Donovan's Reef
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: June 12, 1963 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
64
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews
Positive:
7
Mixed:
3
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
Chicago Tribune
Big, bright, corny, muscular, beautifully photographed. [12 Nov 2000, p.27]
70
The New York TimesA.H. Weiler
This running account of Pier 6 brawls, miscegenation, romance and religion that disrupt the idyllic life on a post-World War II South Sea island paradise is sheer contrivance effected in hearty, fun-loving, truly infectious style. Read full review
70
Time OutStaff (Not Credited)
In short, a very bleak - but very funny - comedy. Read full review
70
Village VoiceAndrew Sarris
By any interpretation, Donovan's Reef is a beautiful example of cinematic art, and the atavistic desire to let the movie sweep over the spectator without disruptive analysis is at least understandable. [01 Aug 1963, p.13]
70
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
A minor but enjoyable romp. [03 Mar 1991, p.66]
67
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
Supremely goofy in tone, the film pits Wayne (in his last Ford film) and Marvin as drunken pals who careen from one friendly brawl to the next. A Pacific island paradise becomes their silly playpen. Read full review
63
Chicago ReaderDave Kehr
A rowdy, cheerful film on the surface, it has a disturbingly sour undertone supplied by Ford's realization that this paradise cannot be, and never was.
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64 Critic Reviews

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