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Features: DVD, Collector's Edition, Remastered
John Ford's The Quiet Man celebrates one of Hollywood's most romantic and enduring epics, winner of two Oscars, including Best Director. The first American feature to be filmed in Ireland's picturesque countryside, Ford (whose real name was Sean O'Feeney) richly imbued this masterpiece with his love of Ireland and its people. Sean Thornton (John Wayne) is an American who swears off boxing after accidentally killing an opponent. Returning to the Irish town of his birth, he finds happiness when he falls in love with the fiery Mary Kate (Maureen O'Hara). Though he is sorely tempted to pick up the gloves against her brother, the town bully, Sean is determined not to use his fists. Mary Kate and Sean wed but her brother refuses to pay the dowry. Sean would rather walk away than accept this challenge. Even when his wife accuses him of cowardice, Sean stands firm. But when she boards a train to leave, he is finally ready to take matters into his own hands. The resulting fist-fight erupts into the longest brawl ever filmed, followed by one of the most memorable reconciliations in motion picture history!
Editor's Note
One of John Ford's most cherished projects, THE QUIET MAN took years to finance but became one of his greatest box-office successes and an enduringly beloved classic. John Wayne stars as Sean Thornton, a retired American boxing champion trying to put tragedy behind him by returning to Innisfree, the bucolic Irish village of his birth. He purchases his birthplace from its current owner, enraging the wealthy and bellicose Red Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen), who had designs on the property. On arriving at his cottage, Thornton finds it being swept out by Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O'Hara), a redheaded vision from whom he steals a not completely unwelcome kiss. After engaging in a subterfuge involving a horse race, some of the locals manage to get the disgruntled Red Will to allow his sister to be courted by the American. But the courtship ritual of the village is only the first of many local practices that the bewildered Thornton must endure if he is to have Mary Kate. Wayne gives a surprisingly nuanced performance as the fish out of water, and he is perfectly matched with the radiantly rambunctious O'Hara. The rest of the cast is splendid as well, and the lush color photography garnered an Academy Award for Winston Hoch. John Ford also won an Oscar for his directing, and it's impossible not to be charmed by the artistry with which he weaves his rollicking, robust tale.
Plot Summary
An American boxer retires to his native Ireland where he tames the town bully and a strong-willed woman.
| Features | Scene Access | | Interactive Menus | | Original Theatrical Versions | | Cast, Crew And Production Information | | "The Making Of The Quiet Man" Hosted By Leonard Maltin | | Commentary With Maureen O'Hara | | "The Joy Of Ireland" Documentary With Maureen O'Hara | | "Remembering The Quiet Man" Montage Featuring Classic Scene Work, Fights, Stunts And Romantic Moments |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Artisan |
| Release Date: 5/11/2004 |
| Running Time: 129 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1952 | | Catalog ID: 12528 | | UPC: 00017153125283 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 4:3 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Oscar (1953) |  | Winton C. Hoch, Archie Stout, Winner, Best Cinematography, Color | |
Directors Guild Of America (1953) | | John Ford, Winner, Outstanding Directorial Achievement In Motion Pictures | |
Oscar (1953) | | John Ford, Winner, Best Director | | | Frank Hotaling, John McCarthy, Jr., Charles S. Thompson, Nominee, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration | | | Daniel J. Bloomberg, Nominee, Best Sound Recording | | | Victor McLaglen, Nominee, Best Supporting Actor | | | Frank S. Nugent, Nominee, Best Writing, Screenplay |
| Memorable Quotes| "Impetuous ---- Homeric" Barry Fitzgerald (Michaeleen Oge Flynn) after seeing the broken bridal bed in the Thornton home. | | "Here's a stick to beat the lovely lady." May Craig (village woman) as Sean Thornton drags his bride Mary Kate home. |
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| | Professional Reviews | USA Today
"...Gorgeous cinematography..." 06/16/1992 p.6DUncut
"[I]t's Ford's dream of Oirland, pure fantasy, and a film to cherish if you have any Irish in you..." 12/01/2004 p.184 Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide 8 of 10
...Boisterous blarney, with beautiful Technicolor scenery, and equally beautiful music by Victor Young... This film was clearly a labor of love for Ford and his Irish-American stars...
Greatest Films 9 of 10
The Quiet Man, an epic romantic comedy, is director John Ford's loving,nostalgic tribute to his Irish ancestry--he considered it one of his favorite films. - Tim Dirks
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