Father Goose (1964)

   "...an extremely accomplished craftsman... "

With Leslie Caron.

Father Goose - Review is taken from 'The Films of Cary Grant' by Donald Deschner (1973):

"Normally, I am less than enthusiastic about the way fantasy and reality are blended in Hollywood comedies.  I must say I found the mixture in Father Goose very engaging.  The film was co-authored by Peter Stone (who also wrote Grant's recent success Charade) and directed by Ralph Nelson (Lilies of the Field).  Both men appear to have an unusual flair for combining tongue-in-cheek wackiness with honest human insight to produce a very palatable entertainment package.  

The difference between Grant and most other old-line movie stars, who also essentially played themselves on the screen, is that he is an extremely accomplished craftsman and also has a highly developed sense of how to choose a script that does well by him and that he can do well by.  I thought that Miss Caron was delightful in a role that was an off-beat combination of propriety, gumption and earthly good sense."

- Moira Walsh, America

New Artwork by Rebekah Hawley at Studio36 -
Number 71 - Father Goose (Lobby Card Style)

Part Of

For more, see also:

Quote From Today - December 24th 2022

On This Day - December 24th 2021

On This Day - December 24th 2020

Quote From Today... Father Goose (1964)

"Just repeat three words. Alright. Elephant."

Father Goose was Cary Grant's 71st and penultimate full-length feature film.

Walter Eckland: [Jenny, who won't talk, has just given him a bottle of liquor. She doesn't reply when he says "Thank you." He holds up a whistle] See this whistle?

[Jenny nods "yes"]

Walter Eckland: Would you like to have it?

[She nods "yes" again]

Walter Eckland: OK. Now, all you have to do is repeat three simple words after me. Is that a deal?

[She nods "yes"]

Walter Eckland: Just repeat three words. Alright. Elephant.

Jenny: [Looks from Eckland to the whistle and back. Seems to consider for a moment] Elephant.

Walter Eckland: [He smiles, slightly] Rhinoceros.

Jenny: [More quickly this time] Rhinoceros.

Walter Eckland: Wrong.

Jenny: Why?

Walter Eckland: No, not "why," "wrong." Wrong is the third word. You lose.

On This Day... Father Goose (1964)

 Released today back in 1964, Father Goose was Cary Grant's 71st, and penultimate, full length feature film.

Summary:

On a South Sea island during WW2, Walter Eckland (Cary Grant) lives a quiet life. Everything changes when he's persuaded by the Allies to serve as lookout for enemy ships. 

As his main interest is drinking, Eckland proves bad at the job and is sent to another island to fetch his replacement....Only to find a stranded teacher, Catherine (Leslie Caron), and her pupils. After bringing the group back to his island, romantic sparks fly between Eckland and the schoolmistress.

Cast:

Cary Grant...Walter

Leslie Caron...Catherine

Trevor Howard...Houghton

Jack Goode...Stebbings

Sharyl Locke...Jenny

Pip Sparkes...Anne (as Pip Sparke)

Verina Greenlaw...Christine

Stephanie Berrington...Elizabeth

Jennifer Berrington...Harriet

Laurelle Felsette...Angelique

Nicole Felsette...Dominique

Did You Know?

Cary Grant plays a scruffy, whiskey-swilling beachcomber in this movie. He is considered to be cast against type for this role, quite antithetical to his suave, sophisticated, debonair on-screen persona. Even so, it does hark back to the light comedy roles from early in his career.

Production took about eight weeks in Hollywood at Universal Studios and about four weeks on location at a coconut plantation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

Frank's remark to Walter that the Japanese had taken Singapore that morning fixes the date the film opens as February 15, 1942. The official surrender, however, did not take place until 5:15 in the afternoon.

Quotes:

Commander Frank Houghton RAN: [after explaining the Coast-watching service] It's ary important work, Walter. Damned important. You'd might like to volunteer.

Walter Eckland: Oh, I'd love to, Frank! But, I've just signer on for another watching service: the "Watch Out for Walter Eckland" Service!

Lieutenant Stebbings RAN: A great many lives are at stake, Mr. Eckland!

Walter Eckland: Now listen to me, both of you! Now, several years ago, I made peace with the World. Now, if the World isn't bright enough to make peace with ITSELF, it's just going to have to settle things without me!

[catching a fish barehanded. A fish swims toward them]

Walter Eckland: [In a hushed voice] Hey, here she comes again.

Catherine Freneau: How do you know it's a "she"?

Walter Eckland: Her mouth is open, now be quiet.

Walter Eckland: [on the radio on his island] When do I get off?

Commander Frank Houghton RAN: I told you, as soon as we find a replacement for you. In the meantime, try to relax. Oh, and I'm very sorry about your boat. I really am.

Walter Eckland: Is Big Bad Wolf *really* sorry? Because if he is, Big Bad Wolf and Little Bo Peep can DO something for Mother Goose. THEY CAN GO...

[Stebbings cuts the radio off before any profanity goes through]

Commander Frank Houghton RAN: [to Stebbings] I don't really blame him, do you?

Lieutenant Stebbings RAN: Sir, I don't think we've accomplished anything. I don't think he'll report in. I mean, you can lead a horse to water, but can you make it drink?

Commander Frank Houghton RAN: [calmly] When he gets thirsty, he'll drink, Stebbings. He'll drink.

Lieutenant Stebbings RAN: Mother Goose is requesting a chaplain.

