The Quiet Man (1952)

A retired American boxer returns to the village of his birth in Ireland, where he finds love.

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Frank S. Nugent (screenplay), Maurice Walsh (from the story by)

Stars:

John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald

Won 2 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Wayne	...	Sean Thornton
Maureen O'Hara	...	Mary Kate Danaher
Barry Fitzgerald	...	Michaleen Oge Flynn
Ward Bond	...	Father Peter Lonergan
Victor McLaglen	...	Squire 'Red' Will Danaher
Mildred Natwick	...	The Widow Sarah Tillane
Francis Ford	...	Dan Tobin
Eileen Crowe	...	Mrs. Elizabeth Playfair
May Craig	...	Fishwoman with Basket at Station
Arthur Shields	...	Reverend Cyril Playfair
Charles B. Fitzsimons	...	Hugh Forbes (as CHARLES fitzSIMONS)
James O'Hara	...	Father Paul (as James Lilburn)
Sean McClory	...	Owen Glynn (as Sean McGlory)
Jack MacGowran	...	Ignatius Feeney (as Jack McGowran)
Joseph O'Dea	...	Molouney - Train Guard

Storyline

Sean Thornton has returned from America to reclaim his homestead and escape his past. Sean's eye is caught by Mary Kate Danaher, a beautiful but poor maiden, and younger sister of ill-tempered "Red" Will Danaher. The riotous relationship that forms between Sean and Mary Kate, punctuated by Will's pugnacious attempts to keep them apart, form the main plot, with Sean's past as the dark undercurrent.

---

Plot Keywords:

boxer | love | widow | cottage | ireland | 

---

Taglines:

Action...Excitement...Romance...Fill the Screen !

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Irish

Release Date:

14 September 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Sieger

Filming Locations:

Main Street, Cong, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I), Argosy Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Whenever John Wayne lights up a cigarette, he takes exactly two puffs before pitching it away. Except before he kicks the bedroom door in and when sitting on the rock wall as he angrily walks home after being abandoned by Mary Kate in town.

---

Goofs

During the station scenes, the locomotive and carriages have the 'Flying Snail' logo of the Coras Iompair Eireann railway company. This logo wasn't introduced until 1944.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
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.

---

Connections

Featured in Precious Images (1986)

---

Soundtracks

The Wild Colonial Boy
(uncredited)
Traditional
Adapted by Sean O'Casey and Dennis O'Casey
Performed by John Wayne, Ken Curtis, and Francis Ford and others in the Pub
Reprised a cappella by Wayne and Victor McLaglen

User Reviews

A simply wonderful film

What's not to like about this picture? A classic directed by the legendary John Ford. John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara light up the screen. Wayne's performance is brilliant, but what really stands out is that he is playing a regular guy with real feelings and emotions--no army uniforms, no indians to fight, no cavalry coming to the rescue--just a great performance. The supporting cast is unmatched--including great performances by Victor McLaglen, Barry Fitzgerald and Ward Bond. Look closely for Ken Curtis (Festus, from Gunsmoke) in an uncredited role. The scenery is absolutly breathtaking--it makes me want to go home to Ireland--and I'm not even Irish. To top it off The Quiet Man has the greatest fist fight ever captured on film. This is one of my two favorite John Wayne movies. The Duke should have gotten an Oscar for this one. Movie viewers won't be disapointed by this one.