The Quiet Man

One of the most instantly recognizable actors of all time is John Wayne. Extremely popular in his day, Wayne starred in hundreds of films, mostly telling tales of America’s past. Among those films and some of his most legendary roles were under the direction of the great John Ford. A director who won a number of awards and influenced generations of filmmakers and performers alike. With such a great resume, it’s hard to believe Ford would have trouble getting a picture off the ground due lack of confidence in its future success. Today’s subject however, is that picture. One that took decades to make and went through much adversity, but led to a huge hit.

So if you’re like me and you enjoy film and the impact and emotions they convey then grab a glass of your preferred liquid and join me for the next little while. For me that’s a nice warm mug of mulled apple cider. So sit back, relax, and let’s talk about the love of film. Welcome to Glazed Cinema.

Our film begins on a train platform as a steam engine train approaches and stops to unload its passengers. Soon narration begins by a man with an Irish accent as John Wayne opens his cab window to lean out and look upon his surroundings. The narrator describes the man and how he isn't a tourist as he didn't bring a camera, but what was worse, didn't bring a fishing rod. As Wayne gets off the train he unloads his bags onto the platform as people approach to talk to him. Turning around to greet two gentlemen as he asks what way it is to Inisfree. Two men begin to argue about the directions when a man with a pipe in mouth approaches and takes his bags. Looking back confused the man, played by Barry Fitzgerald, stops to turn around and says, "Inisfree, this way." as he walks through the train pavilion. Wayne's character approaches the doorway to see the man loading his bags onto the bag of a horse and buggy. The man is Sean Thornton, an ex professional boxer from Pittsburgh.

On the way into town, being escorted by the man, whose name is Michaleen Oge Flynn he sees a woman herding a flock of sheep down, a lush green hillside under the shade of trees. Played by Maureen O'Hara, she has vibrant red hair and wears a blue shirt and red skirt as the two meet eyes. Climbing back onto the carriage Sean asks, "Hey, is that real? She couldn't be." to which Michaleen answers, "Oh, nonsense man. It's only a mirage, brought on by your terrible thirst." The film, called The Quiet Man, tells the tale of a man retuning to his childhood home in Ireland to make a home for himself.

The thing I love the most in this film are the characters. There are so many well rounded personalities, all brought out wonderfully by the performers in the roles. There's the lush, carriage driver, and town liaison Michaleen Flynn, played by Barry Fitzgerald, who is seemingly either in a pub or helping someone only to find himself in the pub afterward. There's the big, brash, and rough "Squire" Will Danaher who is the brother of Mary Kate played by Victor McLaglen who puts people in his book of they cross him. He is seemingly always in a bad mood and takes little lightly. There's also Reverend Cyril Playfair, played by Arthur Shields. He's a kind and soft spoken man, who people confide in, including Sean. We also learn that he too was a boxer in his youth. Then there's Mary Kate Danaher, the sister of Squire played by Maureen O'Hara. She's a fiery woman who is fiercely proud and independent, while also being kind and understanding. These characters and more make the film that much more enjoyable and bring the town, the characters, and the story to life. It's a story told in wonderful Technicolor and directed by the great auteur, John Ford.

Ford is a legendary filmmaker who released countless films all centering around American stories throughout his career. If you are unfamiliar with his name you are likely to know some of his films. Included in his filmography are movies like Stagecoach, The Grapes of Wrath, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and The Searchers.

The Quiet Man has a very interesting back story to it and was a labor of love in every sense of the word. It took a long time to make the film, which isn't anything new in the film world as some projects take years to complete, but The Quiet Man. Well, not many films can say that it was decades in the making, but this one can. You see, Ford always wanted to make a movie about his ancestral land of Ireland. In fact, in 1933 the director came across a short story in the Saturday Evening Post titled The Quiet Man by Maurice Walsh and he fell in love with the short tale. Three years later Ford would purchase the screen rights to the story for ten dollars with the promise that more money would come to the author once the film was completed.

Interestingly enough, despite Ford’s reputation and countless box office hits he struggles to find a studio to back The Quiet Man. Even with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara alongside him on the billing no film studio would touch the project. It wasn’t until Wayne suggested that the legendary director approach Republic Studios that they caught a break.

Now you may ask, why with those three names did they have problems being backed? Well, at the time nothing was more popular than American stories and the top billing within that was the Western. Stories of the old west drew the most crowds and garnered the most box office dollars. Much like any other trend, studios were comfortable pursuing something that works. The opposite side to that coin is the fear of pursuing something new. Now that is not specific to film, that is a very human thought process. All the studios Ford approached simply succumbed to this, whereas Republic took a chance on something different…well, kind of.

You see, Republic wasn’t one of the major studios like MGM was. They were known for their many western films, usually completed for low budgets. So getting Ford was a tall order for a studio looking to upgrade their brand, especially given their budget. One of Ford’s previous films cost about two million dollars to make. For that same amount of money Republic released almost an entire year’s worth of movies. Despite the mismatch the two parties were eager to work with each other and the studio agreed to fund Ford’s Irish film project. However, it wasn’t that simple of a transaction. No, when Ford shook the hands of those who drew up the contract he quickly got entangled in the strings attached. Despite my precious talk of fear and comfortability Republic, like the other studios feared a box office flop. So, they felt they needed another movie in the deal to balance things out…a contingency plan if you will. That plan also happened to very specific due to the studios budgetary demands. Republic would back The Quiet Man, but only if Ford directed a black and white western film with both O’Hara and Wayne included. John Ford agreed and his plan on flying to Ireland for filming turned into a return to the southwest once again. After the dusty western debuted the trio were off to the beautifully green country to start filming their wholesome movie.