Commander Frank Houghton RAN: A chaplain? Good heavens, he's killed her.

Lieutenant Stebbings RAN: No, sir. They want to get married.

Commander Frank Houghton RAN: Married? Goody Two-Shoes and the Filthy Beast?

Lobby Cards:

Directed by Ralph Nelson.

Distributed by Universal-International.

Running time: 116 minutes.

Artwork by Rebekah Hawley at Studio36.

On This Day...Father Goose (1964)

 On today's date back in 1964, Cary Grant released his 71st and penultimate film, Father Goose.

Synopsis:

During World War II South Sea beachcomber Walter Eckland (Cary Grant) is persuaded to spy on planes passing over his island. 

He gets more than he bargained for as schoolteacher Catherine Frenau (Leslie Caron) arrives on the run from the Japanese with her pupils in tow!

"The difference between Grant and most other old-line movie stars, who essentially played themselves on the screen, is that he is an extremely accomplished craftsman and also has a highly developed sense of how to choose a script that does well by him and that he can do well by." - Moira Walsh, America

"By now Grant is a major minor American industry, and his vehicles have a slight smell of protective oil-film on them when they are uncrated - intricate mechanisms that have been carefully planned on huge drawing boards and constructed just as carefully all the way down the line..." 

"...Grant make a strong effort, partly successful to subdue his usual sleek self in the whiskery curmudgeon; even when the gloss shines through, he is still a very skillful performer."

 - Stanley Kauffman, The New Republic

"Grant is excellent as the unshaved, Scotch-drinking misanthrope.."

- Philip T. Hartung, The Commonweal

"I have often played the part of a spiritual bum...But I don't think I have ever looked like one" 

- Cary Grant on his role in Father Goose

Did You Know?

One of Cary Grant's favorite projects. He always maintained his role in this film was most like his real personality. He claimed he kept in touch with most of the girls as they grew up and had families of their own.

Production took about eight weeks in Hollywood at Universal Studios and about four weeks on location at a coconut plantation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

Cary Grant was offered the role of Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (1964) but turned it down to star in this movie. He wanted his Charade (1963) co-star Audrey Hepburn to play Catherine, but she was already committed to My Fair Lady (1964).

The film features the same piece of stock footage of a submarine firing a torpedo that was used in Cary Grant's previous World War II comedy Operation Petticoat (1959).

With Leslie Caron.

Cast:

 Cary Grant ... Walter
 Leslie Caron ... Catherine
 Trevor Howard ... Houghton
 Jack Goode ... Stebbings
 Sharyl Locke ... Jenny
 Pip Sparke ... Anne
 Verina Greenlaw ... Christine
 Stephanie Berrington ... Elizabeth
 Jennifer Berrington ... Harriet
 Laurelle Felsette ... Angelique
 Nicole Felsette ... Dominique

On set.

Press Kit:

Lobby Cards:

"Father Goose " - Spanish(Mexican)

International Poster:

"The Great Wolf Calls" - Italian

"The Big Wolf Calls" - Danish

Directed by Ralph Nelson.

Distributed by Universal-International.

Running time: 116 minutes.

For even more on Father Goose see my previous blog.

https://www.mylifeinayearwitharchie.com/2020/05/my-favourite-film-of-1960sfather.html

My Favourite Film of the 1960's...Father Goose(1964)

Father Goose, must be in my top five Cary Grant films.

In his penultimate film, he moves far away from the clean-cut, debonaire persona that appears in the majority of his other films.

He plays, Walter Eckland, a whiskey drinking curmudgeon, who has made peace with the world.

But the world has other ideas, not only in the shape of war in the South Pacific, but Catherine Freneau (Leslie Caron) and her seven schoolgirl charges! Leslie Caron is very funny and a great pairing with Grant.
Trevor Howard is brilliant, as Commander Frank Houghton.


Grant shines and gives a performance that, although rough and ready in appearance...you can still see the charm.

In its opening weekend at Radio City Music Hall it set a new all-time record for a Christmas opening, $210,380.

The dialogue is so good too;

Walter: "All those miles of open sea and back again a man would need something to keep warm, now, wouldn't he"
Frank: "2 Bottles."
Walter: "All of them, Frank."
Frank: "Three."
Walter: "All of them, Frank."
Frank: "Five."
Walter: "All of them, Frank."
Frank: "Got a pencil?"

Walter: "This isn't the Queen Mary. We don't have room for luggage!"

Walter:

"Let me tell you I am not a father figure. I am not a brother figure or an uncle figure or a cousin figure. In fact, the only figure I intend being is a total stranger figure."

Walter:

"Lady, you are making a powerful enemy!"

Walter:

"If you're waiting for the big finale, I'm sorry this is all I do."

Walter: "Hey, here she comes again."

Catherine: "How do you know it's a "she"?"

Walter: "Her mouth is open, now be quiet."

Walter:

"Maybe if you stopped straightening pictures and let men wear their own pants, maybe they'd be able to touch you without asking "permesso.""

Frank: "Oh and Walter. Until we know what we're dealing with, don't try to be a movie hero and suck out the venom."

Stebbings: "Mother Goose is requesting a chaplain."

Frank: "A chaplain? Good heavens, he's killed her."

Stebbings: "No, sir. They want to get married."

Frank: "Married? Goody Two-Shoes and the Filthy Beast?"

Lobby Cards:

Behind the Scenes:

Release date: December 24th, 1964.

Running time: 116 minutes.