The Quiet Man
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The Quiet Man is a 1952 American film starring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Victor McLaglen, and Barry Fitzgerald, and directed by John Ford. It was based on a 1933 Saturday Evening Post short story by Maurice Walsh. The film is notable for its lush photography of the Irish countryside and the long, climactic, semi-comic fist fight between Wayne and McLaglen.
The story concerns Sean Thornton (Wayne), an Irish-American professional boxer who fights under the name of "Trooper Thorn". After accidentally killing an opponent during a match, he moves from the United States to Ireland to reclaim his family's farm. He winds up falling in love with and marrying the fiery Mary Kate Danaher (O'Hara), sister of the none-too-pleased local squire "Red" Will Danaher (McLaglen). Danaher refuses to allow his sister the full dowry to which she is entitled.
Sean is willing to let the matter rest, but Mary Kate is resolved to obtain her dowry at all costs and believes that Sean's reluctance to fight for it is a result of cowardice. In fact, he remains traumatized by his killing of another fighter in the ring. Two local clergymen, Father Lonergan (Ward Bond) and the Reverend Cyril "Snuffy" Playfair (Arthur Shields), intervene to bring the newlyweds back together. In the end, Sean and Will slug it out, Sean regains Mary Kate's love, and all is well
