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.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: The O'Meara
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 06:34 PM

Correction: What Mikeleen says when he sees the broken bed is "IMpetuous! HOmeric!"

O'Meara

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Big Mick
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 08:13 PM

This is one of the most fun threads I have read in a long while.

Cluin......I am prepared to do battle with ye for the fair hand of Ms. O'Hara. Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful women to ever grace this planet. And I love a woman with that attitude. Hard to tell which I love more, her or Kate Hepburn. Heaven would be sitting in a comfortable room, a bottle of 12 year old Jameson, and these two fascinating people to talk to all night. I could die a happy man.

I have loved this film forever, but I must admit to flinching everytime Wayne lights up. I hated that man's politics, and couldn't care less for most of his films. But old Marion Michael Morrison played this one well.

I agree completely that Barry Fitzgerald was the major force in this movie. It is the small mutterings, facial expressions, and body movements that absolutely slay me.

And, of course, the real star of this movie was auld Ireland herself. The beauty of the land of my Grandparents is exquisite.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: ard mhacha
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 02:52 AM

Relax Tim. sure and begorrah t`was only a fillum, Martin O`Neill now there is a[thread] creep. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Big Tim
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 07:05 AM

Politically, Martin couldn't have refused. I don't think he'd take a knighthood (I speak as one who refused an invite to a Royal Garden Party - no way was I going to kow tow to any monarch, British or otherwise). And, OK -TQM WAS only a fillim!

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: C-flat
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 08:28 AM

I think last nights BBC2 showing had a lot of the fight scene edited out. I seem to remember the original scene lasting about 20 minutes!
Great film.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: ard mhacha
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 08:33 AM

Aren`t you the privileged one, I remember taking a load of manure to the Palace, for the royal roses.
And hasn`t it been revealed that countless others told them what to do with their gongs. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Mickey191
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 09:34 AM

Ard Mhacha, your last post started my day off with big laugh.

I may be wrong, but I believe the fight lasted 14 minutes, not counting the pub stop. I've been trying to get a friend to see this movie for years. He resisted, I appealed to his Macho nature, telling him about the great long fight. He finally gave in this past Sunday. Guess What? They Cut the fight down to about 4 minutes. That was highway robbery! There ought to be a law.

Pet Peeve: When the credits are eliminated totally so the next program can be highlighted. Happens ALL the time now.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,RICK
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 10:23 AM

Hearing once again that beautiful "Isle Of Innisfree" which opens the movie, with the stunning Ashford Castle in the background at sunset, always gives me goose pimples.

Check out: www.quietmanmovieclub.com and read a great piece about the song, written by the composer's son.

A thank you to a couple of people who brought my attention to that site earlier in the thread. I am a lover of the film but didn't know about the site.

Regards, Rick.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 11:40 AM

I think we've got the message now.

www.quietmanmovieclub.com

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,RICK
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 11:32 PM

Hi GUEST with no name. Would I be correct in thinking that you have some problem. Perhaps there is something constructive you could add to this very enjoyable thread!!

Regards, Rick

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 11:45 PM

I saw lots of his films when I was a kid, but they're all a blur after a while. I like The Quiet Man less than I used to, I think it is because of the accumulation of things in it such as smoking and his behavior toward Maureen's character. These days The Shootist and The Searchers are considered two of his more important films.

Not that this is entirely necessary or germane to the discussion on this thread, but I promissed myself that my last post in 2003 would be on the top of the page, not down in the BS section. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,An English Patriot
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 04:59 PM

With the name that I have given myself for these threads, I don't suppose too many people here will be sypmpathetic to my point of view. However, here it is: I loathe the film with a passion. If an English director, such as Lean, made a film set in Ireland fully of Oirishmon who sort their problems out by using their fists, then the whole of Ireland would be in an uproar. The film mangages to be both thuggish and sentimental at the same time, rather like the director himself. If you want to see Ford and Wayne at their best -and they were both consumate craftsmen-then you should have watched "Fort Apache" which was on the telly the other night. Now that is a fine film. If you want a good film about Ireland, then watch "Michael Collins."

