Donovan's Reef

About this Broadcast

An American soldier settles down with a friend and a kindly doctor on a South Sea island to relax in the aftermath of the Second World War. The arrival of the medic's snobbish daughter throws their idyllic life into turmoil, leaving them struggling to make her father seem respectable. Comedy drama directed by John Ford, starring John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Jack Warden, Elizabeth Allen and Cesar Romero

1963

Comedy General Movie/Drama

Cast & Crew

John Wayne (Actor) .. `Guns" Donovan

Lee Marvin (Actor) .. `Boats" Gilhooley

Cesar Romero (Actor) .. Andre de Lage

Jack Warden (Actor) .. Dr Dedham

Elizabeth Allen (Actor) .. Amelia Dedham

Dorothy Lamour (Actor) .. Fleur

Jacqueline Malouf (Actor) .. Lelani

Mike Mazurki (Actor) .. Sgt Menkowicz

John Ford (Director)

More Information

Did You Know..

John Wayne (Actor) .. `Guns" Donovan

Born: May 26, 1907 in Iowa

Best Known For: Being a Hollywood icon.

Early-life: Born Marion Robert Morrison in Iowa on May 26, 1907. His family moved to California when he was young. John studied pre-law at the University of Southern California and played on the university's American football team until a broken collarbone injury put an end to his athletic career. He got a summer job in the prop department of a local film studio.

Career: Wayne began doing bit parts in westerns and adventures and appeared in about 70 movies before his breakthrough role in John Ford's Stagecoach (1939). He went on to star in more than 20 John Ford pictures, including Fort Apache (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Rio Grande (1950), The Searchers (1956) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). Other notable films included Sands of Iwo Jima (1949), The Alamo (1960), The Green Berets (1968), True Grit (1969) and The Shootist (1976). He died of stomach cancer on June 11, 1979 at the age of 72.

Quote: 'I am an old-fashioned, honest-to-goodness, flag-waving patriot.'

Trivia: Known for his distinctive gravelly voice. He won an Academy Award for True Grit. He played the lead role in 142 films and was predominantly known for his roles in westerns.