"Bon Voyage" is a very good Disney movie from the studio's heyday of family films - that is, films centered around families. It's a comedy that also includes subtle lessons about life. These may not be such heralded motives or themes in the Hollywood of the 21st century, or even of large audience interests in modern times. But in the mid-20th century - especially the two decades plus, after World War II, they were good themes and very popular. This film finished 13th place in box office sales for the year. So, audiences of that time - and, most critics, enjoyed this movie.
The movie screenplay was written by Joseph Hayes. It is based on the 1956 novel of the same title that he co-wrote with his wife, Merrijane. Hayes is remembered for a number of novels and screenplays. His most notable work was his 1954 book, "The Desperate Hours," from which he then wrote a 1955 Broadway play that won the Tony as the best play of the year. That was followed immediately by a screenplay for the blockbuster film that starred Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March, and Martha Scott. Although more celebrated for his mystery and thriller stories, Hayes also wrote some comedy and drama.
Among the cast of this film set on a ship crossing the Atlantic and then, in Paris and the French Rivera, are some actors dubbed as Disney legends - notably, Fred MacMurray as Harry Willard and Tommy Kirk as his son, Elliott. They and Deborah Walley as daughter Amy give the best performances with the bulk of the screen time. The rest of the cast are good, including Jane Wyman as Mrs. Katie Willard, Michael Callan as Nick O'Mara, who pursues Amy from ship to shore, and Kevin Corcoran as the youngest Willard, Skipper.
Not many movies have been made about families on vacation. There was a small surge of such films in the mid-20th century, mostly comedies. This is one of the better films, along with "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation" of the same year that starred James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara. Other movies, "National Lampoon's European Vacation" of 1985 and later films since then have lots of comedy in the antics of the cast, but very little interplay about family life.
The usual family humor is present here, where the older teens think their parents are old-fashioned, out of touch, or not to be believed or followed. After some antics and mishaps, Harry talks reasonably with Elliott and Amy. And the kids find out that dad may be wise after all. That kind of family interplay is most often left out of modern movies in favor of all-out efforts for humor. The result is often a picture of dumb parents, a dodo dad, and families in which kids have little or no respect for parents. I can't believe that modern vacationing families might really be like that.
Anyway, this is a very good film that is quite funny in places and thought-provoking at times. Here are some favorite lines.
Harry Willard, "Where the devil did she meet that fella?" Katie Willard, "Probably in the elevator." Harry, "How could she possibly meet someone during a ten-second elevator ride? I've been riding elevators all my life. I never meet anyone."
Katie, "He looks rather nice." Harry, "That's probably what he does - hang around elevators all the time. They have a name for his kind - elevator lurkers." Katie, "Oh, don't be silly, Harry. He's one of the passengers."
Harry, "What's wrong son? You can tell me." Elliott, "Dad, let's not do the man-to-man talk bit now, okay? I couldn't take it."
Harry, "I wish you'd stop talking like I'm from Mars or something. What don't I understand?"
Elliott, "I'm not interested in other girls. I'm deeply, beautifully in love with a very fine person. Together we might've had a chance for happiness. Together, we. .." Harry, "Wait a minute, Elliott. Are you talking about that scrawny Hamilton kid back home - the one with the floppy bangs that calls me 'chum'?" Elliott, "Dad, if we can't discuss Ruth with the respect to which she is entitled, I'd rather we didn't discuss it at all."
Harry, to youngest son, Skipper, "Whaddaya think of that fella, O'Mara?" Skipper, "Search me! He's no different from the other creeps Amy goes with back home."
Harry, "There's just something about that Nick O'Mara that raises my hackles. He admits he went to Yale." Katie, "Now, Harry." Harry, "I know - some of the sweetest boys you know went to Yale."
Harry, "And I thought the only thing we had to worry about on this trip was to make sure everybody drank bottled water."
Harry, "Look, son, let's get something straight right here. We ARE tourists. We're not playboys, or business tycoons, or international spies, or anything like that. We're just plain tourists from Terre Haute, Indiana. Now, for a start, it might help if we stop showboating all over the place and pretending something we're note. Then, maybe tourist won't be such a dirty word anymore."
Katie, "Harry, you surprise me. You're more devious than I gave you credit for. " Harry, "Well., I have given the matter some thought." Katie, "All right, you Happy Machiavelli, where's your first move?"
Amy Willard, "Give yourself some credit, daddy. You raised a girl with some gumption."
Amy, "Oh, don't worry about me, Pop. I'm going out with my two brothers. You take care of your own problem."
