The Quiet Man Film

Subject: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 05:59 AM

There is a new official website for fans of the John Ford classic film, "The Quiet Man". I think there will be some of you mudcatters who would be interested.



There is also a nice piece on the film's theme song "The Isle Of Innisfree" by Gerard Farrelly, son of the writer. Just click the link "Isle of Innisfree" on the home page.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 06:02 AM

Sorry, I didn't give the site.

www.quietmanmovieclub.com

I would be grateful if someone could make the "Blue clicky". I tried but just don't know what I'm doing.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,John Wayne
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 07:48 AM

www.quietmanmovieclub.com

Sorry about the mess on the walls

I've come for me boy

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From:
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 08:24 AM

You have to include the whole thing when making a clicky:

http://www.quietmanmovieclub.com

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Q.M. Fan
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 11:15 AM

Yes, a wonderfully entertaining film. It's a love story really, and quite sensual without having to show it all like they have to do today to achieve the same affect. Great sparks too between John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. It's main theme music, "The Isle Of Innisfree", is stunning. I would die happy if I could leave the world such a melody, incidentally, Victor Young orchestrated it beautifully.

Thanks for the website info.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 11:18 AM

I recently purchased a DVD of the film and I was shocked at how bad the transfer is. It was almost unwatchable. I will continue watching my VHS version.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Cluin
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 11:32 AM

I can never help being blown away by the Duke's dramatic use of cigarettes in his "method" acting in this flick. Watch how many times he lights a smoke, takes one drag, looks intensely away at nothing in particular, then tosses most of the cig away angrily.

Now there's acting, baby! Keanu Reeves, eat your heart out.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 11:48 AM

The tune that plays every little bit, all the way through, at different speeds, is Rakes of Mallow, A part.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: PoppaGator
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 12:06 PM

The film was made on location in Cong, County Mayo, and in the countryside to the immediate west, County Galway's "Joyce Country." There is a Quiet Man Museum in Cong, and some of the film's locations (e.g., the pub) are still there to be visited.

I rented the DVD from Netflix.com a couple of months ago, and the quality seemed perfectly fine to me. My only (minor) complaint was the absense of any extra features, but that's not unusual for old classic films transferred to DVD. Ron, sounds like you got a bad copy, or maybe some kind of bootleg; hope you got your money back!

Cluin, I can't tell whether you're serious or facetious in your praise of JW's "cigarette acting." Stanislavsky decried the employment of smokes as a cheap short-cut and a way to avoid more genuine emotionally-grounded acting, but it was a commonly employed theatrical trick in the 1950's heyday of The Method.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Cluin
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 12:15 PM

Now there's acting, baby! Keanu Reeves, eat your heart out.

And you can't tell if I'm being facetious?

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Rapparee
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 12:27 PM

I watched it and the next day came home and said, "Woman of the House! Where's me tay?"

She poured the whole pot down my pants.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 12:28 PM

Sorry to correct you Sorcha, but the soundtrack contains many pieces of Irish music, e.g. "Galway Bay", "The Wild Colonial Boy", "The Rakes of Mallow", "The Kerry Dances", to name but a few. There are also several pieces of incidental music written for the film by Victor Young, e.g. "The Race", and "The Fight".

However, the film's principle musical theme is "The Isle of Innisfree", of that there is no doubt. It's the film's Main Title and is first heard over the opening credits sequence and is featured a further 11 times throughout the movie.

Some of the scenes in which it is heard are - when John Wayne sees Maureen for the first time as she is walking along with sheep, the love scene in the graveyard, and I could go on and on. Indeed I have some albums of film themes along with the soundtrack CD of the film and it is always refered to as the theme music of The Quiet Man. It is the one composition which stands out above all the others, the one that opens the film and the one that is given the greatest amount of exposure throughout.

I have a special interest in the whole area of film music and work in the area of music copyright, and licensing.

Bob

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 12:46 PM

I should have mentioned in my posting that recently the composer John Williams revealed his own indebtedness to the musical judgement of John Ford, and it was Ford himself who chose the Isle of Innisfree as his film's main theme music.

Williams first saw The Quiet Man shortly after its release in 1952 and was inspired by the Victor Young score, and as he said himself, the passionate and romantic Isle Of Innisfree by Richard Farrelly, saying these were the major inspirations for his own hugely successful career.

Bob

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: PoppaGator
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 01:04 PM

Wasn't there a thread on the subject of this film's theme music and it's uncredited composer earlier this year? I'm pretty sure I remember reading about it either before or very shortly after my trip to Ireland in August. I'm confident that someone with more time, energy, and/or anal-retentiveless than myself will soon come up with a solid reference or link.

