Just what I expected

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Having left Ireland as a young child "Sean Thornton" (John Wayne) has returned from Pittsburgh as a young man with a yearning to settle down. Upon the road to his old home town he sees a beautiful red-haired maiden named "Mary Kate Danaher"(Maureen O'Hara) and immediately takes a liking to her. Yet, even though the feeling is mutual, her older brother "Will Danaher" (Victor McLaglen) has developed an immediate disliking to him because Sean bought the land he wanted for himself--and Will Danaher is known far and wide for his fighting skills. But what nobody knows is that Sean used to be a professional boxer in America and can certainly take care of himself. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this movie has action, comedy and some nice acting thrown in for good measure as well. The bottom line is that if you're interested in a good, clean movie then this is certainly one you might want to check out. Definitely above average.

It's a cliché to say, about a movie especially, that "they don't make 'em like that anymore." But in the case of The Quiet Man, a gentle comedy drama from John Ford, they really don't. If it was made today, this romantic tale set in the luscious green countryside of Ireland would no doubt star some square-jawed pretty-boy as the male lead, with the role of the leading lady going to some vacuous up-and-comer hoping to make the transition from TV into film before fading into utter obscurity. Back in 1952 they got two of cinema's Golden Age powerhouses, John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, who sizzle with chemistry, charisma and charm, combining to help create one of the finest films of its time.Something of a departure for Ford and Wayne, who were most famous for delivering tough horse operas in the Old West, the film was only made by Republic Picture on the promise that Ford make a western for them first to make up for question mark looming over the box-office appeal of The Quiet Man. He obliged and made Rio Grande (1950), before setting off for Ireland to make the passion project he purchased the movie rights to back in the 1930's. He brought Wayne with him too, but he would kill no injuns and saddle no horses (although he does get to briefly ride one) here, but instead play Sean Thornton, the 'quiet man' of the title - a dashing, friendly American who retreats to his birthplace of Ireland carrying a dark secret on his shoulders.Soon upon arriving, Sean is struck by the beauty of the temperamental Mary Kate Danaher (O'Hara), the sister of landowner Squire 'Red' Will Danaher (Victor McLagen). When Sean quickly purchases the cottage in which he was born, he finds himself immediately at odds with the loud-mouthed and brutish Will, who has had his eyes on the land for years. Sean and Mary Kate are soon in love, but Will stubbornly refuses to consent to the marriage. Local drunk and matchmaker Michaleen (Barry Fitzgerald), sympathising with the two lovers, hatches a plan with the other locals to manipulate Will into thinking the marriage is in his best interests, and they are soon wed. But when Will uncovers the plot and tries to sabotage the marriage, Sean must face the demons of his past and confront the bullying tyrant.Winner of 2 Academy Awards and nominated for 5 more, The Quiet Man was a roaring success and is loved by many to this day, but was undoubtedly a massive gamble by Ford. People paid to see John Wayne punch bad guys and get the girl, but this was a film about a man who makes an active decision not to fight and, although he gets the girl early on, he struggles to keep a hold of her. Funnily enough, this is one of Wayne's best performances, a rare opportunity to see his warmer, gentler side, and his interaction with O'Hara, who is also terrific, is one of the movie's main strengths. The slow pace pays off at the end, climaxing with one of the best fist-fights in cinema. It's played mainly for laughs and no one draws blood, but the absurdity and the sheer length of it is a hoot. Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

The movie was adapted from Maurice Walsh's short story. If you have read it, then you'd immediately have found out that the whole movie was cast with absolutely wrong cast, John Wayne was not in the least as what the short story had portrayed as the man, Sean Thornton, not even close in 100 miles.Sean Thornton, in the story, was indeed a very quiet man, a professional boxer retired from New York boxing ring, seeking an even quieter retirement life back to his hometown in Ireland. He was a tough guy, very reserved and at the same time very humble but with a very strong mind and will.But the screenplay writer and the director, John Ford, had messed up the whole lot and changed it into a farce-like light-heart comedy. It lost the depth of the great short story with a very deep and profound atmosphere which made the short story kind of memorable and an instant classic."The Quiet Man" and "The Most Dangerous Game" are the two most famous and modern classic, the reasons why both of these two short stories had become so great was the unbelievable and unbearable tension in both. Yet the movie of "The Quiet Man" was a loud, noisy, skin-deep shallow comedy without essence at all.Victor McLaglen who played the Squire 'Red' Will Danaher, was definitely another wrong cast. In the story, the guy was a very tough, dark, stubborn, self-righteous, and dangerous, an egoist and willful strong minded tough guy. But the movie had transformed him into a half wit redneck-like thug. So with both important and memorable characters that made the short story so great had been molested into two shallow guys, Sean Thornton had become a loud mouth, always with an ironic sneering smile on his face guy, also a bit too old for the leading role. Squire 'Red', just a countryside rustic roughneck. Neither of them got something special.Maureen O'Hara, who played Mary Kate Danaher, was the only cast that was kinda close to what portrayed in the short story. But in the messy shallow movie, totally ruined by the two wrong male characters, lousy directing and a deep drama-like great storyline messed up into a half farce, half comedy, only one of the cast was barely okay, would not turned this pathetic movie around into a much greater and more memorable one.

This movie needs no introduction from me, but this is to indicate that there will be spoilers ahead:I love this movie and it's probably my favorite John Wayne film. But even as good as his performance is, Maureen O'Hara's is even better. Both leads are frequently upstaged by the character actors John Ford populated this film with from start to finish. Arthur Shields as Reverend Playfair, Mildred Natwick as the widow Tillane, Ward Bond as Father Lonergan Sean McClory as Owen Glynn, Jack MacGowran as Feeney and many others give wonderful performances here. Barry Fitzgerald chews the scenery as the matchmaker and sometimes treasonist Michaleen Flynn and Victor MacLaglen got an Academy Award nomination for an overdone performance as Will Danaher, O'Hara's brother.Wayne plays a retired prizefighter sworn off fighting who's returned to his birthplace for peace and a well-earned obscurity because of what happened in his last fight. He successfully buys his birthplace and its surrounding farm from the widow, making an enemy of Danaher in the process. He slowly wins over the people of the village, starting with Flynn, the two clerics and the local IRA man Glynn.Then he sees O'Hara and is struck by her, deciding he wants to marry her. Thus begins the central plot of the film-the clash of Irish ways with Sean Thornton's more relaxed and open approach, comparatively speaking. Mary Kate's "fortune" (dowry) becomes a sticking point when Thornton couldn't care less whether she gets it or not.By a subterfuge, Danaher is convinced to give consent and the couple are married, buy Mary Kate considers Sean a coward because he won't fight for her dowry. The film climaxes with a chase at the railway and a monumental fight between Thornton and Danaher.This film is on DVD and Blu Ray and is well worth getting. Recommended.