Review of The Quiet Man (1952) by Alan M — 14 Jul 2009

'The Duke' lays down his six shooters and rides into the sunset of the American Wild West, emerging in 1930's Ireland as 'The Quiet Man'; a traumatised Pittsburgh boxer returning to his roots.

This big screen adaptation of Maurice Walsh's short story is a quaint and colourful jaunt across the vibrant Irish countryside, with an additional nod towards the classic Shakespeare play, 'The Taming of the Shrew'.

There is an endearing pleasure in the movie's humble Celtic charm, casting a cheerful glow on the unblemished pastural beauty that is awash with lush photography of gleaming greens befitting the Emerald Isle.

The gloriously effervescent and playful mood is a talisman that leads us in a merry jig to the irresistibly buoyant theme tune by Victor Young, partnering us with a bevy of flamboyant characters that illuminate the screen with their delightful eccentricities.

'The Quiet Man' was directed with tenderness by regular John Wayne collaborator, John Ford, who himself was the son of Irish immigrants. It proved to be a deeply personal experience for Ford and his labour of love is evident throughout, as the movie carries a deeply affectionate sentiment and a nostalgic tribute that are his contribution to the legacy of his Irish ancestors.