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The Long Gray Line

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The Long Gray Line

Released Feb 9, 1955

2h 18m

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

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10 Reviews

74%

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1,000+ Ratings

High-spirited Irish immigrant Marty Maher (Tyrone Power) is an awkward misfit at West Point until he's taken in as an assistant by kindly athletic director Capt. Herman J. Koehler (Ward Bond). A budding romance that turns into a happy marriage to a fellow Irish immigrant, housemaid Mary O'Donnell (Maureen O'Hara), also helps Maher mellow into a beloved and long-standing fixture at the military academy, where his career as an officer and mentor spans 50 years. This film is based on a true story.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

John Ford's 1955 bio-pic about the longtime officer Marty Maher is one of his grandest and heartiest films.

Jun 29, 2020

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Clearly not for every taste, but a work that vibrates with tenderness and emotion.

Jan 1, 2000

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George N. Fenin

Film Culture

[A] long, dreary film.

Mar 29, 2022

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Alberto Abuín

Espinof

The result is one of the most emotional films of its author. [Full Review in Spanish]

Sep 11, 2019

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Eloquently and simply directed by John Ford.

Rated: B

Jan 30, 2014

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Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Heartbreaking drama, with many unusual film making approaches.

Aug 8, 2008

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Audience Member

I consider myself a big fan of John Ford’s films, but unfortunately, this one feels a bit disappointing. It has all the typical “Ford ingredients,” yet somehow, it doesn’t quite work as well as his other films. The humor feels dated—understandable, given it’s from the mid-‘50s—but it still detracts from the experience. I’ll give it another chance, but it’s clear that this won’t become one of my favorites.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/19/24

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Alec B

One of Ford's least interesting works. It suffers from the typical biopic problems and a lot of the humor feels like a cheap knockoff of better material from "The Quiet Man".

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/20/24

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Steve D

The tone might give you whiplash but it is well done.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/30/23

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Audience Member

One of Ford's least interesting works. It suffers from the typical biopic problems and a lot of the humor feels like a cheap knockoff of better material from "The Quiet Man".

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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s r

A surprisingly good tribute to West Point and all that it stands for. I'd like to visit it after seeing this. Saw it on TCM.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

This movie is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking, a movie I can never forget. I do think it was slow and confusing at times, but it was still good. Another great performance by Tyrone Power.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

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John Ford

Director

Tyrone Power

Martin "Marty" Maher

Maureen O'Hara

Mary O'Donnell

Robert Francis

James N. Sundstrom Jr.

Donald Crisp

Old Martin

Ward Bond

Capt. Herman J. Kohler

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Synopsis

High-spirited Irish immigrant Marty Maher (Tyrone Power) is an awkward misfit at West Point until he's taken in as an assistant by kindly athletic director Capt. Herman J. Koehler (Ward Bond). A budding romance that turns into a happy marriage to a fellow Irish immigrant, housemaid Mary O'Donnell (Maureen O'Hara), also helps Maher mellow into a beloved and long-standing fixture at the military academy, where his career as an officer and mentor spans 50 years. This film is based on a true story.

Director: John Ford
Producer: Robert Arthur
Screenwriter: Edward Hope
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Rota Productions, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre: Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 9, 1955, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 2h 18m

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