Ryan's Daughter (1970/I)

Director:

David Lean

Writer:

Robert Bolt (writer)

Release Date:

17 December 1970 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A story of love...set against the violence of rebellion

Plot:

World War I seems far away from Ireland's Dingle peninsula when Rosy Ryan Shaughnessy goes horseback...

Plot Keywords:

Father | Village | Pub | Gun | Officer

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Robert Mitchum	...	Charles Shaughnessy
Trevor Howard	...	Father Collins
Christopher Jones	...	Randolph Doryan
John Mills	...	Michael
Leo McKern	...	Thomas Ryan
Sarah Miles	...	Rosy Ryan
Barry Foster	...	Tim O'Leary
Marie Kean	...	Mrs. McCardle
Arthur O'Sullivan	...	Mr. McCardle
Evin Crowley	...	Maureen
Douglas Sheldon	...	Driver
Gerald Sim	...	Captain
Barry Jackson	...	Corporal
Des Keogh	...	Lanky private
Niall Toibin	...	O'Keefe

Also Known As:

Michael's Day (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for a sex scene.

Runtime:

195 min (general release version) | 206 min (roadshow/DVD version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm optical prints) | 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints)

Certification:

UK:15 (video rating) | UK:AA (original rating) | Australia:PG | Singapore:M18 | Iceland:16 | West Germany:16 (f) | USA:R (re-rating) (1996) | New Zealand:M (special edition) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | USA:GP (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Bridges of Ross, County Clare, Ireland

Company:

Faraway Productions

Trivia:

John Mills was the first actor cast in the film; he happened to be vacationing in Rome when Lean and Bolt began developing the project. Lean (who lived in Venice at the time) met Mills in Rome and offered him the role of the village idiot; Mills accepted, though he remarked that he felt the role was "typecasting".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Trevor Howard (priest) goes in search of the distressed Robert Mitchum (schoolteacher) he leaves the schoolhouse carrying a bundle of clothes and the schoolteacher's black leather boots. Later, when he discovers the schoolteacher on a rocky shoreline the priest is still carrying the clothes and boots. However, during the search, the priest is stopped on a beach by British soldiers; at this point the priest is in possession of the clothes but not the boots.

Quotes:

Charles Shaughnessy: You're awful young.
Rosy Ryan: Aye, and that's a hanging matter, isn't it?
Charles Shaughnessy: No, it's -
[puts hand on Rosy's shoulder; uneasy pause]
Charles Shaughnessy: No, it's not a hanging matter to be young... but maybe it should be for an old man to take the youth away from a young girl. Especially a man like me and a girl like you. Rose, you were meant for the wide world, not this place, not this. Me - I was born for it.
Rosy Ryan: You... don't want me, then?
Charles Shaughnessy: Don't want...
[the two embrace]

Movie Connections:

References Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

a captivating film

The wonderfull scenery of Ireland comes alive in this often forgotten film by Lean. It is a story of denied passion and forgiving love.

I was mostly impressed by the performance of Christopher Jones as major Doryan, the officer who has a brief romance with Rose, he is obviously tormented by his experiences in the trenches and finds a bit of relief and shelter in the arms of the innocent Irish lady.

I highly recommend this movie to all who enjoy beautifull landscapes and drama.