The Quiet Man (1952)

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Frank S. Nugent (screenplay)
Maurice Walsh (from a story by)
(more)

Release Date:

14 September 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

A retired American boxer returns to the village where he was born in Ireland, where he finds love.

Plot Keywords:

Train | Cottage | Ireland | Fight | Marriage

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

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
Eric Gorman	...	Costello - Engine Driver
Kevin Lawless	...	Train Fireman
Paddy O'Donnell	...	Railway Porter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Baker	...	Man in Bar (uncredited)
Tony Canzoneri	...	Boxing Second (uncredited)
Ruth Clifford	...	Mother (uncredited)
Maureen Coyne	...	Dan Tobin's Daughter - Ireland (uncredited)
Ken Curtis	...	Dermot Fahy (uncredited)
Mimi Doyle	...	Dan Tobin's Daughter - USA (uncredited)
Douglas Evans	...	Ring Physician (uncredited)
Robert Foy	...	Driver of Cart Across River (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	General (uncredited)
D.R.O. Hatswell	...	Guppy (uncredited)
John Horan	...	Man at Railway Station (uncredited)
David Hughes	...	Police Constable (uncredited)
Billy Jones	...	Bugler (uncredited)
Tiny Jones	...	Nell - Maid (uncredited)
Colin Kenny	...	Pub Extra (uncredited)
Mae Marsh	...	Father Paul's Mother (uncredited)
Jim McVeigh	...	Man Following Cart Across River (uncredited)
Jim Morrin	...	Roof Thatcher (uncredited)
Al Murphy	...	Boxing Referee (uncredited)
Michael O'Brian	...	Musha Musha Man (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor	...	Ringside Photographer (uncredited)
Pat O'Malley	...	Man in Bar (uncredited)
Web Overlander	...	Hugh Bailey - Stationmaster (uncredited)
Bob Perry	...	Trooper Thorn's Ringside Trainer (uncredited)
Darla Ridgeway	...	Girl (uncredited)
Freddy Ridgeway	...	Boy (uncredited)
Jack Roper	...	Tony Gardello - Boxer (uncredited)
Philip Stainton	...	Anglican Bishop (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook	...	Police Sergeant Hanan (uncredited)
Harry Tyler	...	Pat Cohan - Publican (uncredited)
Melinda Wayne	...	Girl on Wagon at Horse Race (uncredited)
Michael Wayne	...	Teenage Boy at Races (uncredited)
Patrick Wayne	...	Boy on Wagon at Horse Race (uncredited)
Toni Wayne	...	Teenage Girl at Races (uncredited)

Directed by
John Ford

Writing credits
Frank S. Nugent		(screenplay)
Maurice Walsh		(from a story by)
John Ford		(contributing writer) uncredited

Produced by
Merian C. Cooper	....	producer (uncredited)
John Ford	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Victor Young

Cinematography by
Winton C. Hoch		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jack Murray

Art Direction by
Frank Hotaling

Set Decoration by
John McCarthy Jr.		(set decorations)
Charles S. Thompson		(set decorations) (as Charles Thompson)

Costume Design by
Adele Palmer		(costumes)

Makeup Department
James R. Barker	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Peggy Gray	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Bob Mark	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Web Overlander	....	makeup artist: John Wayne (uncredited)
Fay Smith	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Lee Lukather	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Patrick Ford	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Edward O'Fearna	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Albert Podlansky	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Wingate Smith	....	assistant director (uncredited)
John Wayne	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Francis Frank	....	drapery (uncredited)
F.B. Gibbs	....	construction (uncredited)
Dudley Holmes	....	props (uncredited)
Clément Hurel	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Gordon Lantz	....	construction (uncredited)
Ralph Oberg	....	art department (uncredited)
Lou Shields	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
T.A. Carman	....	sound
Howard Wilson	....	sound
Daniel J. Bloomberg	....	sound (uncredited)
David H. Moriarty	....	sound (uncredited)
W.O. Watson	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Howard Lydecker	....	special effects (uncredited)
Theodore Lydecker	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Joe Fair	....	riding double: John Wayne (uncredited)
Patrick Ford	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bryan 'Slim' Hightower	....	stunts (uncredited)
Billy Jones	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Kennedy	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bert LeBaron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Post Park	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Rose	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Wilson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Archie Stout	....	second unit photography
Ray Bensfield	....	best boy (uncredited)
Ben Bishop	....	first grip (uncredited)
Roman Freulich	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Arthur Graham	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Paul Guerin	....	electrician (uncredited)
Bob Harrison	....	second grip (uncredited)
Ben Moran	....	grip (uncredited)
Bob Stafford	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Bud Thackery	....	process photographer (uncredited)
Bill Wade	....	camera department (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Neva Bourne	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Adele Palmer	....	wardrobe: women (uncredited)
Robert Ramsey	....	wardrobe: men (uncredited)
Ted Towey	....	wardrobe: men (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Barbara Ford	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Al Horowitz	....	editorial (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo Arnaud	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
R. Dale Butts	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Sidney Cutner	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Jerry Roberts	....	musical director (uncredited)
Leo Shuken	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Stanley Wilson	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Fred Manning	....	transportation (uncredited)
Slim Metcalfe	....	transportation (uncredited)
Frenchie Valin	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Francis Cugat	....	Technicolor color consultant
Herbert J. Yates	....	presenter
D.J. Bloomberg	....	chief engineer (uncredited)
J.T. Bourke	....	location manager (uncredited)
W.B. Eason	....	morning operations (uncredited)
Mort Goodman	....	publicist (uncredited)
N.E. Gourson	....	studio physician (uncredited)
D.R.O. Hatswell	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Martin Horwitz	....	stock room (uncredited)
Billy Jones	....	head wrangler (uncredited)
Pete Matsk	....	labour department (uncredited)
E. Schroeder	....	film library (uncredited)
Father Stack	....	technical advisor: religion (uncredited)
Meta Stern	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Hal Swanson	....	projectionist (uncredited)
Fred Vinson	....	studio first aid (uncredited)
Harry Williams	....	accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Republic Pictures (I) (presents) (as A Republic Production)
• Argosy Pictures (as John Ford and Merian C. Cooper's Argosy Production)

