Father Goose
Released: 1964
Directed: Ralph Nelson
Starring: Cary Grant, Leslie Caron
Description: Cary Grant plays Walter Eckland, a drunken boat captain in the South Sea during WWII. He is strong-armed into being a temporary island watchman for the British Navy and before long matters get out of hand. When a watchman on a neighboring island reports that the Japanese are closing in Grant agrees to a rescue mission only to find the watchman dead and instead a prim and proper schoolteacher and a band of young girls. Taking them back to his island the rest of the movie is a funny series of adjustments and changes of character.
Reasons to watch: When we think about film as a medium it is easy to say “oh yes, yes the Godfather. Oh yes, yes Citizen Kane. Oh yes, yes…” and we all stick our fingers under our suspenders and rock back and forth on our heels. We so often forget about the little tiny gems. Even when thinking about Cary Grant one thinks of “To Catch a Thief” and “His Girl Friday” but this was one of his very last films and it so often is forgotten which is a real shame. I watched this movie countless times as a child and when I stumbled across it again recently it still had me laughing hysterically. Now, for those of you who might be fashion-minded we all know that Grant is an edifice of men’s fashion but again we remember “North by Northwest”, “Charade” and “Notorious” but this movie is in my opinion why Cary Grant is so memorable as a sartorial icon. The entire movie he is dirty, unshaven and covered in grime but his chambray shirt and canvas pants still couldn’t look any cooler. So here’s to you Mr. Grant and to a great movie. Seriously, if you are in the mood for a good, heart-warming laugh I suggest this movie. It’s on Netflix’s instant play so check it out!
Thecinet5's Blog 