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Father Goose (1964)
In director Ralph Nelson's romantic adventure comedy
(Cary Grant's second-to-last film) - a comedy of the sexes between
a boozy, slovenly and unkempt sailor and a prim and proper schoolmarm:
- scruffy, whisky-swigging,
unshaven sailor and beachcomber Walter Eckland (Cary Grant - playing
against type, and in the only film in which he was unshaven throughout
the entire story) was located on an isolated South Pacific island
(Matalava Island) during WWII, serving as a 'volunteer' Allied coast
watcher and plane spotter (code-named "Father Goose");
he was working for the Royal Navy and Commander Frank Houghton (aka "Big
Bad Wolf")
(Trevor Howard)
Walter Eckland with Schoolteacher Miss Freneau
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His Opinion of Her: "A frustrated
spinster who can't find a husband"
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Her Opinion of Him: "An
undisciplined, self-indulgent escapist"
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- in many comedic situations,
Walter was beset by French teacher Miss Catherine Freneau (Leslie
Caron) and seven female schoolgirls, who were stranded on the island
with him; she called him a "rude, foul-mouthed, drunken filthy beast,"
and "an undisciplined, self-indulgent escapist" while
he called her "Miss Goody-Two-Shoes" and "a frustrated
spinster who can't find a husband"
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Eckland's Radio Contact with Comm. Frank Houghton (Trevor
Howard)
Eckland with Seven Schoolgirls
The Appearance of a Japanese Enemy Patrol Boat
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