Rating: 
Summary: GETS BETTER WITH EACH PASSING YEAR
Review: Professional movie reviewers and published guides do not rate Donovan's Reef very high. More than a few seem to look down their noses at this light comedy. But I have always liked it. Nothing about this movie is supposed to be taken seriously with the sole exception of its subtle rejection of racism. (Some may nitpick about certain depictions of the "non-whites"; but only the hard hearted would fail to notice that the "whites" come off as essentially foolish as well.) At the center is the battle of the sexes between Wayne and Elizabeth Allen-each side getting its share of victories and comeuppances. All the characters are likable and the writing is sharp and witty.Of special enjoyment is the Christmas Pageant in the leaky chapel. I have never been able to think about the "three wise men" of the Christmas story without this scene coming to mind. The Polynesian ceremony at the end of the film is also humorous as well as touching. The setting is supposed to be French Polynesia but everything about the film from the scenery to the people suggests Hawaii. No matter. This is simply a great "little" comedy. Watch it some lazy Sunday afternoon and it will make your day.
Rating:
Summary: GETS BETTER WITH EACH PASSING YEAR
Review: Professional movie reviewers and published guides do not rate Donovan's Reef very high. More than a few seem to look down their noses at this light comedy. But I have always liked it. Nothing about this movie is supposed to be taken seriously with the sole exception of its subtle rejection of racism. (Some may nitpick about certain depictions of the "non-whites"; but only the hard hearted would fail to notice that the "whites" come off as essentially foolish as well.) At the center is the battle of the sexes between Wayne and Elizabeth Allen-each side getting its share of victories and comeuppances. All the characters are likable and the writing is sharp and witty. Of special enjoyment is the Christmas Pageant in the leaky chapel. I have never been able to think about the "three wise men" of the Christmas story without this scene coming to mind. The Polynesian ceremony at the end of the film is also humorous as well as touching. The setting is supposed to be French Polynesia but everything about the film from the scenery to the people suggests Hawaii. No matter. This is simply a great "little" comedy. Watch it some lazy Sunday afternoon and it will make your day.
Rating: 
Summary: Pleasant enough film (Ford's Holiday's actually!).
Review: The class of John Ford as director is so big that he pulls out a good enough/funny film while holidaying with the cast on the Pacific!, quite a trick mind!.
I do not know of any actual director to pull that off.
Family film, simple plot, beautifully shooted.
No message just plain entertainment.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Movie!
Review: This is a good comedy to watch when you want to smile and feel good. It was directed by John Ford and stars John Wayne with Lee Marvin; Dorothy Lamour, Elizabeth Allen and Cesar Romero. The scenery is beautiful and the script is warm, funny and witty. It has a charming, uplifting, family appropriate theme.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Movie!
Review: This is a good comedy to watch when you want to smile and feel good. It was directed by John Ford and stars John Wayne with Lee Marvin; Dorothy Lamour, Elizabeth Allen and Cesar Romero. The scenery is beautiful and the script is warm, funny and witty. It has a charming, uplifting, family appropriate theme.
Rating:
Summary: It's all about loyalties...
Review: This is a great romantic comedy, though a first time viewer won't know what to make of it until about 1/2 way into the show. This show is set on a post-WWII south seas island where a former US sailor (Wayne) runs a bar called Donovan's Reef. I particularly enjoy the slant on the sometimes strained alliance between US and British Commonwealth (Australian) forces that comes through during the main bar room brawl. "Turn your hat around. Now you're a yank." This movie is well suited to viewing on a lazy summer afternoon. Note: my name didn't make it onto my earlier review, thus, the repeat. Alan Holyoak
Rating: 
Summary: Good movie...Soft DVD
Review: This is a very fun movie from John Ford & John Wayne, Unfortunately, the DVD presentation is rather on the soft side. There are no very clear shots of the actors, and that is a real shame. If only Paramount had gone to the same effort that MGM had on restoring this movie like "The Horse Soldiers". Oh Well, it's still a fun movie, and is finally presented in it's originally aspect ratio of 1:185. A gem of movie, that Paramount could have made a whole lot more fun, if it had tried to restore properly!
Rating:
Summary: Not Wayne's Best But A Fun Movie Nevertheless
Review: Three war veterans/buddies (John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Jack Warden) settle on a tropical island after WW2. Wayne is the unacknowledged leader on the island, with a flirtatious floozy, Dorothy Lamour, in constant but fruitless pursuit of him. Marvin, who co-owns a saloon with Wayne, is a harmless but loud and disorderly rogue. Wayne and Marvin are best friends and worst enemies (but not really). Warden is the doctor for the island, plus surrounding islands. He left behind a socialite wife and a daughter, after falling in love with the hereditary queen of the island, who then died fighting the Japanese. Cesar Romero is official Governor of the island. He's a rich, sauve ladies' man and sophisticate, who sees his governorship as a form of exile. His behavior is almost as slick as his hair, and just as slippery. Everything sails along smoothly until Warden's East Coast sophisticate daughter arrives with little advance warning. Wayne and Marvin, fearing that the truth about Warden's love affair with the deceased Princess (and the children that resulted) would cause a major problem for Warden and his daughter, set up a ruse wherein Wayne poses as the father of the children (Warden is away making rounds when his daughter arrives). The scenery is beautiful, the music is nice, the story is somewhat light, and most of the acting is good (although Marvin plays his role as a caricature or as if he really were intoxicated throughout). This movie probably earns a 3.5 but they don't let me do that. A good fun film, but Wayne has done several better ones: "True Grit", "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (with a better performance by Lee Marvin), and especially "The Shootist".
Rating:
Summary: One of John Wayne's Best!
Review: What a great role for John Wayne. This film is a classic with a good role and the acting you would expect from the Hero, with a slight twist from his usual roles. If you have liked any of John Wayne's films you will love this one.
Rating:
Summary: Escape and romance favorite
Review: When I need to escape lifes drudgery this is my all time favorite, it is also becoming one of my Christmas all time best, to cheer me up. I only wish John Wayne would have made more of these movies.
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