Review of The Quiet Man (1952) by Connor G — 03 Sep 2010
One could argue that John Ford's charming portrait of the dear Irish homeland hasn't aged well, but while The Quiet Man was set in modern times upon its 1952 release, I don't think it was ever intended to be a "modern" film.
John Wayne plays Sean Thornton, an Irish-born boxer who returns to his birthplace after he accidentally kills a man in the ring. Upon his arrival, he meets a colorful array of characters, including the fiery Kate Danaher (played exquisitely by Hollywood's Irish lass herself, Maureen O'Hara) and the somewhat bibulous Irishman Michaleen Oge Flynn (the downright precious Barry Fitzgerald).
Part slapstick comedy, part character study, part romance, what Ford delivers in The Quiet Man through the great performances from Wayne, O'Hara, and Fitzgerald, and some stunning cinematography, is a shamelessly nostalgic, good-humored, and somewhat misty-eyed memory of an ideal Irish community.
This review of The Quiet Man (1952) was written by Connor G on 03 Sep 2010.
The Quiet Man has generally received very positive reviews.
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