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)

 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.

Leading Ladies...Part 3

So that brings us to those actresses who appeared only on screen once with Cary Grant.

Adrienne Ames
Sinners in the Sun (1932)

Tallulah Bankhead
Devil and the Deep (1932)

Ethel Barrymore
None But The Lonely Heart (1944)

Constance Bennett
Topper (1937)

Janet Blair
Once Upon a Time (1944)

Mary Brian
The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss (1937)

"He was the most fun and the most romantic man I've ever known."


Leslie Caron

Father Goose (1964)

"Cary liked women who had a distinction and a certain education about them."


Jeanne Crain
People Will Talk (1951)

Also appeared on the radio, Jan 25th, 1954, in People Will Talk.

Doris Day
That Touch of Mink (1962)

Laraine Day
Mr. Lucky (1943)

Also appeared on the radio, Oct 18th, 1943, in Mr. Lucky.

Marlene Dietrich
Blonde Venus (1932)

Lily Damita
This Is The Night (1932)

Frances Drake
Ladies Should Listen (1934)

Samantha Eggar
Walk, Don't Run (1966)

Faye Emerson
Destination Tokyo (1944) The only credited actress in the cast.

Frances Farmer
The Toast of New York (1937)

Jean Harlow
Suzy (1936)

Rita Hayworth
Only Angels Have Wings (1939)

Charlotte Henry
Alice in Wonderland (1933)

Audrey Hepburn

Charade (1963)

"Working with him was a joy. There was something special, which was quite undefinable, about Cary. He was a quiet man basically, for someone who dealt in comedy, and yet very much to the point."


Benita Hume
Gambling Ship (1933)

Grace Kelly

To Catch a Thief (1955)

"Everyone grows old, except Cary Grant."

"Grace was astonishing. When you played a scene with her, she really listened. She was right there with you. She was Buddha-like in her concentration. She was like Garbo in that respect." - Cary Grant


Elissa Landi
Enter Madame! (1935)

Priscilla Lane
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Helen Mack
Kiss and Make Up (1934)

Jayne Mansfield
Kiss Them From Me (1957)

Gertrude Michael
The Last Outpost (1935)

Grace Moore
When You're in Love (1937)

Also appeared on the radio, March 8th, 1937, in Madame Butterfly.

Marilyn Monroe

Monkey Business (1952)

"She seemed very shy, and I remember that when the studio workers would whistle at her, it seemed to embarrass her." - Cary Grant


Joan O'Brien
Operation Petticoat (1959)

Suzy Parker
Kiss Them From Me (1955)

Paula Raymond
Crisis (1950)

Rosalind Russell
His Girl Friday (1940)

Eva Marie Saint

North By Northwest (1959)

"Other men wear suits. But with other men, there'sthe man and then there's the suit on him. That didn't happen to Cary Grant. For him, style was like a skin."


Martha Scott

The Howards of Virginia (1940)

"He was conscious of his body movement, like a dancer. It was wonderful to watch."


Jean Simmons
The Grass is Greener (1961)

Alexis Smith

Night and Day (1946)

"There was such an intense quality and focus about his work...He was mesmerizing and very exciting."


Shirley Temple
The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer (1947)

Also appeared on the radio, June 13th, 1949, in The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer.

Thelma Todd
This is the Night (1932)

Jane Wyman
Night and Day (1946)