Donovan's Reef

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Donovan's Reef

1963

1h 49m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Three World War II Navy veterans -- Donovan (John Wayne), Doc Dedham (Jack Warden) and Gilhooley (Lee Marvin) -- converge on the French Polynesian island of Haleakaloha and team up to deceive Dedham's prim daughter (Elizabeth Allen), who has just learned of her father's existence and his inherited stock from the company of which she is chairman, and hopes to find just cause to reclaim his shares. Dedham's marriage to an island woman serves to further threaten his share in the company.

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Frank J. Avella

The Contending

Apr 28

B

There’s a lot of plot in Donovan’s Reef and it’s definitely a genre-blend, often funny, sometimes poignant with action scenes to keep Wayne fans happy...Wayne delivers a sweet, understated turn.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Apr 22

3.5/5

The film roots its rollicking in the rocky road of racial reparations, how the rejection of the rot that can foster is harder than it seems, and an almost radical honesty about harmony that continues to elude us.

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

11/15/2021

4/5

Though it seems to exist mainly as a reason for Johns Wayne and Ford to do a whole lotta drinkin' and fishin' on the studio's dime, Donovan's Reef is undeniably well-made and breezily entertaining.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

05/30/2021

2.5/4

[UPDATED 2025 4K + BLU-RAY REVIEW] Certainly no classic, this knockabout comedy is entertaining enough.

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

10/07/2019

[It] makes it harder than ever to understand why director John Ford is still venerated by a dogged cult in Britain and Europe.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

03/11/2008

C+

Though not in top form, director John Ford and star John Wayne, building on previous and better collaborations in this easy-going (and lazy) adventure set in the Pacific, offering good old fun with the Duke, Jack Warden, Dorothy Lamour and Lee Marvin.

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Matthew H

@Hendy2013 Jan 30

A great John Wayne film partnered with another great in Lee Marvin

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JOE T

@YDHASA63 Jan 4

I agree this should be posted as a Christmas movie. It is family friendly, funny, a great cast of extras and fun to watch.

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John R

@Jtr32533 Dec 26

I can't believe this.is not tagged as a Christmas movie. Its a great family movie, good story, great actors and heartwarming Christmas wrap up! John Wayne gets a girl and she gets a comeuppance from her stuffy Boston upbringing. Lee Marvin gets his girl and more! Great fights between Wayne and Marvin as well!

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Biker B

Mar 17

One of the best comedies ever made! John Wayne and Lee Marvin are brilliant!

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Tom W

@TexOracle Mar 16

The first 20 minutes were all of bad, indulgent, to offensive, and almost gave up. Then stopped to read the plot before continuing to see what I was in for, and recognized there was charm to the story. Can’t believe that the daughter had no contact with a reputable, well established doctor father and family, implausible entirely, but it had its moments.

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Philip B

01/28/2025

Settled in to watch a good tiki themed movie. We got a horrific train wreck disaster with a plot line that barely makes sense. Filled with pointless fights and bizarre side stories. I want to sue and get my money back!!

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John Ford

Director

John Wayne

Michael Patrick "Guns" Donovan

Lee Marvin

"Boats" Gilhooley

Elizabeth Allen

Ameilia Sarah Dedham

Jack Warden

Dr. William Dedham

Cesar Romero

Marquis Andre de Lage

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Synopsis

Three World War II Navy veterans -- Donovan (John Wayne), Doc Dedham (Jack Warden) and Gilhooley (Lee Marvin) -- converge on the French Polynesian island of Haleakaloha and team up to deceive Dedham's prim daughter (Elizabeth Allen), who has just learned of her father's existence and his inherited stock from the company of which she is chairman, and hopes to find just cause to reclaim his shares. Dedham's marriage to an island woman serves to further threaten his share in the company.

Director: John Ford
Producer: John Ford
Screenwriter: Edmund Beloin, James Edward Grant, James Michener, Frank S. Nugent
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, John Ford Productions
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 12, 1963, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Runtime: 1h 49m

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