FATHER GOOSE [1964 / 2013] [Blu-ray] [USA Release] They’re sharing a South Sea island with 7 little chaperones . . . and the Pacific as their battleground!
Cary Grant [‘Indiscreet’] stars in one of his funniest roles as a boozy beachcomber Walter Christopher Eckland sitting out World War II in peace until the Allies recruit him to be a lookout on the South Pacific isle. During an enemy attack, he answers a distress call and discovers a beautiful French schoolmarm Catherine Louise Marie Ernestine Freneau [Leslie Caron] and her seven girl students. And so begins a hilarious battle of the sexes between the messy American, the prim mademoiselle and seven mischievous little girls. Who will win is anybody's guess, but you can be sure that ‘FATHER GOOSE’ delivers plenty of romantic fun and adventure along the way. The wonderful cast includes Trevor Howard [‘The Third Man’]. Directed by Ralph Nelson [‘Lilies of the Field’]. Academy Award® winner for Best Story and Screenplay and nominated for two more Academy Award® for Best Editing and Best Sound.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1965 Academy Awards®: Win: Best Writing, Story and Screenplay and Written Directly for the Screen for Frank Tarloff (screenplay), Peter Stone (screenplay) and S.H. Barnett (story). Nominated: Best Sound for Waldon O. Watson (Universal City SSD). Nominated: Best Film Editing for Ted J. Kent. 1965 Golden Globes: Nominated: Best Motion Picture in a Comedy or Musical. 1965 Laurel Awards: Win: Golden Laurel Award for Comedy. Nominated: Golden Laurel Award for Comedy Male Performance for Cary Grant. 1965 Writers Guild of America: Nominated: WGA Award (Screen) for Best Written American Comedy for Frank Tarloff and Peter Stone.
FILM FACT No.2: ‘FATHER GOOSE’ was filmed on location in Jamaica. When Cary Grant was asked by a Universal Pictures executive to read the short story, he liked it well enough to pass it along to Peter Stone, who told him he wanted to write the screenplay. Cary Grant then arranged for him to be signed to ‘FATHER GOOSE’ and Peter Stone's contract called for a picture a year for five years. Director Ralph Nelson stated he tried to avoid professional child actors; with one exception, he succeeded. The Japanese patrol vessel at the end of the film was portrayed by a former U.S. Coast Guard wood hull 83-foot WPB patrol boat. This was the penultimate film of Cary Grant's long career.
Cast: Cary Grant, Leslie Caron, Trevor Howard, Jack Goode, Sharyl Locke, Pip Sparkes, Verina Greenlaw, Stephanie Berrington, Jennifer Berrington, Laurelle Felsette, Nicole Felsette, Alex Finlayson (uncredited), Peter Forster (uncredited), Richard Lupino (uncredited), Frank Marocco (uncredited), John Napier (uncredited), Simon Scott (uncredited), Don Spruance (uncredited) and Ken Swofford (uncredited)
Director: Ralph Nelson
Producer: Robert Arthur
Screenplay: Frank Tarloff (screenplay), Peter Stone (screenplay) and S.H. Barnett (story)
Composer: Cy Coleman
Costume Design: Ray Aghayan (uncredited)
Cinematography: Charles Bryant Lang Jr., A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English: 1.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
Subtitles: None
Running Time: 116 minutes
Region: Region A/1
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Universal Pictures / Olive Films
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘FATHER GOOSE’ [1964] is set in 1941 as the Japanese advance and the Australians withdraw from the South Pacific islands. Cary Grant plays Walter Christopher Eckland, an American ex-professor who fled to the islands before the war to escape civilization. Walter Christopher Eckland is not well mannered in the least and would much rather have a crate of whiskey than anything else.
Walter Christopher Eckland is persuaded to volunteer, although that term seems to be used quite loosely as he doesn’t seem to have any choice, as a lookout, and is posted on a South Pacific island alone. Walter Christopher Eckland attempts to rescue a watcher from another island, but turns up too late and finds him dead. Instead, he discovers Catherine Louise Marie Ernestine Freneau [Leslie Caron], the daughter of the French Consul in possession of seven little girls who were students at the consulate. Walter Christopher Eckland takes them back to his lookout in a boat more suitable for one where they take over his home and attempt to improve his habits. Because it’s too dangerous to arrange to airlift them off the island, they’re stuck living with alcoholic slob that is Walter Christopher Eckland for many weeks. The comedy between these battles of the sexes is quite fun as Catherine Louise Marie Ernestine Freneau tries to make a proper home for the girls and Walter Christopher Eckland refuses to cooperate.
Deliberately casting his established screen image aside, the 60-year-old Cary Grant plays Walter Christopher Eckland, an unkempt, uncouth and unshaven beach bum. It is truly a sight to see my first celebrity crush as a beach bum. Reminiscing over all the tuxedos and smoking jackets and loafers makes one question why Grant would take such a role, but after watching such a sweet and naive story I understand that Cary Grant stays true to his charming charismatic self and shines through the grime and liquor of the one Mr. Walter Christopher Eckland.
The first half of the film devotes good time and great laughs to Walter who keeps busy relaying radio reports of Japanese air activity only because he’s been promised a shipment of liquor by Australian naval officer Frank Houghton [Trevor Howard] that has been hidden across the island to keep him honest and working. Cary Grant portrays such a drunkard in a way I believe only he could. The characters in this film aren’t out of the ordinary, they’re quite relatable, especially the one young girl who just keeps repeating, “I want to go home,” until of course it is time to get off the island and suddenly she doesn’t want to anymore.
