“The quiet man”- USA, 1952.   

In the 1920s, Sean Thornton (John Wayne), an Irish-born American from Pittsburgh, travels to Ireland to reclaim his family’s farm in Inisfree. He meets and falls in love with the fiery Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O’Hara), the sister of the bullying, loud-mouthed landowner Squire “Red” Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen). Danaher, angry that Sean outbid him for the Thornton land adjacent to his property, initially refuses to sanction the marriage until several town locals, including the Catholic priest, Father Lonergan (Ward Bond), conspire to trick him into believing that the wealthy Widow Tillane (Mildred Natwick) wants to marry him, but only if Mary Kate is no longer living in his house. After learning the truth on Sean and Mary Kate’s wedding day, an enraged Will refuses to give his sister her full dowry.

Sean, unschooled in Irish customs, cares nothing about the dowry, but Mary Kate is obsessed with obtaining it. The dowry represents her independence, identity, and pride. Angered and shamed by Sean’s refusal to confront her brother and demand what is legally hers, she brands him a coward, and, despite living together, they are estranged as husband and wife.

Sean had been a boxer in the United States, a heavyweight challenger known as “Trooper Thorn”. After accidentally killing an opponent in the ring, Sean hung up his gloves, vowing never to fight again. This is known to only one person in the village, the Church of Ireland minister, the Rev. Playfair (Arthur Shields), who once upon a time had been the lightweight champion and thus understands Thornton’s internal conflict.

Later, in an attempt to force Sean to confront Will, Mary Kate leaves him and boards a train departing Castletown and headed to Dublin. Infuriated, Sean drags her off the train, and, followed by the townspeople, forces her to walk the five miles to Inisfree from Castletown to the Danaher farm. Sean demands that Will hand over her dowry and threatens to return Mary Kate to his household if he refuses. Will finally relents and gives him the cash. Mary Kate and Sean throw it into a furnace together, showing that Mary Kate never cared about the money, but only what it represented. A long, memorable fistfight ensues between Sean and Will. They slug it out through the village, stop for a drink, brawl again, then become best friends. Sean regains Mary Kate’s love and respect. Will and the Widow Tillane begin courting, and peace is returned to Inisfree.

Scheda del film :
Regia: John Ford;
Soggetto: Maurice Walsh;
Sceneggiatura: Frank S. Nugent;

 

 

 Fotografia: Winton C.Hoch;
Montaggio: Jack Murray.
Personaggi e Interpreti:
Sean Thornton (John Wayne);
Mary Kathe Danaher (Maureen O’Hara);
Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen);
Michaleen Oge Flynn/in italiano: Michelino  (Barry Fitzgerald);
Sarah Tillna, detta la “vedova” (Mildred Natwick);
Padre Peter Lonergan (Ward Bond);
IIgnatius /in italiano Ignazio / Feeney (Jack McGowran);
Rev. Cyrill Playfair (Arthur Shields);
Guardia del treno (Joseph O’Dea).

 

 

Commento.  Lo ammetto, ho molti pregiudizi a riguardo di questo film, che elenco qui di seguito:  amo 1) l’Irlanda; 2) John Ford; 3) John Wayne, the Duke; 4) Maureen O’Hara, attrice meravigliosa e donna bellissima; 5) i tre co-protagonisti che ho elencati subito sotto Wayne & O’Hara sono strepitosi, e cioè: A) il fratello maggiore Will, l’attore Victor McLaglen; B) Michaleen /Michelino , l’attore Barry Fitzgerald, nella parte dell’intrigante, pettegolo di paese; C) la “vedova”, bisbetica & dispettosissima anziché no, detta Sarah, l’attrice Mildred Natwick.    Come definisco, in poche parole, questo film che non mi stancherò mai di ri-vedere?

“L’Odissea Irlandese”, secondo John Ford/John Wayne/Maureen O’Hara.

Più di così!

 

 

 

 

 

Vai link del film integrale su youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4j6gI7lTdM