It was based on the story of the same name, first printed almost 20 years before filming. The only ever winner of four Oscars for directing John Ford read the story and fell in love with it. After buying the rights to the film for just $ 10, Ford consistently offered the idea to several film studios from among the main Hollywood players. But everyone refused. No one wanted to risk it; it didn’t seem like a win. And Ford himself, as a director of an Irish comedy with idealized lubricated shades, did not inspire confidence: most of the films he shot before The Quiet Man were either Westerns or adventure films.
However, Ford - Irish-born American John Martin Finney - was stubborn in Irish and was not going to back down. With the agreement of John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara (stars with Irish roots, whom he shot in Westerns), Ford went to a very second-rate Studio “Ripablic”. And then he was lucky: the boss of “Ripablic” Herbert Yates decided to take a risk.
However, Yates set two conditions: first, to reduce the budget, the film had to be shot in Ireland with local actors and run for no more than two hours. And secondly, Ford, Wayne and O’Hara before the start of filming “The Quiet Man” had to star in the Western, which, according to Yates, should not only recapture all future losses from the Irish picture, but also bring the studio some profit. This western eventually became "Rio Grande" - certainly one of the best westerns of the 50s.
The Quiet Man was truly a family affair for the crew. Ford’s older brother and son-in-law were in the film. Wayne brought a family to Ireland and knocked out cameo roles for all four of his children. Two brothers Maureen O’Hara also got roles, and not the smallest.
But this “family” did not prevent Ford from squeezing all the juices out of his actors. Victor McLanglen, who played the main character's brother, fell ill during filming and was physically very difficult to participate in a ten-minute fist fight with John Wayne. Ford “warmed up” McLaglen and kept him in tone with constant lamentations that the scene would have to be reshooted in Hollywood with understudy. And McLaglen, as stubborn an Irishman as Ford, pulled out, bringing the shooting to the end.
But that wasn't Ford's only trick. The duration of the picture exceeded the promised two hours by nine minutes. And the crafty Ford, when the disgruntled Ripublik managers reminded him of it, stopped the show exactly two hours later. Just during the climax - the fist fight of Wayne and McLaglen!
Happy Yates just waved his hand towards the hardware: keep going. His joy was justified: the fees of “The Quiet Man” – a real anthem to the Emerald Island – exceeded his budget six times.
A masterpiece.
At any moment, any person can suddenly wake up a feeling of attachment to a small homeland. Someone will limit themselves to the tradition of pleasant memories, and someone decide to move to their roots. However, it can happen that after a long time a person can simply forget about the traditions and customs of the place where he comes from. It is with this that the protagonist of the romantic comedy “The Quiet Man” faces.
Synopsis Former boxer Sean Thornton moves from America to the quiet native Irish village of Innisfiri, where he meets the local beauty and “old maid” Mary Kate Danaher, with whom he immediately falls in love. He makes proposals to the girl, but she, brought up in strict Irish order, is ready to marry only with the approval of her rude and tongue-sharp brother Will, who has his own scores with Sean.
In fact, the film makes a pleasant impression, first of all, with its actors, whose characters literally live on the screen. First of all, I would like to mention the role of Maureen O’Hara as Mary Kate, a young woman who dreams of simple female happiness and personal independence, but remains devoted to the order in which she was raised. Also remembered the game of Victor McLaglen in the role of rude and vindictive Will, who sharpened his teeth on Sean and is ready to do everything possible to supply the latter with sticks in the wheels. I also can’t help but mention Barry Fitzgerald’s play as the local shorty and crook Mikalin Og Flynn, who is well versed in people.
Honestly, while watching, I got the impression that the members of the American Film Academy presented the Oscar for Best Director to John Ford purely as a sign of respect and respect for the invaluable contribution made to cinema. In fact, before watching The Quiet Man, you expect to see a simple human story played out on the screen, which, despite its simplicity, has a deep philosophical meaning, since the director dissects human nature, bringing out basic human vices. Here we see a very ordinary romantic comedy about decency, courage and devotion to their traditions without much bias in the drama.
For a simple viewer, the script of the film may seem a little strange, since in it the main action develops slowly and without excessive dynamics. The protagonist Sean Thornton moves from Pittsburgh to Ireland, where he buys the land and home of his ancestors, which provokes a very serious conflict with the local rude Will Danacher, as he planned to buy this land. The situation is aggravated when the hero falls in love with Will's sister. After several skirmishes and numerous arguments, Will concedes, while refusing to give her sister a dowry, which seriously insults Mary, since for him this dowry is a symbol of long-awaited freedom. However, this does not fit into the framework of the general ideas of Sean, who is not used to living under the strict patriarchal laws of the Irish village.
Result Honestly, I can't call "The Quiet Man" something masterpiece. Nevertheless, the film is really pleasant to watch, because throughout its length it is imbued with a special positive atmosphere. To understand this film, you just need to see it.
A set of clichés and stereotypes about Ireland and its people!
This is the romantic comedy of John Ford (1952). I came across this film not so recently (although I heard about the tape earlier, but then forgot) and decided to watch it on the New Year, especially since there are more than enough big names in the project.
Former boxer Sean Thorton ends his career and returns to his homeland in Ireland. There he meets a local girl named Mary Kate Denache (interpretation of this surname in the Russian Wikipedia with the necessary permutation will send to a very specific address).
Sean falls in love with a girl and wants to marry her, but he clearly forgot the strange customs of his homeland, according to which to marry a girl, you need to endure as much as people do not tolerate even from bureaucrats. And even after the wedding, Sean's problems don't end!