Distributors

• Republic Pictures (I) (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Republic Production)
• AB Svea Film (1953) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Empire Universal Films (1952) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Gloria Filmverleih (1953) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Gloria (1953) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Imperial Film AB (1958) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Les Films Fernand Rivers (1952) (France) (theatrical)
• Minerva Film AB (1964) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Republic Pictures International, British Film Division (1952) (UK) (theatrical)
• Artisan Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Critics' Choice Video (video)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Maple Pictures (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Medusa Video (1986) (Greece) (VHS)
• NTA Home Entertainment (1983) (USA) (VHS)
• New Line Home Vídeo (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Olive Films (2012) (Canada) (DVD) (DVD and Blu-ray)
• Olive Films (2012) (USA) (DVD) (DVD and Blu-ray)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (Brazil) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Irish Gaelic

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-8 | Sweden:15 | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #15529) | Iceland:L | West Germany:12 (f) | Norway:A (1954) | South Korea:All | Australia:PG | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Ashford Castle, County Mayo, Ireland

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Trivia:

The white haired frail Dan Tobin, who gets up from his death bed and runs to see the fight is John Ford's older brother, Francis Ford. Francis was a silent film actor and director in his own right, who died one year after the film was made.

Goofs:

Continuity: John Wayne's wedding ring is clearly visible before he even meets Mary Kate Danniher. It is most clearly seen while he is remembering his mother's words before introducing himself to Michaleen.

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Best Ever Family Films (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Isle of Innisfree

A Stick To Beat the Lovely Lady

The filming of The Quiet Man was the culmination of a dream by John Ford to make an Irish picture in Ireland. He bought the rights to the story over a decade before and peddled it to every studio in Hollywood and was turned down.

He went to Republic Pictures partly because John Wayne was just winding down his contract with them and he wouldn't have to pay him extra, and partly because Herbert J. Yates's small studio was the last stop. Ford got the permission for The Quiet Man on the condition he do a sure fire moneymaking John Wayne cavalry picture first. So Ford, Wayne, and Maureen O'Hara did Rio Grande first before setting out for Ireland.

In her recent memoirs O'Hara said that this was her role of a lifetime, she knew it would be before one frame of film was shot. She'd been playing in a load of ridiculous Hollywood drivel films as a redheaded Bedouin princess and she did them essentially for the money. This one was to be a labor of love.

Love yes, but a labor nonetheless. John Ford was a talented, but strange man to work for. He could be a bully and a tyrant on any set he was on. She was grateful to him for the career making roles she got with him, but recognized his faults. She relates in her memoirs that Ford used his influence to knock her out of an Oscar Nomination for Mary Kate Danaher in 1952 over some trivial offense Ford thought O'Hara committed and took umbrage.

It was a family affair for Wayne of sorts as well. His kids came to Ireland with him and you can see them at the horse racing scene as extras. Young Patrick Wayne spoke his first movie lines. He also had with him his second wife, Esperanza Baur who was not his kid's mom. She was a tempestuous sort and they would soon part in a very ugly divorce.

Sean Thornton who was born in Innisfree, but went to America as a toddler, has come back to his native Ireland after making a name for himself as a prizefighter and killing a man in the ring. He and Maureen O'Hara have an instant attraction for each other. However Wayne does run afoul of her bully of a brother, Squire Will Danaher played by Ford regular Victor McLaglen.

Wayne and O'Hara marry, but McLaglen won't turn over the bride's dowry. And Wayne won't contest him for it.

So with a little help from The Taming of the Shrew and a bit of Falstaff thrown in, things are put right in Innisfree. More I won't say.

As in all of John Ford's films and this is one of the best, he got some grand performances from some of the most minute characters in the film. Some of his regulars like Ward Bond, Mildred Natwick, Ken Curtis, Barry Fitzgerald and Arthur Shields with the rest of the roles played by Dublin's acclaimed Abbey Theatre players. One of my favorites is Jack McGowran who played Feeney, Squire Danaher's little toady factotum.

The music was arranged by Victor Young who did a grand job of using traditional Irish melodies in the score. One song, The Isle of Innisfree was recorded by Bing Crosby for Decca and sold a few platters for him the year The Quiet Man came out.

The Quiet Man is an annual classic for St. Patrick's Day, the same way It's A Wonderful Life is for Christmas. At least in America it is. I've wondered if it is as well received in Ireland as it is here. I think John Ford, the former Sean O'Fearna, was hoping it would turn out that way.

Mr. Ford, you got your wish.