Donovan's Reef

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Donovan's Reef

1963,

1h 49m,

Comedy

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Watchlist

67%

15 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

5,000+ Ratings

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.

Frank J. Avella

The Contending

Apr 28, 2025

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, 2025

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

Nov 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

May 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

Oct 7, 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

Mar 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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Han W

Mar 26, 2019

I have read many critic and audience reviews of Donovan's Reef and as is usually true when I read reviews, I can see all the negatives that peole point out. It's not the best John Wayne/John Ford Picture, the script is not that great, there is male/female behavior which is no longer considered acceptable, John Wayne is too old for the part; the list could go on. But I love this picture. I have watched it countless time. If it comes on TCM i watch it again no matter where I come in. I thought Elizabeth Allen is wonderful, a strong character able to go toe to toe with Wayne, but all the actors were good as well. It's another of Fork's anti prejudice films like the Searchers and equally effective. The music is wonderful and as someone once said, all John Ford pictures are musicals;. and the cinematography is beautiful, and I feel you can't be a truly great director without great cinematography. The first time I realized movies were an art form in addition to simple entertainment was when I saw the cinematography in The Quiet Man in the 1957. re-release. It helps if you are shooting in a beautiful location like Ireland or Kauai. So Donovan's Reef is on my personal list of best movies, ones I can watch over and over and enjoy a smile, a laugh, a tear and a lump in the throat as well.. .

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Han R

Feb 24, 2019

By far one of my favorite movies, Wayne and Marvin play off each other so well, and the humor combined with some emotional moments make this movie a must.

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Han R

Mar 14, 2018

The combination of John Wayne and John Ford still works, though to a lesser degree. The beautiful locations help lift the boring moments. Wayne seems like he's still having fun, and so does the audience.

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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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