A snooty Boston girl arrives on a tiny South Pacific isle in search of her missing father and encounters two old salty dogs. The mismatched trio creates an abundance of lighthearted fun in this last Ford-Wayne pairing.
John Ford filmed Donovan’s Reef in Kauai, located in northern Hawaii. Ford was an avid sailor, and went on frequent journeys with his favorite star and protege, John Wayne, aboard his yacht, the Araner.
production details
USA | Paramount | 109 minutes | 1963
Producer and Director: John Ford
Cinematography: William H. Clothier
Editor: Otho Lovering
Music: Cyril J. Mockridge
Script: James Edward Grant, Frank S. Nugent
Production Design: Eddie Imazu, Hal Pereira
cast
John Wayne as Michael Patrick ‘Guns’ Donovan
Edgar Buchanan as Boston Attorney Francis X. O’Brien
Mike Mazurki as Sgt. Monk Menkowicz
Jack Warden as Dr. William Dedham
Dorothy Lamour as Miss Lafleur
Lee Marvin as Thomas Aloysius ‘Boats’ Gilhooley
John Qualen as Deckhand Who Cries ‘Man Overboard’ (uncredited)
Elizabeth Allen as Ameilia Sarah Dedham
Cesar Romero as Marquis Andre de Lage
Jacqueline Malouf as Lelani Dedham
Cherylene Lee as Sarah ‘Sally’ Dedham
Jeffrey Byron as Luki Dedham
Marcel Dalio as Father Cluzeot
Dick Foran as Australian Navy Officer Sean O’Brien
Jon Fong as Mister Eu
Dan Ford as Child (uncredited)
Mae Marsh as Family Council Member (uncredited)
Ron Nyman as Naval Officer (uncredited)
Aissa Wayne as Native Girl (uncredited)
Patrick Wayne as Australian Navy Lieutenant (uncredited)