Must See
The absolute best John Wayne movie of all time. You will fall in love with Maureen O’Hara. (Spoilers follow)
Father Peter Lonergan: ”Well, then. Now. I’ll begin at the beginnin’. A fine soft day in the spring, it was, when the train pulled into Castletown, three hours late as usual, and himself got off. He didn’t have the look of an American tourist at all about him. Not a camera on him; what was worse, not even a fishin’ rod.”
The lush and beautiful countryside of Ireland provides the setting for this engaging tale of an Irishman, raised in America, going back home to escape a past he’d just as soon forget. To tell the story of Sean Thornton (John Wayne), a man troubled by an incident that changed his life, and now doing what he can to forget about it and just move on. And toward that end, Sean travels to the place he knows so well from the stories told him by his mother, to Innisfree, intending to buy the cottage in which he was born, White O’Morn, where he can make a fresh start and build a new life for himself. There’s a problem, however; the land and the cottage is owned by the widow Sarah Tillane (Mildred Natwick), and borders the estate of one Red Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen), who not only fancies the widow herself, but wants to buy her land. Squire Danaher (as he’s known) is not the only one Sean must deal with, though, as other matters arise upon his arrival in the small hamlet of his birth. And her name is Mary Kate (Maureen O’Hara)– who just happens to be Squire Danaher’s sister. But Danaher or no, it makes no difference to Sean, who as soon as he lays eyes on Mary Kate determines to make her his wife.
A gifted actor, Maureen O’Hara is also, without question, one of the most beautiful women ever to grace the silver screen. It’s easy to understand how Sean Thornton can fall instantly in love with her when he first sees her walking through the fields of Innisfree. It’s entirely believable. And when you get to know the woman behind the beauty– who Mary Kate is down deep. Her performance is nothing less than natural and inspired. Mary Kate Danaher, is one of her most memorable roles of her career.