The film uses almost all the famous stamps and clichés that have developed in the world about the Irish (although it can not be said that they are not reliable). But if you do not know anything about the Irish before watching the tape, then from the film the viewer may have a strange impression about them.
The plot idea of the picture ceases to seem clear to the viewer after the first hour. The film is overloaded with details that could be avoided. All this looks very strained and the picture is revived only in the last half hour, which, however, are worth it.
Although, in the opinion of Mikhail Trofimenkov the film is the most charming explanation in the love of the "green island" in world culture - it is on the "explanation in love" this creation does not pull.
After all, it is impossible not to notice the opposite - the Irish are represented here either by drunks or fighters, and the very "Ireland" in the film rather resembles some deaf English village XVIII century (even the appearance of a car in the frame does not convince the opposite). The humor in the film, of course, adheres to the right level, but it is built mostly on the opinion - "how far behind the Irish from the modern world."
The film was made very beautifully - field shootings make themselves felt. The camera work also deserves praise and is rightly noted by the Oscars. But with all this, the film turned out to be very uneven - at times it seems funny, sometimes just funny, and sometimes boring (however, the picture is really too long).
The acting in the film deserves a special mention. Usually monotonous and a little "wooden" John Wayne here is in its place and fits perfectly into the role. Moreen O'Hara also plays perfectly, showing a real his own Irish girl. In addition, we have a chance to appreciate her beautiful vocal data - and in the movies Maureen sang, alas, not so often.
But the character of this actress raises questions that should probably be addressed to the screenwriter, since the heroine of O'Hara is very strangely transformed throughout the film.
For example, the image of a simple and at the same time charming girl by the second half of the film already begins to melt when we see how she cares about her dowry - her marriage even ceases to interest - so persistently she worries about the property.
It is at this moment that we see before us the usual pathetic, mercantile empty space, which deserves neither love nor respect. However, by the end of the film, she is still treated the way she deserves - it's a pity that the Happy End punishment was not brought to the end.
Barry Fitzgerald is funny in the role of a matchmaker, trying to bring the main characters together and loves to drink. Victor McLaglen copes well with his role as the brother of the heroine O'Hara, although for her he is probably still a little old (the actor is 33 years older than Maureen).
Summing up, I note that romantic comedy turned out to be not perfect, a little protracted. The script of the film definitely needed more refinement. The best film John Ford this creation is not exactly called - his best works this director created in other genres, therefore, and "Oscar" for this picture raises questions.
But whatever it was, the film still turned out not bad and is worth reading. In order to brighten up the winter evening, this creation is definitely suitable. Thank you very much.
Former boxer Sean Thornton returns to his native Ireland from America, where he has lived for most of his life. He long ago hung up his gloves and embarked on the path of pacifism. And the country only gained independence from Great Britain and began to live according to its customs. He acquires his family farm in Innisfrey and is going to marry a girl with whom he once ran around the local fields at the age of ten. But the conservative mores of local society, and especially Mary-Kate herself, do not allow them to be together for a long time.
John Ford, perhaps one of the greatest American directors, who became famous primarily for Western films, shot in other directions, maintaining his conservative view of the world. John Wayne, being his regular actor, played in the opinion of many one of his best roles.
And after all, this is a really interesting, a little ironic, view from the United States on Irish traditions, where they take a blessing from their father for dates, then just walk around for a month, without even touching their hands, after 3 they announce their engagement, and only then they get married. And even if married, without receiving a dowry, marriage is not recognized. It may seem unnecessarily harsh to the modern viewer, but not in the tone of John Ford, who paints it all with ease and irony.
Have you ever been to Ireland? Probably most people don't. I haven’t been to an Irish village in the 30s either.
Well, if you add actor John Wayne, you get a rare opportunity to look at the life, customs and customs of the local population through the prism of an American who returned many years later to his home. The plot is revealed against the background of the excitement that arose in this village in connection with the arrival of an American there and his intention to marry a local poor lady. The calm life and peaceful atmosphere of the residents turn into a cool hectic drama / comedy, where the issues of honor and dignity of each side are defended literally on fists.
It is worth noting the wonderful performance of actors - John Wayne and the charming Maureen O'Hara, excellent camera work, and of course - humor, a little American, but still, infectious and kind. In my opinion, the film is original and deserves special attention.
For some reason, what irritates me most is not when my native Krasnoyarsk is called Krasnodar, but when the Irish are called the British or wave their hand, saying: "England, Ireland ..." It doesn't matter. Believe me, if an Irishman hears this from you, he will immediately blurt out the standard phrase: “Go to England, the English are there.” And that's at its best.
"The Quiet Man" Sean Tortom is a successful American boxer who decided to return to his native Ireland, escaping from the bustling America and fame. Here he encounters harsh morals that do not prevent him from finding happiness with the red-haired and daring Mary Cat.
Of course, as in any film about Ireland, there are magnificent views: green hills, old castles and small doll houses. And mores: ironic, harsh and absolutely original Irish. Ford could not avoid stereotypes: red, drunk Irish people living in pubs, and believing that a day without a fight was wasted. But let's forgive the director. How many times have the Russians walked in their head hats with a balalaika under their arm, with a bottle of vodka in their teeth in American films?
Therefore, it is better to throw away all the ideas and stereotypes, and calmly enjoy the beautiful views of Ireland, a pleasant love story and subtle humor.