Unless I've lost my mind completely, here's what I remember:

The late songwriter's son made an unexpected apeparance as a GUEST, well into the ongoing discussion, and provided a link to further information on the web. His dad's name appeared nowhere in the film credits, leading to the misunderstanding that the one person with a visible music credit (the composer of the overall score) was the writer of each invidiual tune in the film, which is manifestly untrue since many of the numbers were and are traditional/PD.

The son assured us, however, that the movie studio *did* pay regular and substantial royalties to his father even though they didn't provide public recogntion via a screen credit.

Did I dream all this? Or am I perhaps confusing this with some other B&W Hollywood classic featuring Irish traditional music? I think not...

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 01:26 PM

You are indeed correct PoppaGator.

It's in one of the threads "Isle of Innisfree". I checked it and there are postings by Gerard Farrelly. His website is: www.stoneandfarrelly.com There is info on the song and the correct lyrics, I believe lots of people have some of the words wrong.

J.O'Connor

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 03:30 PM

I have such a detestation of John Wayne that it is hard for me to watch the film. Of all the films that get re-made I wish this one would. I don't know who I would cast in it but Daniel Day Lewis is a contender along with Liam Neeson. I'm sure there are other, more properly Irish actors, who would do a grand job but I am unaware of who they would be. Perhaps some one "over there" could enlighten?

CB

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: PoppaGator
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 03:55 PM

Coyote Breath, I don't much like "Duke," either. While many young American men were risking their lives in WWII (including fellow celebrities with less macho images, most notably the amazingly heroic Jimmy Stewart), John Wayne and that other pussy hypocrite Ronald Reagan were safely playacting as soldiers on Hollywood back lots. What a couple of phonies; I wish Ted Williams woulda kicked their asses!

It should be noted, however, that JW's character in this film is an Irish-American son of immigrants, not a native Irishman, so some American (or Canadian, or Australian) actor could well be a better person to cast than Lewis or Neeson.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 04:13 PM

If my memory serves me correctly, the original short story involved someone connected with the IRA, not an Irish-American.

I can separate the politics from work of the actor. The bulk of John Wayne's films hold no interest for me, but The Quiet Man was a masterpiece. Wayne's performance was brilliant in this movie and he proved he was an actor, not just a movie star. It is a shame that he wasn't offered many roles of this type.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: The Walrus
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 04:32 PM

What alway amuses me about this film is the JW-Victor McLagen fight.

In reality Wayne wouldn't have stood a chance against McLagen, dispite the latter being considerably older (old enough to have served in the Great War).
McLagen had been a heavyweight boxer of some repute, to the extent of going Five rounds (I think it was) with the then reigning World Champion heavyweight - Jack Johnson - and walking out of the ring afterward.

Walrus

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 05:01 PM

To give the man his due, in WWII John Wayne did try to enlist but was rejected due to a football injury. (He attended USC on a full football scholarship.) Wayne apparently went to Washington to have the decision overturned but he was refused.   Wayne went on several tours in the Pacific visiting front lines.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Compton
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 06:57 PM

A quite good bit in Barry Norman's book are the interviews he had with Wayne. I don't think Norman cared too much for him!

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Cluin
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 07:24 PM

The main problem with John Wayne was he believed his own legend.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 07:38 PM

the original short story involved someone connected with the IRA, not an Irish-American.

I think in the Maurice Walsh story from which it comes the hero had been in the IRA before he emigrated to America. The film has him as a returned emigrant, I'm prety sure.

I've always wished that it could have been Robert Mitchum instead of John Wayne. Made for the part.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 10:29 PM

Robert Mitchum!!! A great choice Kevin. I had never thought about it, but he would have been great. And when he took his shirt off he'd have shown up the Duke going away!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From:
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 10:57 PM

The threads mentioned on Isle of Innisfree are:

Isle of Innisfree in the DT
Lyr Req: Isle of Innisfree - Forum
Lyr Add: Isle of Innisfree
Lyr Add: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)

The web-site listed by J O'Connor is:

http://www.stoneandfarrelly.com

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Mickey191
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 12:12 AM

The Character of Sean Thornton was born in Ireland & came to U.S. as a child. He explains that to Barry Fitzgerald as they stop to look at the home "White a Morn."

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 12:29 AM

Yes I have to say I love the film, so many aspects of it in fact. I suppose you love it or hate it.

The two postings by (Rob) are really very interesting. For a change it sounds like someone really knows their stuff.

