Saturday, September 5, 2015

The Quiet Man 1952



     This film is based on a 1933 Saturday Evening Post short story written by Maurice Walsh and titled The Green Rushes.  Sean Thornton travels from America to the small Irish village of his birth.  He immediately buys his family’s homestead from the widow Mildred Natwick.  This purchase greatly upsets the squire Victor McLaglen because he wanted this property next to his own for himself.  Sean saw Victor’s sister Mary Kate McLaglen leading her sheep in the countryside and he thought she was a bonny lass indeed.  Sean enlists the aid of the town matchmaker Michaeleen Flynn to arrange the details of their meeting and courtship.  Because the land purchase has rankled Victor’s temper, he refuses to give his consent to the marriage.  Unless she has his blessing, Mary Kate will not be allowed to marry Sean. 
     This is good, the plot, the scenery and the characters.  Also, romantic and funny.  There are a lot of peculiarities in the customs of this small village but it is filled with good people except for the squire.  4* (I really liked this movie)

129 min, Drama directed by John Ford with John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen, Mildred Natwick, Francis Ford, Eileen Crowe, May Craig, Aruthur Shields, Charles B. Fitzsimons, James O’Hara.

Note:  Imdb 7.9 out of 10, 89% critic 92% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 1,658 reviews.
Special Note:  This film won Oscars for Best Cinematography and Best Director.  Also nominated for, Best Picture, Supporting Actor, Art Direction, Sound Adapted Screenplay.  John Ford was determined to make this film because of his own Irish heritage and he was also going to make this in Technicolor even though it was much more expensive during this period of filmmaking.  The film was a financial success and grossed $3.8 million the first year of release, one of the top ten grossing films of 1952 and the 7th most popular film for British audiences.

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