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Walter Eckland (Cary Grant) is a boozed-up, unshaven, somewhat disagreeable bum who lives in the South Seas on a deserted island and just wants the war and everybody else to go away and leave him alone. He just bought a yacht from a British Aristocrat for practically nothing and is heading to a British port for protection. Commander Frank Houghton (Trevor Howard) has other ideas though. He wants Eckland to go to a deserted island and become a coast watcher of a strategic station. He has other plans, but so do the British. Promised a load of food and booze, his plan is to leave just after the Navy does, but as the Navy vessel is leaving, they accidentally-on-purpose hit Walter's boat and disabled it. He just barely makes it to shore and beaches his boat. Now he is stuck. He's really mad now. He gets hold of Frank Houghton and demands to be picked up, but is told it is out of the question. In addition, they have hidden all of his whiskey and won't tell him where it is unless he cooperates by doing the job, which he reluctantly does. Two days later he receives a call from "Mother Goose", Houghton's code name. They need him to go to another island to rescue the watcher there. He agrees to go only if they tell him where the whiskey is hidden. When Walter arrives, he finds the watcher dead, and the Island occupied by Japanese. He also finds a beautiful young woman, Catherine Frenau (Leslie Caron), daughter of a French diplomat, and seven young girls who are her students. Their plane was shot down and crash landed on the island. Now we have Eckland and the school teacher and seven little girls 8-13, who are all crammed into a seven foot dingy crossing miles of ocean, and of course, all of the girls are constantly complaining! When they arrive back at Ecklands island, he goes to bed. When he wakes up he finds that his shack has been taken over by the females, most of his clothes gone, and all of his whiskey is once again hidden. Walter is hopping mad and is constantly complaining about the women who have completely kicked him out of his house. Very soon, Walter is known as the "Filthy Pig", and Frenau is "Goody Two-Shoes". Walter goes back to live on his half flooded beached boat. He begins to work on it in hopes of making repairs well enough to make it to the nearest British port, 300 miles away. Several of the children befriend him and all want to help. One of the girls is about 13-14, and she is falling in love with Walter, and scaring him to death. The constant closeness and hostility leads to strange bed fellows, and when Christine is thought to have been bitten by a deadly snake, feelings explode. Suddenly after a few drinks she passed out and Walter thinks she died. But suddenly she wakes up and they find out that the snake was just a plant reed. Now instead of war, they want to get married! During the ceremony a Japanese plane strafes the place and now they need to get off that island right away. A submarine is sent, but just as they are to be picked up, the Japanese decide to land. Walter puts all of the girls and his wife into the dinghy and attempts to decoy the Jap boat out past the reef by having it chase his yacht. The submarine is there but can't shoot at the Japanese boat until it clears the reef. Just as they launch their torpedoes, the Japanese boat hits Walter's yacht and it explodes. The Japanese ship is hit and explodes right after. Walter jumped clear just before it exploded, and he and the girls were all rescued.Read full review
I've always loved this movie,Cary Grant was such a great actor. This movie has really good suspense, and comedy, great scenery, and action,it keeps you watching and entertained. Thank you.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Part of the Cary Grant collection series, this 1964 Academy Award winner (for Best Story and Screenplay) is Cary Grant all the way! Wonderful performance by the old man interacting superbly with talented Leslie Caron in the traditional love-hate relationship (first I can't stand you, then I can't live without you) in clean comedy form. Trevor Howard provides a great supporting role in this story set in the WWII Pacific Theater. The war is just the backdrop though to provide the scenes for Grant the beachcomber turned reluctant coast watcher who's already disagreeable life is turned upside down by a stranded French schoolmarm (Caron) and her seven girl charges. The new DVD release is a standard recording with scene access, some interactive screens and delivered in widescreen version (1.85:1 ratio). For those old enough to remember the big screen release, yes this is the same one. For the younger crowd, well this is a lesson in how they used to make movies. If rated, it would probably be PG for reference to alcohol use (remember Grant starts out as a gruff beachcomber type). Enjoy!Read full review
Cary grant unfortunately finds himself stuck on an island looking for the enemy. His dear old pal frank makes sure that he can't go anywhere else. When he has to go to a different island to rescue another spotter he finds more then he bargain for. A beautiful school marm and seven girls. What happens before they are rescue are anybody's guess.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
PLOT: AMERICAN HIDING OUT IN THE PACIFIC IS BLACKMAILED INTO BEING A "SPOTTER" OF JAPANESE PLANES~ TO HELP OUT THE WAR EFFORT~ (WORLD WAR 2) Walter Eckland aka Cary Grant in his last movie as a boozy man blackmailed by the Brits into become a "spotter" in New Guinea during WW2. The deal is simple...they hid his booze in order to get it he has to spot a plane~ sounds simple until a French School Teacher ( Leslie Caron)and her 7 Students all little girls end up his very UNWelcome and UNINVITED "GUESTS"~ USING the code names he becomes the "Filthy Beast" and she is "Goody 2 Shoes" which describes them perfectly~ with the Japanese surround them the battle of the sexes was never so funny~ they steal his clothes and take everything the poor man has because he will not share~ very funny~ This is a comedy classic is funny 40 years later~after the Teacher is "bit" by a snake apparently believing she is dying the BEAST and Good2shoes use the Booze to help ease her pain of dying but there was no snake and the 2 drunk people tell all their little secrets which adds to the humor. More fun is the old cranky bachelor and the teacher fall in love along the way. Well written and acted. 1964 Academy Award for Best Story and Screenplay. this is a KEEPER . I give this a 10 out of 10 . Suitable for all ages~ Cary at his best~oh the Title tune Pass Me Bye is a joy to hear too~ so very apt for Carys way of life~ ALSO SEE THE AWFUL TRUTH FOR MORE GREAT CARY GRANT EARLY FUN AND OF COURSE~ THAT TOUCH OF MINK~ if you found this review helpful please remember to vote~Read full review
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