Ryan's Daughter (1970)

Set in the wake of the 1916 Easter Rising, a married woman in a small Irish village has an affair with a troubled British officer.

Director:

David Lean

Writer:

Robert Bolt (original screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Mitchum, Trevor Howard, John Mills

Won 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

World War I seems far away from Ireland's Dingle peninsula when Rosy Ryan Shaughnessy (Sarah Miles) goes horseback riding on the beach with the young English officer. There was a magnetic attraction between them the day he was the only customer in her father's pub and Rosy was tending bar for the first time since her marriage to the village schoolmaster. Then one stormy night some Irish revolutionaries expecting a shipment of guns arrive at Ryan's pub. Is it Rosy who betrays them to the British? Will Shaugnessy take Father Collin's advice? Is the pivotal role that of the village idiot who is mute?

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Plot Keywords:

village idiot | orgasm | catholic | village | beach | 

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Taglines:

A story of love. Filmed by David Lean.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a sex scene

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the filming of the movie on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland's County Kerry, Robert Mitchum planted marijuana plants in the back garden of the hotel used by the production cast and crew, and gave many of the people connected with the production, including Sarah Miles' mother, and the local constabulary, their first experiences with the drug.

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Goofs

In the close-ups of Christopher Jones during the woodland love scene, Doryan's scar has vanished.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Rosy Ryan: Give it over, Michael. Thanks.

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Alternate Versions

The Irish theatrical release (rated 16) trimmed the woodland sex scene. The DVD is uncut with a 15 certificate.

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Connections

Spoofed in Spaceballs (1987)

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Soundtracks

Saddle the Pony
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Maurice Jarre

User Reviews

A Vision Splendid

There seems a common thread in most reviews for "Ryan's Daughter", you will read that the film does not work, it not as good as Lean's earlier masterpieces, it's too long, too boring and too "big", ALL NOT TRUE!! I'm sure most of those reviewing this magnificent motion picture have only seen it on a VHS tape or Television screening, which is the only explanation for these strange comments. For those who saw "Ryan's Daughter", in it's original 70mm presentation or even in the recent Australian 35mm screenings, you will understand the intimacy and beauty of this wonderful film. Having enjoyed it's longest run in the world at Sydney's Ascot Cinema (approx 2 years) the Sydney movie goers went back again and again as they fully appreciated this fine movie. Hopefully Warner Bros are preparing a fabulous transfer from the original 70mm elements (a quality 70mm print still exist, thanks to the poor US box office) to give us a quality DVD and make the long, long wait worthwhile. I hope WB can add some better extras than the trailer and short "making of" MGM added to the Laserdisc, it would be good to see the 2004 BBC Documentary "Ryan's Daughter Revisited" with Sarah Miles as featured extra. Also surely MGM must have produced a lot of additional promo material as this was their premium and much anticpated 1970 release. Congratulations to those who love this movie, for those who critise it hopefully one you will get to see "Ryan's Daughter" as it was intended to "get" what Lean was doing and how successful he was at delivering. No one can argue that the cinematography is perhaps the BEST ever.

12 out of 10.

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. [United States]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 December 1970 (UK)

Also Known As:

Ryan's Daughter

Filming Locations:

Graigue, County Kerry, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,538

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Faraway Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1