The Quiet Man (1952) | |
| Director(s) | John Ford |
| Producer(s) | Merian C. Cooper, John Ford |
| Top Genres | Comedy, Drama, Film Adaptation, Romance |
| Top Topics | Battle of the Sexes, Book-Based, Romance (Drama) |
Featured Cast:
The Quiet Man Overview:
The Quiet Man (1952) was a Comedy - Drama Film directed by John Ford and produced by John Ford and Merian C. Cooper.
The film was based on the short story of the same name written by Maurice Walsh published in Saturday Evening Post in Feb 11, 1933.
SYNOPSIS
One of Ford's greatest and most loved films is at once a rollicking, robust comedy, a passionate love story, and a misty-eyed ode to Ford's Irish homeland. Wayne, a boxer returned to his birthplace in the small village of Innisfree, stumbles on the local customs and the resentment and suspicions of the townspeople, particularly a despised bully played by McLaglen. He also loses his heart to McLaglen's beautiful sister (O'Hara, who was never lovelier). Their rivalry comes to an explosive, hilarious climax when O'Hara refuses to consider herself married until Wayne receives her dowry from MacLaglen. The secretive American finally unleashes his fists and earns his wife's love and respect. Ford's brother Francis, a silent-era actor and director, appears in a funny cameo as an old man who refuses to expire until he witnesses the battle royale. This is a rewarding look directly into Ford's heart.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.The Quiet Man was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2013.
Academy Awards 1952 --- Ceremony Number 25 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Supporting Actor | Victor McLaglen | Nominated |
| Best Art Direction | Art Direction: Frank Hotaling; Set Decoration: John McCarthy, Jr., Charles Thompson | Nominated |
| Best Cinematography | Winton C. Hoch, Archie Stout | Won |
| Best Director | John Ford | Won |
| Best Picture | John Ford and Merian C. Cooper, Producers | Nominated |
| Best Writing | Frank S. Nugent | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
Review: The Quiet Man (1952)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Jan 7, 2019 From 4 Star FilmsWhen you think of the combination of John Ford and John Wayne, it’s only normal to conjure up the quintessential western pairing. It’s true there are so many films that we could pay a nod to like Stagecoach (1939), The Searchers (1956), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1961), etc. Thus,... Read full article
1001 Classic Movies: The Quiet Man
By Amanda Garrett on Aug 11, 2017 From Old Hollywood FilmsThe Quiet Man (1952) is one of the 1001 classic movies you should see. This romance set in Ireland stars Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne. Each week, I'm going to recommend a classic movie you should see (for the reasons behind the 1001 series and reviews of earlier films covered go here). Every Au... Read full article
Irish Film Studies: The Quiet Man
By Virginie Pronovost on Mar 30, 2017 From The Wonderful World of CinemaThis semester, I?m attending a course on Irish cinema. Each week, we are expected to write a blog-like journal about the film we watched in class and/or our class discussion about the film. I?ve decided to include those entries to my blog, so it would be more agreeable to read than a Word document. ... Read full article
THE QUIET MAN KISSES
By Christy Putnam on Feb 13, 2016 From Christy PutnamA first kiss is always memorable. It always intimates something more, of a moment of passion that has yet to be realized. But there is always a hint and a spark the first moment that lovers meet. The tints and shades of the vibrant images in The Quiet Man also promise deep passion, and the ethere... Read full article
JOHN FORD: DREAMING THE QUIET MAN
By Dan Day Jr. on Apr 5, 2015 From The Hitless Wonder Movie BlogA couple years ago Olive Films released a remastered version of John Ford's THE QUIET MAN on Blu-ray. Now the company has put out on home video a 92-minute documentary about that legendary film called JOHN FORD: DREAMING THE QUIET MAN. Many on the internet have wondered why Olive didn't include this... Read full article
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Quotes from
Father Peter Lonergan, Narrator: Well, then. Now. I'll begin at the beginnin'. A fine soft day in the spring, it was, when the train pulled into Castletown, three hours late as usual, and himself got off. He didn't have the look of an American tourist at all about him. Not a camera on him; what was worse, not even a fishin' rod.
Michaleen Flynn: He's a nice, quiet, peace-loving man, come home to Ireland to forget his troubles. Sure, yes, yes, he's a millionare, you know, like all the Yanks. But he's eccentric - ooh, he is eccentric! Wait 'til I show ya... his bag to sleep in - a sleeping bag, he calls it! Here, let me show you how it operates.
Father Paul: Father! Father Lonergan!
Father Peter Lonergan, Narrator: [not wanting to disturb the fish] Ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh.
Father Paul: It's a big fight in the town!
Father Peter Lonergan, Narrator: Listen, there's a big fight in this fish right here, too.
Father Paul: I'd have put a stop to it, but seeing it's...
Father Peter Lonergan, Narrator: You do that, lad. It's your duty.
Father Paul: But seeing it was Danaher and Sean Thornton...
[Father Lonergan turns at stares at Father Paul in amazement]
Father Peter Lonergan, Narrator: WHO?
Father Paul: Danaher and Sean Thornton!
Father Peter Lonergan, Narrator: WELL WHY THE DEVIL DIDN'T YOU TELL ME? Oh, you young...
[Throws down his fishing rod and the two run back into town. They abruptly stop behind a gate]
Father Paul: Father, shouldn't we put a stop to it now?
Father Peter Lonergan, Narrator: [relishing the fight from a distance] Ah, we should, lad, yes, we should, it's our duty!
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Facts about
At the film's conclusion, after the credits, we see Kate and Sean standing in their garden waving good-bye. Maureen O'Hara turns to John Wayne and whispers something in his ear, evoking a priceless reaction from Wayne. What was said was known only to O'Hara, Wayne and director John Ford. In exchange for saying this unscripted bit of text, O'Hara insisted that the exact line never be disclosed by any involved parties. In her memoirs she says that she refused to say the line at first as she "couldn't possibly say that to Duke", but Ford insisted, claiming he needed a genuine shock reaction from Wayne. The line remains a mystery to this day.
The station used in the opening sequence and during the scene where John Wayne slams the train doors looking for Maureen O'Hara later in the film is Ballyglunin Station, south of the town of Tuam, County Galway. It looks the same today as it did in 1951, when the film was shot with the only major difference being the bridge which crosses the railway tracks is now gone. This bridge was moved to Ballinasloe station, East Galway where it still stands today, after Ballyglunin closed down as a main line.
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