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Big Mick
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 05:43 PM

Well, Patriot, I agree that Michael Collins was a better film, although there were problems with it as well. But remember the times in which TQM was made. The American film industry wouldn't get too political, even though the astute observer could hear the references throughout TQM to the political. To have been overtly political would have doomed the film. I wish they would have left him as a Fenian and talked about why he had to leave. I would much rather they showed the abuses and discrimination of the "Oirish", but then it wouldn't be cute, now would it.

Your point is well taken, with regard to the stereotypes. I agree that if it had been produced by a British company, the response would have been different. Fair play.

Mick

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Maeve Slattery
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 08:46 PM

I am a great great lover of "The Quiet Man" and everything to do with it full stop, so there you have it. Incidently, I think this is a wonderful thread.

Anyway, there are so many aspects to this film that one could talk about, however I have a particular interest in the soundtrack and the music.

I was fortunate enough to meet Richard Farrelly, better known as Dick, composer of the film's main theme - "The Isle of Innisfree". I have to say that he was a really lovely man and a man of few words. In the true sense of the word, 'a quiet man and a gentleman'. He made me feel that I was the only person there at the time.

If any of you love his song "Innisfree", you should hear his songs - "Annaghdown" and "We Dreamed Our Dreams" from the album - "Legacy Of A Quiet Man". The CD is by singer, Sinead Stone and Gerard Farrelly, (Dick's son).

I hope this may be of interest to someone.

Love Mudcat!

Slan, Maeve Slattery

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: ard mhacha
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 02:59 PM

English Patriot, you are right, but give a wee bit of consideration for the period the in which the Film was made, I agree it was all blarney and begorrah, so was everything Irish that Holywood produced in those days.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Cluin
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 04:56 PM

Then there's Darby O'Gill & the Little People

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,An English Patriot
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 06:12 PM

The "blarney and begorrah" nonsense I can understand. Ford was not an Irishman, he was an American with Irish ancestory who saw Ireland in the light that he wanted to see it, and all the "blarney and begorrah" that litter the film was all right by him. However, that in itself does not cause me to hate the film. It is the film's ethics, the idea that it is right and proper for two grown men to sort a dispute out with fisticuffs. I could understand schoolboys thinking along these lines - afterall, it is how they sort out their disputes - but grown-ups? Oh, come on. I feel like telling Ford to grow up. The films appeal escapes me utterly.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Maeve Slattery
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 08:54 PM

You need to relax a little, 'Patriot'.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 08:57 PM

"Fisticuffs?" Do you keep your spectacles in your reticule when you're not wearing them?

As unrealistic as the rest of it was, boxing has been a popular sport for a long time, with or without gloves (it has been so long that I don't remember, but the movie was probably without, right?). There have been a lot of films made over the years that deal with defensive sports such as boxing--the modern spin on this would probably be the martial arts films.

SRS

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,An English Patriot
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 06:54 PM

The Quiet Man is the ultimate machismo film. It is horrible, horrible, horrible! I will not relax until every copy is burnt.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Cluin
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 07:24 PM

Oh nurse.... time for meds over here.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: ard mhacha
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 09:21 AM

Cluin, It`s the English Patient, Begorrah, he`s cracking up.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Maeve Slattery
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 11:08 AM

Great things survive the hardest test of all - 'time'! The Quiet Man stands the test of time.

Scenery, Actors, Director, Music, Entertainment value, Wit, Nostalgia, I could go on and on.

You need to chill out 'Patriot'.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Wesley S
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 01:37 PM

Rather than chill out patriot - are there any movies that do meet your standards for good films ?

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 02:42 PM

Quiet Man is a machismo film and if were released today it would be considered a "chick flick" as well. What more can you ask?

If English Pat really watched the film, he or she would notice that the film is more of a look at customs and the "fight" is more symbolic than anything else. Old values meeting new values. Wayne did not want to fight, nor did he want the dowry. He was led into the fight and made the best of it, and the end showed that compromise really wins out in the end.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Cluin
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 03:06 PM

Besides, it wasn't a real fight. It was a choreographed dance. Anybody who's seen a real fight (and that's everybody) would know that.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 03:47 PM

No way would THAT film be considered a "chick flick," Ron!