There are a lot of scenes in the Quiet Man that I love, but one of my favorites is when Mary Kate and Sean are courting under the supervision of Michaleen, which is a traditional custom in Ireland. Sean waits pacing nervously outside the chapel with a line of people awaiting Mary Kate's arrival. Soon Mary Kate, her brother, and father come out as makes a speech permitting them to court each other, but under the usual conditions. He says, "Mr. Flynn, do you assume the full responsibility?" "I do...and from now on they do the walking and the talking under me own eyes." Soon, they ride off to applause as the two sit on opposite sides of the carriage, backs turned toward each other. Eventually Michaleen permits them to walk with each other ahead of him until they break away and steal a tandem bicycle. Michaleen shocked chases after them on the horse and carriage yelling "Come back here, come back here at once." Suddenly the horse abruptly stops, sending Michaleen lo his back on the cushion behind him. Sitting up he's pleasantly surprised to see that he is in front of the bar, Cohan's. The horse looks back as he puts on his bowler cap. Michaleen says, "I think you have more sense than I have meself." It's a small part of the film, but one I absolutely love.

Another favorite scene of my is very early in the film. While Mick is driving Sean to Inisfree they stop alongside the road along a stone bridge. Surrounded by beauty Sean gets off the carriage and sits on the stone railing of the bridge. Looking out we see a small cottage under a rocky hill with a line of trees on both sides and a small field in the back, cut off by cliff leading to a calm stream. A female narrator begins, the voice of his mother. She says...

"Don't you remember Seaneen and how it was? The road led up past the chapel and it wound and it wound...and there was the field where Dan Tobin's bull chased you. It was a lovely little house Seaneen...and the roses! Oh your father used to tease me about them, but he was that proud of them too."

Panning back to Mick, who looks on suspiciously says, "Ah, that's nothing but a wee humble cottage." Sean gets up and approaches the carriage and takes a seat alongside Mick and says, "That little place across the brook, that humble cottage, who owns it now?" Mick responds, "The widow Tillane. Not that she lives there." "Think she'd sell it?" "I doubt it." "I'll bet on it, cuz I'm buying it." The two men look at each other as Mick with a confused look on his face asks, "Now why would a Yankee from Pittsburgh want to buy it?" To which Sean says, smiling, putting his arm around him, "I'll tell you why Michaleen Oge Flynn, the boy who used to wipe my runny nose as a kid. Cuz I'm Sean Thornton and I've come home and home is where I plan to stay."

I love that scene. Between the gorgeous scenery, the gentle narration, and the banter between the two men it's a very well put together scene and one that gives us a lot of background for the rest of the film.

The Quiet Man was nominated for seven academy awards and won two of them, including Ford's fourth Oscar for best director. It was a highly popular film upon release and has gone down as one of the highlights of Ford, Wayne, and O'Hara's film career.

This movie means a lot to me. I remember where I was the first time I saw The Quiet Man. I was up at my grandparents’ house while my parents were away. We were sitting in the den during the daytime, the birds chirping outside. It was a smaller room that had a couch, two recliners, and a console television set. My grandparents sat in either chair, while I sat on the couch as the film unfolded before me. My grandma was asleep in, while my grandpa and I watched TV. Sitting in his chair I remember him asking if I had ever seen the film, to which I responded, no. He told me that it was a good movie and that it had John Wayne in it. Those two things were enough for me. My grandpa liked it and it had John Wayne, which for me as a little boy was fantastic. We proceeded to watch the whole movie together, my grandma waking up intermittently as my grandpa and I sharing laughs. In fact, I remember laughing quite a bit together over that bit I described earlier with Michaleen and his horse. I remember really liking the movie and felt a bit sad when it was all over. That's the sign of a great movie, when you're sad to say goodbye to the characters and the experience. As a young boy I couldn't remember the name of the movie until one day many years later I saw it on TV again and was instantly transported back to my grandparents' den when I was young.

It's a movie with a lot of heart and made with a lot of love. It's a film that makes you feel good and will provide smiles and laughs throughout. The Quiet Man is a great watch for anyone, especially on a nice quiet day where you can relax.

Oh yeah…and remember that contingency plan that Republic devised? Well, it grossed 2.25 million dollars...and The Quiet Man grossed 3.8 million dollars, nearly double the contingency plan…a black and white western starring John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, and be directed by John Ford. A story about Lieutenant York commanding cavalry near the Mexico border whose wife Kathleen who comes to take their newly recruited son home and away from danger. A film...called Rio Grande.

If you’d like to watch The Quiet Man for yourself you can find it on a variety of streaming services. At the time of this recording you can find The Quiet Man on Hulu. Hulu is a service with great value and offers flexible pricing structures ranging from $4.99 for single or $10.99 for family plans.

Apart from Hulu you can also find The Quiet Man on services like Prime Video, Prime Video, Paramount Plus, and Philo included with your subscription. You can also find it on YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, and Vudu for either $2.99 or $3.99 to rent.

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