The Quiet Man

THE QUIET MAN, released in 1952, starring John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Victor McLaglen, Barry Fitzgerald and Ward Bond and directed by John Ford is a movie I get a kick out of, even though I am not a real John Ford fan.What I like most in THE QUIET MAN, which is set and was filmed mostly in Ireland, are Barry Fitzgerald as Michaleen (Fitzgerald looks like a leprechaun in this movie), Victor MacLaglen, the scene at the beginning when Sean Thornton (John Wayne)--or "Thon Shornton", as Michaleen would call him when drunk--arrives in Castletown and just wants directions to Innisfree but finds that several well-meaning Irishmen who've evidently kissed the Blarney Stone sometime in their lives only take up his time with gab and never get around to answering his questions, and especially the scene later in the film in which we see an old man on his “death bed”, surrounded by loved ones, one of whom is reading to the old man what is probably one of his favorite Bible stories.That scene is my favorite "sense-of-life" moment in a movie. The old man may only think he's dying, and has possibly been on his “death bed” many times before. When he hears a great commotion outside, he knows instantly what it's all about: there's going to be a fight! All the town is placing bets on it, and the old man is suddenly much more interested in this big fight than in lying in bed dying. So, evidently thinking: “Forget this!”, he—miraculously!—jumps out of bed and escapes the house, his family trying unsuccessfully to restrain him. Such a moment in a story sends me the message: "Life is not about suffering and sorrow; life is to be enjoyed, and we are on this earth to be happy."In regard to director John Ford in general, I consider him an expert talent, but I'm not a great lover of his less comedic, more serious films. He tells stories, and tells them well, but they are more saga-like than having plots. I don't see many purposeful characters who are faced with crucial moral conflicts; the agonizing moral questions are already answered. Everything is about concretes versus abstract ideas and there seems to be more concern about groups of people—tribes, races, classes, families, societies or political parties—rather than individuals. THE SEARCHERS is about the search for a white girl kidnapped by Comanches. STAGECOACH involves people riding a stagecoach across perilous territory, and its story seems to present a microcosm of society. THE GRAPES OF WRATH, based on the John Steinbeck novel, is about a tenant farming family in search of a better place to live and work during the Great Depression. HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY chronicles life in a Welsh coal-mining town, focusing on a mining family and their struggles with economic and political change. THE INFORMER is a morality tale about a cowardly Irish Republican Army member-turned-informer evading his comrades before they can kill him. These and other of Ford’s films are excellent, but I do not enjoy them like I do THE QUIET MAN.Often times Ford tries to present a view of what a “real man” should be. His positive male characters normally convey courage and heroism, but, with certain exceptions—such as Ethan Edwards (Wayne again) in THE SEARCHERS—they don’t seem to do a great deal on their own, with or without approval from whatever group of men they are a part of. Sometimes I think Ford's philosophy of being a man is: "Be one of the boys." Ford is most known for his Westerns, especially the ones starring John Wayne, and even though I would like to see his other ones someday the two that I’ve mentioned here are not among my favorite Westerns; his apparent insistence on reconciling one’s individuality with the group is the main reason. (As to Ford’s view of women, generally it seems to be that women have their specific “place” in society; so I assume his philosophy would say that a “real woman” should be “one of the girls”.)For those who may not be interested in Ford’s work, at least give THE QUIET MAN a chance sometime. The presence of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara together make it a great date movie.But remember: "NO PATTY-FINGERS!!”—Jim Ashley

The whole propriety thing is confusing, but I literally loved this whole movie. I was laughing constantly. I thought I would've been upset when he drug her through the field but its not going to be understood unless you watch it (its like bringing honor to her by showing her mans to be respected or something lol). Either way, I give this movie 10 stars. Its great, nothing sexual I think (I don't know some of the lango they use in this).

Tender romance, kind and quirky country folk, quant Irish cottages and serene walks through the countryside.

Wonderful movie! So much fun to see. I love this movie.

It was an awesome movie, great acting on both stars.

A classic one of my favorite movies ever

Stirs the Irish in me!

One of my favorite old (older than me, lol) movies. Watching Ms. O'Hara and Mr. Wayne makes me feel like I'm young again. A good feeling these days.

2012年米国OLIVE FILMSからリリースのBD。オリジナルは1952年REPUBLIC。監督はジョン・フォードで、出演はジョン・ウェイン、モーリーン・オハラ、ヴィクター・マクラグレン、バリー・フィッツジェラルド、ウォード・ボンド他。個人的には佳作の多いフォード作品中のベスト5にランクインする、名作中の名作。「人間愛」をこれほどケレン味なく繊細かつ正攻法で描き切った作品を他には知らない。さて昨年に復刻シネマライブラリー社から国内版BDもリリースされているので、画質を比較してみた。復刻シネマライブラリー版は、それまで流通していたのDVDとは比べ物にならない高画質であるが、色調がややキツめで若干ハデな感じがある。それに比べると本ディスクは色調は柔らかくキメ細やかである。私が約3年前に最寄りの映画館で観た本作のディジタル・リマスター映像の印象は、本ディスクの方がより近い。ただしその差はわずかである。ちなみに「大砂塵」も復刻シネマライブラリー社とOLIVE FILMSからBDが出ていて、以前に比較させていただいた。「大砂塵」に関してはOLIVE FILMS版の圧勝であった。ただし本作は「大砂塵」ほどの画質の差はないので、本作の復刻シネマライブラリー版をすでにお持ちで満足している方は、あえてこちらに手を出すこともないと思われる。結論としてはまだ復刻シネマライブラリー版をお持ちでなくて、本作の魅力を知り尽くしていて、英語に多少の自信があって、そしてあくまでも高画質にこだわりたいかたには、OLIVE FILMSリリースの本ディスクをおススメしておく。

作年、駅馬車とＱＵＩＥＴ　ＭＡＮ のリマスター版が作成されたとネットで見て、発売されるのを、楽しみに待っていましたが、国内版は、いまだ発売されない為、（駅馬車は発売すみ）北米版（販売元: Olive Films】を購入しました。以前発売の東北新社版と比べると格段にあざやかで、さも昨日撮影したような美しさに感動をおぼえました。日本語字幕はもちろん、英語字幕もありませんが、何度もＤＶＤで見た作品の為、内容はわかっており、十分楽しめました。早く買っておけばよかったです。

今まで見た中で最高の画質。これなら満足できる素晴らしい場面の数々。字幕は無くても気にしない。

I bought this film because of locations in the film. Back in the late 1940ies my aunt and uncle moved to Northwestern Ireland, first to a small village, named Tubercurry, and later to Sligo. I have always loved this film, but was unable to buy it in Denmark. But on Amazon.co.uk I was able to buy this film, and I am very fond of this film. To day my aunt and uncle are dead, but I still have two cousins in Ireland, and has visited Ireland more times.

I bought this to replace a video version. Considering the age of the original film the quality of this DVD is very good. It is a good story with an Irish sense of humour; and the fight scene is a laugh a minute.