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 03:57 PM

Of course it would SRS! All that romance, light comedy, beautiful scenery, closeups of the Duke and a plot to boot! Chick flick all over it. There wasn't a single building blown up or action other than the fight.   Even the fight scene seemed to be a bit of a turn on to Maureen's character.

If they made it today, Julia Roberts would have the role in a heartbeat!

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,An English Patriot
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 04:45 PM

Wesley S, loads of films meet my standard for a good film. I love films and Ford was one of my favs: Fort Apache, How Green Was My Valley, The Grapes of Wrath, The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance, and Stagecoach. Definately one of the greats. The Quiet Man is just not up there with his best. However, after saying that, it looks like a minority opinion here.

I might add here that I do not disapprove of violence in films. Violence = action, and we all like action in our movies. However, violence is usually the end result of everything else having broken down. If I disapproved of violence,I would disapprove of most of the best films ever made. What I disapprove about The Quiet Man is the underlying, or maybe not so underlying, assumption that a smack in the mouth is the right and proper way of handling things. Even a God-damn-awful-film like Rambo used violence only when every other means was exhausted. The Quiet Man is a justification for violence and therefore a thugs dream. The amazing thing about it is that the people writing in this thread are obviously people who wouldn't dream of behaving in a thuggish way. I just do not understand it. I still say: Burn every copy! I am in no mood for compromise here.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 05:08 PM

Ron, I guess you'll just have to take it from a "chick" that that ain't a chick flick! When the woman's story is told from the man's POV, and she is treated that way, it isn't a chick flick. If John Wayne is in it, it isn't a chick flick. (The closest he ever came: McClintock) If it has boxing, it isn't a chick flick, and if she's turned on by the fighting, that's usually a pretty clear marker that it isn't a chick flick.

IMHO.

SRS

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Cluin
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 05:12 PM

McClintock? He put the boots to Maureen in that one too.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 05:30 PM

SRS,I guess we just know different types of "chicks"! :) The reason it isn't a "guy" flick is because the action is limited to one scene, there is too much romance without any nudity, and the music is very slow - no overbearing rock music!

Seriously though, I never really thought of the movie coming from John Wayne's POV. I was only being sarcastic about the original film being a "chick flick", but I what I did say is that if it were released today it would be a "chick flick", and I sincerely believe that.   Take away the fight scene, which would happen in today's politically correct age, and you've got a chick flick.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 10:13 PM

Cluin,

That's why I said "almost." At least she nails him back a few times. (I always enjoy the scene when she picks up Yvonne DeCarlo and carries her upstairs over her shoulder. Now there's one strong woman! O'Hara did all of her own stunts in that film, and many others.)

Ron, I didn't say it was from John Wayne's point of view, I said a man's point of view. Whatever men wrote and/or directed it also were weighing in on how Maureen O'Hara's character should think, respond, behave. They decided she would be an old maid and act accordingly, and they set her up so it was up to the Duke to somehow liberate her, release her sexuality and passion. It's a man's story and the woman is just part of the window dressing.

That's the way I see it. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Cluin
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 10:21 PM

That's the way you scene it?    ;)


Yep. Maureen O'Hara carrying Yvonne DeCarlo over her shoulder up to bed. That's the stuff a boy's dreams are made of.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 11:01 PM

Yes, I guess if you consider the author, screenwriter and director were men then it is a man's point of view, but I think you need to give Ford and O'Hara credit for conveying the womens POV as well. O'Hara wasn't window dressing by any means and her story was delivered. The attitudes were different back then and it is a lovely period piece that really couldn't be made today - unless it became a "chick flick". :)

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: Big Tim
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 04:53 AM

This piece appeared in the "Irish Independent" yesterday.

"Screen legend Maureen O'Hara had her fans captivated yesterday when she spoke for two hours at the Galway Film Fleadh.

In a rare public appearance the 84-year-old star proved that she was still the fiery redhead that became famous on the silver screen in countless classics since the 1940s.

During the interview Ms O'Hara spoke of her firm friendship with John Wayne with whom she worked on a number of films including the "Quiet Man".

The star also discussed working with the director John Ford, who, she said, was more than difficult to work with.

