DONOVAN'S REEF

US, 1963, 108 Minutes, Colour.
John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Jack Warden, Elizabeth Allen, Dorothy Lamour, Cesar Romero, Mike Mazurki.
Directed by John Ford.

Donovan's Reef is a knock-about comedy melodrama directed by John Ford. It was one of Ford's last films. He had specialised in Westerns over many decades and had won acclaim for such films as Stage-Coach? and The Searchers' amongst others. He was to make Cheyenne Autumn the next year and his final film Seven Women the year after. Ford had worked with John Wayne in very many films from Stagecoach on. Prior to Donovan's Reef he had worked with Wayne and Lee Marvin in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. This film is set in Hawaii and is an entertaining, colourful, if inconsequential, film. Elizabeth Allen makes a strong heroine and there is a guest role by Dorothy Lamour. The film is a relaxing mixture of sentiment, pro-American feeling and the glorification of male camaraderie and the battle of the sexes.

1. An entertaining action knock-about comedy melodrama? Its ingredients for perennial appeal?

2. The work of John Ford as an action director with the comic touch? (The writer and star and director had combined ten years earlier for the Irish Quiet Man - how much similarity in treatment and theme?). The film as a John Wayne vehicle and the reliance on his presence, style, American heroism? The Hawaiian background as suitable setting? The relationships between men and women, a variation on The Taming of the Shrew?

3. The importance of the Hawaiian locations and the emphasis on the sea, the mountains and the canyons, the beauty? The villages and the islands? music? The Hawaiian atmosphere?

4. American presence in Hawaii? The aftermath of World War II and the memories of Japanese invasion and occupation, heroism and deaths? The way of life of the island and its remoteness? The importance of indigenous culture, religious traditions? The opening up of Hawaii to the modern American world? Life lived on the surface, the need for doctors and healing, brawling and camaraderie, religion? The spontaneity of the way of life in contrast with that of Boston? The effect of Hawaii on the American spinster with her culture and primness? The response of each of the characters to the atmosphere?

5. The background of the battle of the sexes The Taming of the Shrew? Donovan and the clashes with Amelia? Gilhooley and Miss Lafleur?

6. The way of life on the island - the governor and his Chinese assistant with his Amhearst training? His schemes for marrying well? His charm and his manoeuvres? The priest and his continual appeal for money for the roof, his religious services, his going along with Donovan's deception, the Christmas celebration in the rain? Miss Lafleur and her entertaining, drinking gin, fashions, hoping to marry? The police and their trying to keep order? The nuns and their nursing? The pace of life and raising hell on the island? The incidents that illustrated this?

7. Donovan and Gilhooley as American types? The pairing of John Wayne and Lee Marvin? War achievement, living on the island, brawling, status? The continued brawls - especially the visit of the Australians? The sentimental side with the juke box, Christmas celebration and Gilhooley as king of America?

8. The contrast with Dr Dudham and his doing good, his marriage, children, leaving the Bostonians? The importance of the Boston sequences and showing their stuffiness in comparison with the Hawaiians? Amelia and her attitude towards him, her coming out to Hawaii, her falling into the water, the various clashes with Donovan, the story about the children, her taking care of them - the storm, Christmas celebrations etc.? The visit to the canyon? Her change and recognition of her father and brothers and sisters? Dr Dudham and his achievement?

9. The happy acceptance of the truth at the end? The various marriages? Again, the overtones of The Taming of the Shrew?

10. A happy and optimistic film, the picture of human nature and equality?