Movie · 1964 · Adventure, Comedy, Romance · 1h 58m · English
Curator score: 5.2/10 (19K ratings)
They're sharing a South Sea island with 7 little chaperones...and the Pacific as their battleground!
Overview
During World War II, South Sea beachcomber Walter Eckland is persuaded to spy on planes passing over his island. He gets more than he bargained for as schoolteacher Catherine Frenau arrives on the run from the Japanese with her pupils in tow!
Ratings
Curator score: 5.2/10
IMDb: 7.3/10
Letterboxd: 3.46/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
TMDB: 7.1/10
Director
Ralph Nelson
Production
Granox Productions
Cast
Cary Grant, Leslie Caron, Trevor Howard, Jack Good, Sharyl Locke, Pip Sparke, Verina Greenlaw, Stephanie Berrington, Jennifer Berrington, Laurelle Felsette, Nicole Felsette, Alex Finlayson, Peter Forster, Frank Marocco, John Napier, Simon Scott, Don Spruance, Ken Swofford, Richard Lupino
Curator Review
Verdict
A breezy, old-Hollywood wartime adventure-comedy with real star charm. The plot is thin and the romance is uneven, but Cary Grant’s relaxed comic timing and the island-survival setup make it an easy, entertaining watch.
Best for
fans of classic studio comedies
viewers who like wartime stories with a light touch
Cary Grant admirers
people in the mood for a charming, low-stakes adventure
Skip if
you want a strong or believable romance
you prefer modern pacing and sharper jokes
you’re looking for serious WWII drama
you dislike dated gender dynamics or broad 1960s comedy
Overview
Father Goose is one of those polished studio comedies that survives on charisma more than narrative complexity. Cary Grant plays the kind of rumpled, reluctant hero only he could make look effortless, and the South Pacific setting gives the film a pleasant mix of danger, mischief, and tropical escapism.
Worth noting
The movie works best when it leans into Grant’s gruff banter and the odd-couple friction of its wartime setup. Leslie Caron brings warmth and discipline, though the romance is more functional than electric, and some viewers may find the chemistry underpowered.
Bottom line
Still, it’s a likable, easygoing film with enough suspense and comic momentum to keep it moving. If you enjoy classic Hollywood craftsmanship, star-driven repartee, and a little wartime adventure without much heaviness, this is an agreeable pick.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Madison 🎭 (3★) · 130 likes
not to sound like a broken record but women b like i hate gruff alcoholic sea captains until they suck venom out of my leg and then i marry them (i'm women)
Adrian (3★) · 64 likes
Thinking about how Cary Grant pronounces & yells “FRANK” every other second over the radio. Funny enough the thing that made me laugh the hardest concerning the film wasn’t any of the lines itself it was my mom thinking Cary Grant (in a close up mind you) was a Japanese Sailor & going “OH NO!… it’s Cary…”; did giggle a few times though at his censored swearing. Leslie Caron is great in this type of role. If I had a nickel every time I watched a film set during ww2 that took place in Southeast Asia this week I’d have 2 nickels.
pirateneckbeard (3★) · 61 likes
Oh the charm of Cary Grant even as a salty barnacled drunk mariner(Walter) who gets wrangled into the war as a look out by the great Trevor Howard(Frank). This is a light comedy even though it takes place during WW2 on the tiny islands in the south pacific. The young cast is cute and Leslie Caron(Catherine) is adorable as a school teacher that demands better etiquette from Walters lazy gruff persona. I don't know if I cared for how it ended but it was a fun Hollywood movie for those times when that's what you want.
jules (3.5★) · 61 likes
i know i’m not breaking any new ground here with this commentary but: cary grant could get it
chloe (3.5★) · 54 likes
I bring a sort of silly goose vibe to the deserted island that the US Navy doesn’t really like
1963 · Comedy, Mystery, Romance · 1h 53m · NR · Curator 8.5/10 (289K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Pure Flix, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Bloodstream
A glossy, star-powered blend of romance, suspense, and wit that matches the film’s easy charm and elegant banter.