Sadly so much of the contributions on quiet a lot of the subjects in Mudcat are from people giving their opinions as if they were fact. In many cases, "The Isle of Innisfree" to give but one example, the facts have actually been supplied already by persons who know the full history behind a song or have a personal involvement with it.

Having loved this film for many years, I was delighted to finally have the story behind it's theme song from the composers son. It would be great to have more such contributions on a great number of songs that come up from time to time.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: musicmick
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 01:38 AM

Obviously, confusing an actors political philosophy with his ability is a mistake that is shared by left and right. That John Wayne was often type cast and that he exibited no great range, is indisputable.
But the same could have been said about many "movie stars". I doubt that Cary Grant was given many roles that played outside the suave persona he represented. Would anyone have known that Dick Powell could do something other than sing and smile if his career hadn't stalled and allowed him to play Phillip Marlowe in "Murder, My Sweet"?
Allen Ladd played the same role in every film he made, so did Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Gary Cooper and Rudolf Valentino. Hell, they wouldn't let Mickey Rooney grow up before "The Black Stallion".
Spencer Tracey had great range but, for all we know, so did the other stars who wre not given the meatier parts. John Wayne was, at heart, a western star. Even when he wasn't playing cowboys, he still walked with that lope from "The Virginian". It is, perhaps, interesting to note that so many movie cowboys were political conservatives.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 07:11 AM

To go back to the very start of this thread which I must say is an excellent one, I read the stuff on the "Isle of Innisfree" link on the Quiet Man Movie Club website that was mentioned.

CHECK IT OUT!

It's a wonderful piece of info, a really enjoyable read and a great photo of the songwriter Dick Farrelly at his piano in 1982. Anyone who is interested in the song will enjoy it.


www.quietmanmovieclub.com

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: The O'Meara
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 08:30 AM

I'm gonna have to watch the movie again to be sure, but I think the background music over the closing credits is a tune called "St. Patrick's Day" that Ford was fond of. Used it in "the LOng Grey Line" and a couple of his cavalry westerns. Great tune - anyway, I need an excuse to watch it again. It's been days since I watched it last.

You John Wayne bashers: I bet you don't like apple pie or Walt Disney, either. Pox on ye!

O'Meara

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From:
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 09:27 AM

un-named GUEST
I like to think that the Mudcat's Origin series of threads and DTStudy threads have a reasonable amount of factual information. As always on/in an open forum you will get information which is from the oral tradition but not necessarily proven. It happens. However, we do have a lot of knowledgable people here, Malcolm Douglas, Masato Sakurai, Dick and Susan, Suzanne, the late Bruce O., and many others have helped contribute to the immense body of knowledge that is the Mudcat. (that is aside from all the BS: threads).

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 11:31 AM

And here's a nice stick to beat the lovely lady...

The Quiet Man and I Know Where I'm Going still get me. Big happy SIGH.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Mickey191
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 12:12 PM

And Who taught you to be playing patty fingers in the holy water?

And who gave you leave to be kissin' me?

As I've said before "The Quiet Man" was the feel good movie of my high school time as an usherette (remember them?) -No other movie was cheered & applauded as this one was. Three return engagements & SRO. I can't tell you the number of people who demanded to know what Barry said when he spied the broken bed.The expression on his face caused such laughter his line was lost.

Maureen O'Hara in an interview on Bravo told of the night She & Wayne went to John Ford's house for dinner. Wayne got blotto & Ford insisted she take him home, Not knowing where he lived (strange) she decided to take him to his country club. On the way he revived in the car. There was a house in the distance, she thought--it must be his home. She pulled in the driveway & Wayne stumble out. Knocked on the door. A lady opened the door and Wayne said,"I want a drink." He took a few steps in, the lady ran to the kitchen, came out with a glass & a bottle. Poured him a good stiff drink of whiskey, he downed it, turned on his heel & left. The lady never said a word.   

Too funny!

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Cruiser
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 01:14 PM

Sinéad Stone has such a melliferous voice that 'tis sure golden honey drips from her melodious pipes.

Listen to the Sound Files at the following link:

Sound Files

Annaghdown is one of my favorites. The complete lyric are on the site also.

Another CD I must purchase because of another great Mudcat post.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: ard mhacha
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 03:01 PM

It is getting another showing on BBB2, 5.55 on Tuesday 30th Dec, McGrath, I would agree, old sleepy eyes Mitchum would have been ideal for the part.

