Father Goose (1964)

Father Goose has its flaws, but it's a pretty rare kind of film. A romance/comedy in a world war II setting, with a little bit of action to boot.I didn't like the film much at the start. Grant's character was a bit ridiculous. A common occurrence in the characters he plays, flamboyant and over the top. When the school teacher and her pupils arrive it becomes fun though. Leslie Caron was particularly good as Catherine. Having the chaplain there for a death and then asking for him back for a wedding, really got me after all that had gone on.

Cary Grant's effortless screen charisma was the primary selling point of a 1964 comedy called Father Goose.Grant lights up the screen as Walter, a beachcomber who lives on an isolated south seas island who has been recruited by the military to spot enemy aircraft during World War II, where he is allowed to pretty much live like a hermit and drink to his heart's content who finds his quiet existence disrupted by the arrival of a teacher (Leslie Caron) and seven young girls who have become shipwrecked on the same island as Walter.Peter Stone's screenplay, which seems to have been tailored to Grant's comic sensibilities, actually won an Academy Award, but it's not just the screenplay that works here, but the offbeat choice of character for Grant as well. Grant was always known as being suave, urbane, and sophisticated on screen, but Grant took a calculated risk here playing a character the polar opposite of his traditional on screen image...Walter is unshaven, slovenly, crude, self-absorbed, and a bit of a sexist and having such a character interacting with a straight-laced teacher and a group of young girls turned produced comic gold.Grant offers one his best performances here and his chemistry with Caron is surprisingly solid, considering the vast difference in their ages. I guess it isn't an issue here because the relationship between the two characters is more combative than romantic and Caron somehow manages to hold her own against a cinematic legend who, even though he would make his final film appearance three years later, proved that he still had the chops to carry a movie by himself, but he gets help here from an offbeat character, an unusual story, and breezy direction from Ralph Nelson.

A pack of school girls in uniform and caps running around in constant tropical heat? Food and water never a priority and nobody showing a trace of sweat? This movie is so silly and unbelievable the comedy seems to be straining and never hits home.Cary Gant and Trevor Howard put in good performances. But I don't know how these fine actors could have resisted smirking and scoffing at this silly script. With all the alcohol consumption tagged as funny and frivolous by the storyline, no wonder Trevor Howard became a serious alcoholic and later succumbed as a result.The World War 2 setting as backdrop for a situation comedy rivals Hogan's Heroes. If this had been a story about survival on a tropical island during the war, even with some comedy, it might have worked. But the party-like atmosphere and antics under what would really be fear and hardship makes it simply silly, vapid, and uninteresting. A waste of acting talent and energy.

On a South Seas island during WWII, beach bum Cary Grant is paid (in alcohol) by the Allies to watch for Japanese planes and ships. He finds himself reluctant protector to French teacher Leslie Caron and her students. A delightful and charming comedy. It's Cary Grant's penultimate film and this gruff role is a great change of pace for him. Trevor Howard is good as the Australian Navy commander who forces Grant into service. The child actors are all enjoyable. Leslie Caron is fun and has a lovely chemistry with Cary. Love the blood talk. Grant never felt comfortable being leading man to women young enough to be his daughter (kudos to him for that), and yet that was what he was being offered at the time. He would do one more movie before retiring. This was his last really good one, though. It's a little bit romantic comedy and a little bit family comedy but not enough of either to be hackneyed. Nice theme song "Pass Me By."