Father Goose

Father Goose
Cary Grant's penultimate feature before retirement was this cheerful 1964 effort to overturn his career-long image of urbane sophistication. As the unshaven, messy misanthrope Walter Eckland, a World War II-era beach bum who monitors Japanese air activity for the Australian navy in exchange for booze, Grant makes a convincingly hard-bitten, hard-drinking antihero. Until, that is, a pretty French schoolmistress (Leslie Caron) and her seven little charges (all girls) survive a nearby plane crash and invade Eckland's raunchy isolation. Directed by 1960s hit-maker Ralph Nelson (The Lilies of the Field, Charly), Father Goose is a glossy comedy that also does justice to its more suspenseful scenes (a deadly snakebite suffered by Caron's character is especially memorable) and leaves plenty of room for Grant to indulge in some entertaining if atypical screen behavior. All in all, this is a minor treat in the actor's magnificent filmography. --Tom Keogh
Customer Review: One of Cary Grants best!
This WWII story is a classic. Cary Grant is an easy comedian in this relaxed story of "old drinking codger" vs. "uptight french school teacher" played by Leslie Caron. I watched it years ago and now on DVD, its not to be missed esp if you are a Cary Grant fan. The storyline is good and keeps your interest even if it is predictable. For kids and grown up alike. Most enjoyable. My family watches it over and over.
Customer Review: Great gift
I got this for my father for Christmas---the wrapping paper was barely off of it before it was in the DVD player! A great film showing a very different Cary Grant.