportive friend, steps in to pretend to be the father of Dedham’s children’s to avoid upsetting the uptight Amelia when she arrives.
As Amelia adapts to island life, her strict demeanor softens. She falls in love with the charming children and develops feelings for Donovan. But when she finally reunites with her real father, will her newfound affections change her mind, or will she continue with her original plan?
“Donovan’s Reef” holds a bittersweet charm, reminding me of the great films Ford and Wayne created together. The film doesn’t showcase its participants at their peak; instead, it embraces a delightful easygoing, laid-back tropical island vibe.
The film is filled with many of the themes Ford was known for—lots of rough and tough male bonding, flawed characters with good hearts, drunken fistfights, skirmishes between genders, and honoring our veterans. Depending on how much you enjoy these themes, as well as the actors involved, your viewing pleasure mileage may vary.
“Donovan’s Reef,” though not reaching the heights of Ford’s earlier film projects, delights with its serene island backdrop, quirky characters, and good-natured humor. It evokes heartfelt emotions, especially in Amelia’s poignant moments with her father and newfound siblings.
The ensemble cast, from Marvin’s spirited portrayal of Gilhooley to Warden’s nuanced performance as an estranged father seeking reconciliation, enriches the film. Wayne, true to form, effortlessly brings his trademark charm to the production, roaming the island with his easy going demeanor.
While the film reflects its era’s racial and social dynamics, its gentle exploration of themes like racial harmony is seamlessly integrated into its breezy narrative, contrasting with some of the more overt and preachy approaches seen today.