The story is inventive, but isn’t new, but it definitely lively and hilarious and completely entertaining. The arrival of the beautiful Leslie Caron as a French schoolmistress, Catherine Louise Marie Ernestine Freneau, and her seven young students adds whimsy to the list of words to describe this film. Catherine Louise Marie Ernestine Freneau is a strong female who has her way with Walter Christopher Eckland’s island and camp. The animosity between Walter and Walter Christopher Eckland erupts into a slapping contest, with Walter dishing it out as well as taking it. Only when Catherine Louise Marie Ernestine Freneau is bitten by a deadly snake does Walter Christopher Eckland express his affections for her. The chemistry between Leslie Caron and Cary Grant only leaves you wanting more; they are both smug and delightful. But there us a lot more family comedy than war in this movie, as its title suggests. Humorous situations mix with witty banter and a bit of slapstick to make this a classic.
The children’s individual personalities are also very entertaining, too. Tomboy Harriet "Harry" MacGregor [Jennifer Berrington] prefers to be called Harry, loves to play cricket, and thinks everything is “smashing.” The oldest, Elizabeth Anderson [Stephanie Berringto], gets a crush on Mr. Walter Christopher Eckland, while the youngest, Jenny [Sharyl Locke], refuses to open her mouth unless it’s to bite Walter Christopher Eckland. We see Walter Christopher Eckland bond with each of the girls, including Catherine Louise Marie Ernestine Freneau throughout the film. He transforms slowly from a grumpy old sailor to a charming father figure. And the marriage of Mr. Walter Christopher Eckland and Miss Catherine Louise Marie Ernestine Freneau via radio is hilarious and heartfelt and everything it should be for a romantic comedy with these two lovely actors.
It’s one of the better Cary Grant films to introduce children to, and one of Cary Grant’s most likeable performances. It’s also a darned good “starter” romantic comedy because of all the other distractions. Don’t expect a laugh-out-loud comedy — just a lot of smiles, and a little tension too, as the world threatens to tear this couple apart before they can even come together. It’s a fun, light hearted adventure that’s perfect for family movie night. But it’s the film that’s the star. If you don’t already own this title on Blu-ray, it’s a must-add “oldie” for your family’s collection.
FATHER GOOSE MUSIC TRACK LIST
PASS ME BY (Lyrics: Carolyn Leigh) (Music by Cy Coleman) (uncredited) [Sung by Digby Wolfe] (uncredited)
OH PROMISE ME (Written by Reginald De Koven and Clement Scott) [Played on accordion over the radio during the wedding scene]
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Blu-ray Image Quality – Universal Pictures and Olive Films presents us the film ‘FATHER GOOSE’ with a new restoration 1080p image that makes this film look great. The very colourful and fun setting of this lush island come across very clearly, that is helped with the 1.85:1 aspect ratio. During the darker indoor footage there is great shadow definition that removes the flatness from the old master and aids the quality of depth in this film. Black levels are deep and dark. Shadows, shade and night-time sequences look really rich. Colours are beautiful and vivid. Everything looks very lifelike and real. Skin tones are natural continuously throughout the film. Facial features are much more apparent in close-ups and medium shots. You can truly see the 60-year-old Cary Grant for himself, dirt, wrinkles, and all clean. A few moments of seriously minor noise that was not distracting in the least. As with virtually all Olive Films releases, there doesn't appear to have been any digital tweaking of any kind to the source elements.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Universal Pictures and Olive Films brings us the film ‘FATHER GOOSE’ with one standard 1.0 DTS-HD Master Audio experience is a surprisingly boisterous affair, replete with an excellent rendering of Cy Coleman's very playful composed film score. We get to experience some low-frequency dynamics. As a war film your subwoofer definitely is in use. Deep shots and explosions are peppered throughout the film and have good dynamic range. Most of all, the audio on this Blu-ray is great and should be expected, no dropouts or distortion. Dialogue is very cleanly presented, with excellent fidelity and unusually wide dynamic range for a comedy of this calibre.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras: Olive Films felt no special features should be included on this Blu-ray release; they could have at least included the Original Theatrical Trailer.
Finally, ‘FATHER GOOSE’ is a great film and Cary Grant’s character is so unlike any other that he has portrayed. He subdues his usual obviously handsome and smooth look for one more understated and fun. His usual charm seeps through and makes the odd group of characters ever so lovable. The film is full of great one-liners and will continuously have you laughing at both the characters and their circumstances. ‘FATHER GOOSE’ finds Cary Grant and Leslie Caron have great chemistry as does Cary Grant with all of the children in the film. ‘FATHER GOOSE’ understands exactly what it should be from the moment that it begins and through the entirety of the film. It makes no pretensions about it being a film that is designed to be enjoyed and entertain all. It’s a studio produced film in the best possible way. Lush vistas, charming script and a game cast take this particular subgenre and gives it’s a shiny new coat. ‘FATHER GOOSE’ is a semi-forgotten gem that definitely deserves to be rediscovered as it’s a fun time to be had by all. This is a different Cary Grant and Leslie Caron classic comedy film, but one that should not be missed. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
