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The Quiet Man (Collector's Edition) | Year: 1952 Classification: Comedy Directed: - John Ford Actors/Actresses: - John Wayne - Maureen O'Hara AFI's Love Stories: #76 The Quiet Man Despite all the films they made together, I think "The Quiet Man" contains the only few moments of happy married life on screen involving characters played by John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. But that is not really important because this is John Ford's film, the first American movie filmed in Ireland and the one that won the director his record fourth and final Oscar for Best Director. Ford had bought the film rights to "Green Rushes," a Saturday Evening Post story written by Maurice Walsh in the 1930s and spent 15 years trying to get it made. Finally Republic Pictures was interested in bettering its image and having Ford, Wayne, O'Hara and Victor McLaglen first make "Rio Grande," allowed the group to go to Ireland. The story is rather simple and quite familiar. Boy accidentally kills boy in ring, boy goes home to Ireland, boy falls in love with girl, girl's brother won't let girl marry boy, entire town conspires to get boy and girl together, plan works but brother finds out, girl does not get dowry, boy does not want dowry, girl does not consider herself married without her dowry, boy and brother have epic knock down fight. "The Quiet Man" remains one of the most gorgeous technicolor films of all time, with the stellar supporting cast only adding to the bouquet of colors: Ward Bond as Father Peter Lonergan, Mildred Natwick as the Widow Tillane, Arthur Shields as the Reverend Playfair, and Barry Fitzgerald as Michaleen Flynn (the matchmaker), along with a host of local Irish character actors who well deserve the curtain call director Ford gives them at the end. Wayne's performance is rather subdued by his standards, and while not his best (I vote for "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" on that score), is still memorable. As for O'Hara, in addition to looking stunning in Technicolor (what did you expect with that hair), she actually has to reign in her fiery Irish temper much more than any other film she made with the Duke. "The Quiet Man" tends to get shown each St. Patrick's Day, which becomes a bit trite after a while, but this is certainly a film that I like to see at least once a year. Most Romantic Lines: "There'll be no locks or bolts between us, Mary Kate... except those in your own mercenary little heart!" Actually the romance in this one is the way Sean and Mary Kate look at each other leading up to one of the most romantic kisses in the rain. And the one when he catches her cleaning his cottage ain't bad either, boyo. Or, to quote Michaleen Flynn: "Homeric. Positively Homeric." If you enjoyed "The Quiet Man," check out these other films on AFI's list: #44 "The Philadelphia Story" and #74 "Woman of the Year." Why? Because in both of these films you will also find a spirited red-headed woman (Katharine Hepburn) being put in her place by a real man (Cary Grant and Spencer Tracy respectively). Obviously, we are not talking about a trio of feminist films here. A Grand movie it is!! When one thinks of John Wayne they usually imagine Calvary, Indians and the Old West. But John, on occasion, did venture into other areas. In this instance, Ireland, and produced one of his most beloved films. It teams him with long time friends, Maureen O'Hara, Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen, Arthur Shields and Barry Fitzgerald (Shields & Fitzgerald were real life brothers), in a project that was near and dear to John Ford. If you think the old town patriarch resembles Ford, it's with reason - it was his father. Stocked with wonderful Irish character actors like David Farrar and Sean McClory, the ever delightful Jack MacGowan, Ken Curtis (Festus of TV's Gunsmoke as Dermot Fahy uncredited and singing! Former Sons of the Pioneers!!), Mildred Natwick as the Widow Tillane, along with Wayne's kids at the horse race scene. Wayne is Sean Thornton, a quite peace loving man come home to Ireland. There is much speculation about the Yanks and why he has returned to the wee humble Irish village where his family was from. He was a fighter in the States named Trooper Thornton, but accidentally killed a man in the ring. Haunted by this he wants to go 'home' to his mother's Ireland and find peace. But his factious neighbours do not understand his reluctance to take on the town Bully Red Will Danaher in order to win the love of his wife O'Hara. Often this movie is criticised as being the "Brigadoon" of Ireland, and that is so, but it's the Ireland of our hearts and imagination and obvious of Ford's heart and imagination. The dialogue is Witty, full of Irish quirkiness. Beautiful location work and the dynamite teaming of O'Hara and Wayne. With marvelous songs like Turalye Anne, Galway Bay, Isle of Innisfree and The Humour is On Me Now and more ( There is a soundtrack available on CD this movie as well). For many years the version on VHS was a pale washed out copy, but this version gives you the 40 shades of green of Eire and the brilliant red hair of O'Hara, they way it should be. The DVD is so sharp, it's truly like seeing it for the first time.<BR>At this steal of a price, every DVD should have a copy. 'Tis Grand, Aye, Grand indeed! A romance almost out of time and place - wonderful cast Anyway, the story is an idyll that is really out of time and place. Apparently it ta ces in this stirring ta enactments, a decidedly MTV convention that, for t s/P/B00029U9D2.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg Buy The Quiet Man at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  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