Dreaming The Quiet Man
- Director: Se Merry Doyle
- Genre: Documentary
I was never a fan of The Quiet Man. John Ford's vision of Ireland was too Oirish, condemning every Hollywood movie set here since to be filled with characters who, when not drinking, would say 'Oh Bejaysus' while perched atop a horse and cart. Also, while the rest of us can be in just a bad mood, redheaded women were hence forth dismissed as 'fiery'. A living death. However, Se Merry Doyle's charming documentary has the subtle power to approach Ford's movie with fresh eyes.
Se Merry Doyle paints an interesting picture of Ford in the lead up to directing a film he, too far removed from his Irish roots for his liking, always wanted to direct. Taking Ford's story from his immigrant Irish parents from Ireland to Portland, Maine, and his introduction to Hollywood, Doyle builds up this grizzled, cigar chomping caricature who at his heart yearned for the land of his father (one wouldn't describe Ford as a softie, as that would be incorrect). Doyle has also rummages through the archives to find some fascinating behind the scenes footage. Taking his camera onto the streets of Cong, which doubled up for Ford's Innisfree, Doyle finds Americans who have travelled here for a bus tour of the film's locations and interviews a local character who runs a Quiet Man memorabilia shop.
But what that annoying Oirishness? The documentary is at pains to show that it wasn't Ford's intention to show the country up as backward, cart-driving, diddle-aye pub-dwellers. The critical analysis here, which is very interesting but is relied on a little too much, states that Ford knew that this Ireland no longer existed; when Wayne moves from the train station, where no one is sure of the way to Innisfree, to the waiting horse and cart outside, he's entering a mythical land. Fresh eyes, indeed. Dreaming works hard to explain away the controversial line, 'Here's a good stick to beat the lovely lady with,' but despite the perspiration on the part of the apologists, this reviewer is still confused as to how it can be taken any other way.
With help from Peter Bogdonavich, Martin Scorsese (who seems to like every film ever made) and Maureen O'Hara Dreaming The Quiet Man may just find for the film some new fans. Thoroughly enjoyable stuff.
Review by Gavin Burke | 11:02 | Friday 15th June 2012 | Movie Review
PreviousRock Of AgesComments
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Paul
100% agree with Gavin. I had heard so much good about this movie, even from my own folks, so i borrowed it from DCC to give it a watch. And in all honesty, it bored me to tears. It had no story to speak of, John Wayne was John Wayne, and Maureen O'Hara too was Maureen O'Hara, there wasn't a single piece of good acting. And it was way more Irish than Ireland, the accents were dodgy, the usage of our many green fields was OTT and the way the Irish people were portrayed was similar to the way The Simpsons would see us... Trouble-making, booze-guzzling bullies. And John Ford's directing? What was so special here? I saw nothing that stood out, it was bland, barely flinched. And the big fight everyone ranted of, haven't they ever sat down to John Carpenter's They Live? Now THAT'S a punch up! I really don't rate The Quiet Man, give me Going My Way any day, that's a true Irish beauty of a movie, which also stars Barry Fitzgerald, alongside the legend that is Bing Crosby.
Posted 15:23 | Tue 12th Jun 2012 -
FilmBuff76
I don't like The Quiet Man much either. It's a vision of Ireland that I don't recognise. You can see its influence though in other American films about Ireland. Take the Amy Adams film Leap Year for example. In that film, there are no trains on Sundays, couples must be married to stay at B&Bs and the Cliffs Of Moher are a short walk from Dingle (no, really). And that film was set in the present day!
Posted 14:24 | Thu 14th Jun 2012 -
Peter
Its probably a generational thing but to me the Quiet Man is one of my favourite films. The scenery that was spliced together from various parts of Galway and Mayo that's virtually the same today is spectacular. And the "supporting" actors like Barry Fitzgerald, Mildred Natwick , Arthur Shields steal the show and even today I get a kick out of Francis Ford hopping out of this death bed when he hear's the fight between Danaher and Thornton. At the time it was a big deal for the locals in Cong who got a years pay for a months work and a life time of stories. The film inspired score by Victor Young which includes The Rakes Of Mallow and Dick Farrelly's The Isle Of Innisfree is wounderful. So what if John Ford took liberties with the short story by Maurice Walsh, it was made by a master craftsman that's no worst than fun and considered by many as a classic.
Posted 14:02 | Fri 15th Jun 2012
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