This movie has a scene that
happens today – December 7. I hope you enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
DONOVAN”S REEF
On December 7, 1963 [1:15 to
18:41]"Boats" Gilhooley jumps overboard and swims to the Polynesian
island of Haleakaloha. When “Guns” Donovan, who lives on the island hears he is
coming, the three children of his good friend Dr. Dedham make him promise not
to fight Gilhooley and he agrees. However once Gilhooley arrives, they have a
fight until Dr. Dedham stops it. It seems that since the two men have the same
birthday, December 7, they have had a brawl for the last 22 years on their
birthday. In Boston, Amelia Dedham learns that her father, Dr. William Dedham, whom
she has never met, has inherited control of the families shipping business.
However, if she can prove that he has been living an immoral life his
inheritance will be set aside. She decides to go to Haleakaloha, prove that he
is immoral and regain control of the company.
When word of her arrival reaches the island, the doctor is on a tour of
the outer islands. Donovan, Gilhooley and the governor Marquis Andre de Lage
decide that Dedham’s three kids by his second Polynesian wife must pretend to
be Donavan’s children until the doc can return and explain things to Amelia.
Donovan and Amelia get off on the wrong foot, but after some water skiing and
swimming they declare pax and seem to be moving towards a romantic
relationship. She learns that her father, Donovan and Gilhooley were trapped on
the island during World War II and conducted a guerilla war against the
Japanese. The doctor returns and tells
Amelia he stayed on the island after the war because while he felt he was not
needed in Boston, he was needed on the island. He signs his stock over to her.
Then Lage, who has been trying to court
Amelia for her money tells her Donovan’s three “kids” were all born out of
wedlock, dimming her feelings towards Donovan. Amelia finally figures out the
real story and she and the children acknowledge each other as siblings. Amelia and Donovan make up and get engaged.
This is a morality tale disguised
as a comedy. Not Wayne’s best effort or even his best comedy, but it’s still an
engaging film.
Date of the seventh given at
1:44. The events of this film occur just before Christmas.
Screenplay - James Edward Grant
and Frank S. Nugent
Producer - John Ford
Director - John Ford
Runtime – 1 hour 49 minutes
Released – June 12, 1963
Starring –
John Wayne as Michael Patrick "Guns" Donovan
Elizabeth Allen as Amelia Dedham
Lee Marvin as Thomas Aloysius "Boats" Gilhooley
Jack Warden as Dr. William Dedham
Cesar Romero as Marquis Andre de Lage, the French governor
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