Rating: 
Summary: Look for an early edition
Review: I already wrote a review of this movie but by reading the other reviews I'm wondering what happened after Artisan re-release this title. First of all, I bought my copy the week it was release for the first time, in 1998 I think. The look of the front art is a little different from the one they are selling now, there is no black contour and the background color behind the image of John Wayne and Maureen embrassing is a soft grey. I'm writing this because my copy is not that bad, it's blurry in some places but like I said in my review, some exterior scenes are clear and gorgeous. The audio is not great but everything is in sink with the action. I don't know if it's because I bought it when it was released or because I bought it in Canada (I don't believe so cause I think our stock comes from the states) but anyway if you can try to find an early edition DVD copy, maybe you won't find it that bad.
Rating: 
Summary: Great movie for St. Patty's Day
Review: This is a great movie to watch around St. Patrick's Day, as it takes place in Ireland. There's comedy, love, John Wayne... what more could you want? Really, it's just a great storyline about an ex-boxer coming to Ireland and falling in love, but jumping over some of the pastoral customs of the area.
Rating:
Summary: The wearing of the grin.
Review: That will be the result of seeing easily one of the top 5 movies John Wayne ever made. The only gun is a starting pistol. The horses are either drawing wagons or in the big race.The plot is simple John Wayne (Sean Thornton)returns from America where he was raised to settle back in his old home town in Ireland. He runs afoul of Victor McLaughlin (Red Will Danaher) over a piece of land, but also falls for Danaher's sister Mary Kate (Maureen O'Hara). This simple plot is overshadowed by an event in Wayne's past that shapes and scars him. It isn't introduced at first but soon takes over the picture propelling it to its climax. The supporting cast, many of which we have seen many times before together (McLaughlin, Natwick, Shields, Bond et/all) all give top notch performances as usual. The subplot involving McLaughlin & Natwick shines bright and Barry Fitsgerald adds the right bit of blarney to the package. What makes this very pleasant move even more appealing is the 2nd level of supporting players and the community (who doesn't know Wayne's secret) that they play. That community opinion and its consequences steers the picture, but only by fleshing out that community can it work. We care about what these people think becasue we like these people. From the Bartender, to the Engineer to Father Paul we meet the people of this village. I think the appeal of this picture is that community. The idea of everybody knowing everybody else. It contributed to its success at the time of its release when it was the reality here to some degree. It contributes to its success now as we miss that same security. You also can't go very wrong when you pair O'Hara the ultimate strong woman with Wayne the ultimate strong man. Only Hepburn & Tracy can equal them here. Whatever the reason this picture is worth your time and your money.
Rating:
Summary: One of John Ford's Best
Review: 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. In "The Quiet Man," director John Ford returns to his own roots, going on location 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. Sean soon learns that in Ireland, however, such things are pursued quite differently than in America. To win the hand of Mary Kate he must employ the services of Michaleen Flynn (Barry Fitzgerald) a kind of matchmaker/chaperone/marriage broker, who will help him secure the consent of Squire Danaher, without which the marriage cannot and will not take place. So Sean has no choice but to acquiesce to the local traditions and customs, and Michaleen forthwith commences the appropriate overtures. In the meantime, he awaits the decision of the widow Tillane as to the purchase of White O'Morn, which he is determined to have at any cost. John Ford directed more than 140 motion pictures, going back to the days of silent films, and his favorite star, with whom he worked in at least a dozen of his feature films, was John Wayne. And when you think of the John Ford/John Wayne collaborations, it's the Western that instantly comes to mind: "Stagecoach," "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon," "Fort Apache," "Rio Grande" or "The Searchers," (to name a few). Yet, "The Quiet Man" is perhaps their most memorable effort, and remains a favorite among fans to this day. Ford (who received an Oscar for Best Director for it) presents the story on a very personal level, and in Sean and Mary Kate gives the audience characters to whom they can relate; and it's that personal connection he affords the viewer that may suggest the main reason behind this particular film's popularity. That, plus the fact that at the core of this story there is an honesty and genuine sincerity that rings so true-to-life. Ford also successfully captures the essence of all that is good and positive about Ireland, from the richness of all of his characters to the lavish cinematography that brings the country so vividly to life. It's quite simply a wonderful, uplifting film, impeccably crafted and delivered by Ford and his superb cast. Too often, John Wayne's work gets a bad rap; no matter what role he takes on, you're liable to hear "John Wayne is always John Wayne, the only difference is the character's name." And, as he proves with his portrayal of Sean Thornton, it's not only a false statement, it's so unfair to an actor who brought so much to so many, in his craft as well as in his personal life. The Oscar he finally received for 1969's "True Grit" was way overdue, especially when you consider his performances in such films as "The Searchers," "Red River" and, of course, this one. Is he the best actor of all time? Of course not; but he is good at what he does, much better than he is usually given credit for. And he (and his films) can always-- always-- be counted on to provide good, solid entertainment. Together, he and Ford have provided some of the most memorable moments in the history of the movies, and his pairing with Maureen O'Hara was a stroke of genius. There's real chemistry between them, which enables them to play so well off of one another. They made five films together between 1950 ("Rio Grande") and 1971 ("Big Jake"), and there is always that spark of magic between them, but never better than in this film. 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-- it's even more understandable. Perfectly cast, O'Hara, like Ford, returned to her roots to make this film (she was born in Milltown, Ireland, near Dublin), and apparently it agreed with her, because her performance is nothing less than natural and inspired. Mary Kate Danaher, in fact, is arguably one of her-- if not "the"-- most memorable roles of her career. The supporting cast, topped by Fitzgerald (who is absolutely unforgettable as Michaleen) also includes Ward Bond (Father Lonergan), Francis Ford (Dan Tobin), Arthur Shields (Reverend Playfair) and Jack MacGowran (Feeney). A delightful and endearing motion picture, "The Quiet Man" is, of all of John Ford's achievements, one of his best. And Sean, Mary Kate, Michaleen and all the people of Innisfree are ones you'll remember and want to visit again. It's the magic of the movies.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST ROMANTIC COMEDY OF ALL TIME