However, despite describing the famous director as being mean and nasty, she also described him as a genius and added that all actors who worked with him came away from a shoot knowing that he had got the best results out of them.

Ms. O'Hara spoke to a packed auditorium in the Galway Townhall for RTE Radio One's Rattlebag programme and discussed the highlights of her acting life.

She talked about beginning her career at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin at the age of 14 and finding fame two years later when she was discovered by Charles Laughton.

The audience also heard of her enforced stay in America where she went to film the "Hunchback of Notre Dame" but was compelled to stay for seven yaers when the war broke out.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From:
Date: 06 Nov 04 - 09:52 PM

I've seen the film a dozen times, and I always feel drawn to the soundtrack music. I found out who wrote the main theme, and I know
most of the other songs. But one tune, played and sung by Maureen
with Edmund Fitzgerald presen, in her cottage, remains a mystery.
It is an old song, and the words were hard to understand. The opening line, I think, went "The yonder moon is beaming bright...", but can't be sure. It bugs me that I can't find what the tune is called. Anyone who knows, I would be glad to hear from. John

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: emjay
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 12:31 AM

Well, that movie led me from so-called Irish music like How Are Things in Glockamora? to real Irish music. And Ken Curtis's singing in the bar scene was pretty darned good.
MJ

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 07:57 PM

Here ya go. Haunting song, I know it drives you nuts to not be able to get the rest of the lyrics.


Young May Moon

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,BonBon
Date: 29 May 11 - 01:36 PM

We have named our racehorses after the movie. All have been foaled in our barn and we have White O Morn, Red Will, Danaher, Saint Indeed, Homeric (my favorite) and soon to be named one.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 30 May 11 - 08:55 AM

I would place She Wore a Yellow Ribbon far above this as a film.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 30 May 11 - 09:25 AM

My dvd version of the movies has the option of watching the complete movie with commentary by Maureen O'Hara.

It's interesting - and a bit disappointing - to hear Maureen say that all the interior scenes in the film were shot in Hollywood.
Maureen makes one obvious mistake when she states that no stunt doubles were used in the fight scene. With the aid of freeze frame technology it's quite easy to see that doubles were certainly used.

It's strange that one poster should say that the movie is a violent film when the Sean Thornton character spends almost the whole film avoiding a violent confrontation.

Of course, a lot of the social attitudes in the film are reflective of an Ireland long gone.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Tony Gibbons
Date: 30 May 11 - 11:07 AM

Great to read all the discussions about " The Quiet Man ". My great Auntie Mary was in the film as an extra and my family still live in Oughterard, near the little stone bridge seen near the beginning of the film - I've sat on it many times !! One great story - during a break in filming John Wayne lit up yet another cigarette and after taking a couple of drags threw it away and said to Barry Fitzgerald " I gotta give these goddam things up " to which Barry, puffing away on his pipe said " Mr. Wayne, you see that graveyard over there ? That's full of people who gave up smoking !! John Wayne then lit up another cig saying " What the hell !" A truly wonderful film - the music, the colour, the story but most of all the people and the fantastic countryside. My heart is there in Mayo and Galway.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST
Date: 30 May 11 - 11:11 AM

Ok, since the thread is active again, I'll have to add my two cents about the Quiet Man-I grew up in NYC second-generation Irish American. The Quiet Man was the first real feature film to have Ireland as its subject and set. Granted, it romanticizes the past-so do most other movies(think the Godfather!)-but for my parents, both who came of age when it was released, it made Ireland so much more than a collection of stories passed on from the older folks.
      And John Ford and Co. couldn't have pulled off better-anyone reading the thread is familiar with it, so I won't go into details. However-I'm paraphrasing some wiseass I heard in a pub in Dublin some years ago-"...Maureen O'Hara brought out the Oedipus Complex in every Irish-American male who saw it."
      It came out at just the right time-Irish-Americans were becoming middle-class and had real 'disposable income"-both my parents had just graduated from college-transatlantic air travel was growing-the Irish Tourist Board couldn't have dreamed up a better advert for the country.
      I know many Irish-and not a few of us Yanks- look down their noses at it now, but from my perspective, it was one of those "cultural phenomena" of that era(think JFK's election and the appearance of the Clancy Bros./Tommy Makem) that really helped cement the Irish-American identity.
Sorry if I'm a little long-winded, but I just finished my second cup of coffee. Have a good Memorial Day!

