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Just off the South Sea island of Haleakoloha, World War
II hero "Boats" Gilhooley jumps ship and swims ashore in search of his
Navy buddy, "Guns" Donovan. Each year on their birthdays (December
7), the two men engage in a barroom brawl; this year's ritual takes
place in Donovan's Reef, a tavern owned by Guns. The men nearly
destroy the place before the fight is halted by island physician Doc
Dedham, the third member of the naval trio.
Meanwhile, Dedham's daughter, Amelia, is on her way to
Haleakoloha from Boston, hoping to prevent her father, whom she has
never seen, from inheriting a huge family fortune. When the three
friends learn of the visit, they arrange for Guns to temporarily adopt
the doctor's three half-caste children, assuming that Amelia would never
accept them as brothers and sisters, even though their late mother was
an island princess. Their fears about Amelia are well-founded;
although she likes the children, her relationship with Guns and
Gilhooley is stormy.
Island governor André de Lage attempts to court Amelia—largely
for her money—but he is rebuffed. When
she defeats Guns in a swimming race after a water-skiing expedition, she
begins to enjoy his company. Then she learns that the children
belong to her father, blames Guns for depriving them of their natural
home, and walks out on him. Reconciliation attempts are
interrupted when Guns and Gilhooley take on a barroom full of Australian
sailors in a huge free-for-all.
In the end, Amelia decides to marry Guns and remain on
Haleakoloha; Gilhooley finally agrees to marry his longtime girl friend,
Fleur; and a business transaction between the two brawling buddies turns
the tavern into Gilhooley's Reef. |
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