Review: I've seen a lot of romantic comedy from the silent era to the present day and this is my favorite. Why? Because everybody in the film seems to have fun, and it shows. First of all, I'm a big fan of the duke and in this movie you can see that he can be something else than the tough cowboy, sherif or war hero. Here he plays an ordinary man (an ex-boxer) who comes back to Ireland to reclaim the house where he grew up and to settle down and live a normal life. He gives a great low key performance full of humor and sensibility. His love interest in the film is Maureen O'Hara whose performance is equal to her great beauty . She seems to have more energy than a 5 year old. Also you see a lot of familiar faces from other John Ford's classics like Barry Fitzgerald who plays some kind of religious figure and at the same time the village matchmaker, Ward Bond plays a priest or something like that and Victor McLaglen plays the high-tempered brother of O'Hara (he seems a little bit over the top but it's acceptable). The story is not the most original I have seen and the screenplay is not the best of all time but it's so warm and personnal that I'm totally in love with this film. The characters and the dialogue is so colorful that I felt like I was in Ireland for 2 hours (I can compare this experience with Fargo where you are transported somewhere else). You can see the love and the care that John Ford put in this movie and that's why it's so special. The only thing I hate is not about the movie itself but about the transfer on DVD. A great movie like that should be treated with more respect, the image is blurry and the sound is not great. Some scenes are clear and beautiful but not often enough. It's still a great buy for the quality of the movie.
Rating:
Summary: In my "top ten of all time" list
Review: Very close to perfection except for the ill-considered scene in which non-diva Maureen O'Hara sings. AARRGGHH!! Aside from that bewildering moment, the remainder is nothing short of wonderful on all levels. The first kiss in Sean Thornton's cabin is quite simply one of the most singularly affecting visuals in the history of film. It is "THE KISS". I have been puzzled for many years that that frame has not been commercially reproduced as a print to hang on living room walls in the homes of romantics everywhere.
John Wayne's most important performance by a country-kilometre!
One of my favourite quotations, "Hope doesn't come from the way things are, or the way things could be--but from the way they SHOULD be", could have been used as a promotional blurb for this masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Ireland
Review: This movie captures much of the spirit of Ireland. I haven't been there since the early 80s, but was on the west coast near the town of Cong where this movie was filmed. Again the chemistry of Wayne and O'Hara takes this film to a magical land and people - Ireland. Next best thing to being there!
Rating:
Summary: One of the finest
Review: Its a funny thing about this movie. It has employs every cliche imaginable about the Irish. It is sentimental and predictable. This is not Wayne's best work as an actor, or even his most believable performance in a romance (watch him with Patricia Neal in In Harm's Way). And yet it is, in my opinion, one of the best movies ever made. Partly this is due to the cinematography, which is atoundingly beautiful; partly to the wonderful score--The Quiet Man would be enertaining to watch and listen to with no dialog at all. But it is more than that. It is impossible to watch this movie and imagine that anyone in it did not love every minute spent on it. The actors are joyous, even (or in the case of Victor Maclaglin, especially) in scenes of conflict. This joy is infectious, and the movie is one of the happiest of all time.
Rating:
Summary: The Real Ireland?
Review: "The Quiet Man" is my favorite movie. I must have watched it 50 times and I never tire of it. True, the portrayal of Ireland and the Irish people is something of a caricature and the movie does exaggerate some of the aspects of life in Ireland. But I really think, having lived in Ireland for a year and having traveled there many times, that John Ford does capture something of the soul of the island and it's people. Counties Galway and Mayo are, if anything, even more beautiful than what Ford captured on film. The people of rural Ireland are every bit as open and friendly as he depicts. However, "The Quiet Man" portrays an Ireland that may be fading away as the nation is no longer an impoverished backwater of Europe, from which it's sons must emigrate to seek their fortunes. Today it is the economic "Celtic tiger" to which its émigrés are returning. Some things do not change though. In the opening scene of "The Quiet Man" John Wayne is given "directions" to Innisfree that involve everything but how to actually get to Innisfree. In 1993, during my first trip to Ireland, I was given the same kind of "directions" while wandering the streets of Dublin!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent, timeless movie - baaaad DVD
Review: The movie is one of the timeless classics. You can watch it a thousand times and it will never bore you. There's a chemistry between John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara that makes you think this romance is real, not played. But, and now comes the sad part of the story, this DVD is a joke. Rent it, but keep your hands off it when you think about buying it. The quality is bad, real bad!!!!
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