Jim B

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 30 May 11 - 11:22 AM

"that all the interior scenes in the film were shot in Hollywood."

I have wondered about interior scenes in movies. I have watched several "War" movies this memorial Day/Armistice Day week end, particularly naval films. The interiors of several ships were big enough to be suites in a hotel when on board a ship they'd have been no longer than a bunk in the Captain's quarters.   That is on a Destroyer like "The Sullivan's", a museum ship at dock in Buffalo, NY.

I am convinced there simply was no room in the interiors of the cottages in "The Quiet Man" for the actors and crews to film the scenes.
It was probably just convenience and economics.

Don

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Jim B
Date: 30 May 11 - 11:29 AM

Don,

The key phrase we're looking at here is "suspension of disbelief"-

Jim B

PS- I'm an ex-USN submarine sailor, and seeing stuff like "Das Boot" and "The Hunt for Red October", I can appreciate what goes into the filmmaker's art to bring a story to the screen.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 31 May 11 - 10:31 AM

Pete McCarthy in his very entertaining book "McCarthy's Bar" devotes a chapter to Cong and its The Quiet man connection. It's definitely worth a read.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Seonaid
Date: 31 May 11 - 01:06 PM

The pub scene in TQM caught my attention right away, for a perhaps-esoteric "trad" reason. I know they do multiple takes and splice them together later in the edits. Somehow that resulted in the verses of "The Wild Colonial Boy" coming out in almost reverse order. Anyone else get the same impression?

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: DougR
Date: 31 May 11 - 10:18 PM

I know it's not fashionable to like this film, but I really do, and have watched it several times. My wife and I have been to Cong a couple of times and we both think it is a lovely little village. Heavy on promotion of the film, but why not? The film caused many more folks to visit that little village than they otherwise would. I like the music too.

DougR

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: alanabit
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 12:33 AM

I like this film a lot too. It's fun in a farcical way - a bit like "The Taming of the Shrew" - and was never intended to be taken seriously. I quite understand all the objections to it, but I was never offended quite enough for that to spoil my enjoyment. It is unabashedly sexist and brutish but it's a fantasy setting, which for me, at any rate, renders it harmless.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 08:31 AM

My family came from the part of Mayo that the film was shot in. Every family from that part of the world seems to have a 'Quiet Man' story. For what it's worth, here's mine.

My aunt was working in a shoe shop in Cong. Who walks in one day but the Duke himself. He went up to my aunt and said he had a pair of shoes that needed repairing. She looked at them, wrote the order down in the book and told him when they'd be ready. 'Thank you, ma'am' says the Duke. 'You're welcome', says my aunt.

'...And the name?'

Later, she told me 'I knew very well who he was but I didn't want to give him the satisfaction.'

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,Murpholly
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 04:12 PM

Thoroughly enjoy this dated sexist film and watch it regularly but much prefer the original novel on which it was based by M. Walsh. Read about rural Ireland at the time of the original troubles and what really was the problem between husband and wife.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: DougR
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 09:43 PM

Can you supply the name of the novel and do you know if it is still in print, Murphholly?

DougR

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: J-boy
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 11:36 PM

There is a statue of John Ford in my (and his) hometown of Portland Maine. I always let out a hearty "Hello John!" whenever I pass it.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 08:15 AM

I remember this as a short story that was taught in 7th grade English class in NY state. First published in The Saturday Evening Post in the 30's by Maurice Welsh.

John Ford took many liberties with names and places but it is the original story that is the basis for the movie. In almost every way I find this to be a better movie than has been made in many years.

Fords pacing at scene construction is brilliant. His best actors were not the stars but the supporting actors. Arthur Shields for instance.

And he was doing a movie about an ex patriot returned to Ireland that had to sell in an American market. An America who knew about tin pan alley Irish music and not much more.

D

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 08:40 AM

Thats Maurice Walsh actually.

Subject: RE: The Quiet Man Film
From: DougR
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 01:09 AM

Maurice Walsh's books, including "The Quiet Man" are available at Amazon.com.

DougR