A good few Irish see the movie as sloppy syrupy Irish-American,but still watchable. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Mickey191
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 05:20 PM

Many of my Irish born relatives loathed the movie. Thought it was patronizing and put the natives in a bad light with the dowry thing, the drinking and "The Fight." My Monaghan Dad loved it _because_ of the fight.

That's what makes horse races.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Den
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 08:27 PM

Say what you like about Wayne, for my money Barry Fitzgerald was the star of the show.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Cluin
Date: 21 Dec 03 - 01:08 AM

Aw, ya gotta like John Wayne. His movies are a good time. Not a great actor, true. But most "stars" aren't. They just play themselves.

I doubt they could make The Quiet Man today, at least not the same way. Imagine a contemporary movie where a big ex-boxer smacks his wife around cross-country to the cheers of a following crowd and, when he has her sufficiently "softened-up", sends her home to make supper while he goes and kicks her brother's ass for good measure...

It was such a good formula, they repeated it in "McClintock". Ah yes, another movie where the Duke lays the boots to the fiery-eyed redhead all the way across town and spanks the bitchery out of her in front of adoring townsfolk.

By the way, I had a big crush on Maureen O'Hara as a young lad.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: musicmick
Date: 21 Dec 03 - 02:16 AM

What Barry Fitzgerald said was, "Homeric!". I liked that movie so much that I moved to Ireland just to learn to play the tune that was used in so many scenes, "The Rakes of Mallow". Barry Fitzgerald is an excelent example of Hollywood type casting. He was a gifted actor with limitless range. James Agee thought him the most talented actor in films. But the producers kept him in those Abbey Theater Stage Irish roles whenever they could. Even when he won the Oscar, in Going My Way, he played "the role". Yet, he was Sean O'Casey's favorite actor. O'casey wrote "The Silver Tassie" just for him to play. Check out his brilliant performance in "The Sea Wolf" and "Ten Little Indians".
My point was, there is no way to determine the range of an actor once he is successfully typed.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: robinia
Date: 21 Dec 03 - 12:30 PM

On using cigarettes as a "cheap theatrical trick" -- I recall Lauren being asked in an interview, did she miss smoking? (she'd given up cigarettes years before) and her answer, that she missed cigarettes as a theatrical prop and they WERE a great prop.


For a pet peeve that I could post on almost any thread:

   its = of it

   it's = it is

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Dec 03 - 03:01 PM

Thanking you CRUISER for the posting and the link to the SOUND FILES.

I had come across stuff about SINEAD STONE and mentions of her website before somewhere on MUDCAT, however it was your wonderful way with words that I had to look into it and check out her and the CD, "LEGACY OF A QUIET MAN", which features "THE ISLE OF INNISFREE".

Like you I think that her's is a must get album, the songs and the voice not to mention the playing of GERARD FARRELLY.

Interesting too that Gerard is the songwriter's son.

SLAN, JIM

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Cluin
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 12:30 AM

I still have a big crush on Maureen O'Hara.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Cruiser
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 02:16 PM

Aw, Maureen O'Hara! What a beautiful lass.

Those green eyes, flamin' red hair, and those....well you get the picture.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,OoooH oooooooKkkkkkk
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 07:47 PM

"Like you I think that her's is a must get album"
RIGHT OoooH oooooooKkkkkkk

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 08:02 PM

Apologies for the last message!

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 08:08 PM

Not quite sure what the last message meant, oh well...

Maureen can also sing
Danny Boy

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Steven Flynn
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 03:25 PM

I just watched "The Quiet Man" on BBC2 television today and no doubt it, "The Isle of Innisfree" is a masterpiece.

The two postings by GUEST Bob (Dec 19 '03 at 12.28PM and 12.46 PM) are worth a read, he certainly knows what he's talking about.

Fans of the film or the music should log on to the new official website - www.quietmanmovieclub.com

Click the link "Isle of Innisfree", a lovely and informative read by the composer's son, Gerard Farrelly, with great photographs.

Steven Flynn.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 04:11 PM

Came across this page which may be interesting to check out as it contains a little bit about Maureen O'Hara and the song.
http://www.rareauldtimes.com/page.php?title=maureen

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: ard mhacha
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 04:55 PM

After many years I had another look to-night at The Quiet Man, it was on BBC2, and without adverts, the perfect station for copying it.
I enjoyed it more than I did the first time I seen it, and I agree with Den, Barry Fitzgerald was superb, without doubt the star of the Film. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Big Tim
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 05:04 PM

I also watched it on BBC2, for the first time. It was/is a major pile of crap: it's about America, nothing to do with Ireland.