The Dove **** (1974, Joseph Bottoms, Deborah Raffin, John McLiam) – Classic Movie Review 10,184

Director Charles Jarrott’s 1974 adventure The Dove is a marvellously ship-shape, sea-worthy movie, with eye-catching Technicolor photography from master cinematographer Sven Nykvist that is a sight for sore eyes throughout, and many exciting sailing sequences with thrills aplenty, even for landlubbers.

Gregory Peck produced this rousing, handsome looking family film about real-life teenage yachtsman Robin Lee Graham (Joseph Bottoms) who sailed the world for five years in a tiny craft, a 23-foot sloop named The Dove, falling in love with young traveller Patti Ratteree (Deborah Raffin) on the trip.

It is a first-class trip, and Bottoms and Raffin are excellent, too, handling it with charm and conviction.

Joseph Bottoms won the Golden Globe as Most Promising Newcomer – Male, and ‘Sail the Summer Winds’ (John Barry music, Don Black lyrics) was nominated for Best Original Song – Motion Picture.

Peter Beagle and Adam Kennedy’s screenplay is based on the book by Robin Lee Graham and Derek Gill.

Also in the cast are John McLiam, Dabney Coleman, John Anderson, Colby Chester, Ivor Barry, John Meillon, Gordon Glenwright, Garth Meade, Peter Gwynne, Cecily Polsohn and Dale Cutts.

The Dove is directed by Charles Jarrott, runs 105 minutes, is made by Peck and St George, is released by EMI (UK) and Paramount Pictures (1974) (US), is written by Peter Beagle and Adam Kennedy, based on the book by Robin Lee Graham and Derek Gill, is shot in Technicolor by Sven Nykvist, is produced by Gregory Peck, is scored by John Barry and is designed by Peter Lamont.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,184

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