John Wayne, Comic Actor-"The Quiet Man"

As performers, John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara were at their best when wooing, fighting and laughing their way across the big screen. Close friends in real life, their chemistry was effortless. He was never more at ease, or disciplined, as an actor than when he had the fiery Irish redhead to play off of: he exhibited a likable charm in their scenes together that he could never muster when playing opposite anyone else.In the films made after John Wayne the actor became John Wayne the icon (Classic Hollywood's favourite method of maintaining Box Office Gold),you never forget who you are watching. The image always comes first, the characterization second.

Only in his films with Maureen O'Hara does John Wayne recede into the background. "The Quiet Man" (1952) is the rarest of films for the American legend. It is quite possibly the sole full characterization he achieved in his nearly forty years of superstardom.In action films, he was a titan:terse, muscular and, even when mortal, somehow untouchable. In "The Quiet Man", he is robust and masculine but also human.He is fine and funny in this fast-paced, intelligent comedy. For 129 minutes, John Wayne does not exist: Sean Thornton does.

We meet the affable yet proud boxer upon his arrival in Innisfree. Newly retired, he falls in love with the spirited, kind and beautiful Mary Kate Danaher, younger sister of the churlish, rascally local Squire. We follow him as he adjusts to life at a different pace, amongst the peculiar villagers. As he falls in love and marries he is accepted by everyone but his traditional and greedy brother-in-law.

The greatest fight in screen history--it is nearly ten minutes of pure perfection-- secures a happy ending that is just right.It involves every element you could possibly need for an impromptu and mobile set-to:wounded masculine pride/honor, water, betting Priests, an entire Irish village egging you and your opponent on, more water,an Intermission pint at the local pub, yet more water and a dying man's spontaneous recovery.

To view the fight scene, click on the YouTube clip embedded below. The film itself airs on TMC at 8:00 PM EST, on St. Patrick's Day. It is a truly delectable and infectious comedy classic, capturing the cast ( including Victor McLaglen, Barry Fitzgerald, Mildred Natwick and Ward Bond) and director John Ford at the height of their always stellar powers.

John Ford won the Academy Award for Best Director. Winton C. Hoch and Archie Stout were awarded the Oscar for Best Cinematography, Color. It received 5 other nominations, including Victor McLaglen (Best Actor in a Supporting Role), Frank S. Nugent (Best Writing, Screenplay) and Best Picture.

Photo-John Wayne in Australia, 1943.