Father Goose (1964) – Nostalgia Central

Following the attack on Pearl Harbour, a scruffy, whisky-swilling South Sea recluse named Walter Eckland (Cary Grant) is coerced by the local Australian naval commander (Trevor Howard) to spy on Japanese aircraft and shipping movements from an isolated island and operate a strategic watching station under the radio code name “Mother Goose”.

Out of the blue, Walter – a former history professor – is saddled with the prim young French consul’s daughter, Catherine Freneau (Leslie Caron), and seven young girls, aged 6 to 15, from a consulate school, who are marooned on his otherwise uninhabited island.

Catherine decides that it’s time for Mr Eckland to change his ways, mind his language, improve his eating habits, stop drinking and freshen up his appearance.

Meanwhile, the girls steal his eiderdowns and hide his whisky.

Filmed on location in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, this was the penultimate film of Cary Grant’s career. It was the last time he played a romantic lead.

Walter Eckland
Cary Grant
Catherine Freneau
Leslie Caron
Commander Frank Houghton
Trevor Howard
Stebbings
Jack Good
Jenny
Sharyl Locke
Anne
Pip Sparkes
Christine
Verina Greenlaw
Elizabeth
Stephanie Berrington
Harriet
Jennifer Berrington
Angelique
Laurelle Felsette
Dominique
Nicole Felsette
Dr Bigrave
Alex Finlayson
Lt. Cartwright
John Napier

Director
Ralph Nelson