The Quiet Man

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The Quiet Man

Released Aug 1, 1952

2h 9m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

After accidentally killing an opponent in the ring, boxer Sean Thornton leaves America and returns to his native Ireland, hoping to buy his family's homestead and live in peace. In doing so, he runs afoul of Will Danaher, who long coveted the property. Spitefully, Will objects when his fiery sister, Mary Kate, begins a romance with Sean, and refuses to hand over her dowry. Mary Kate refuses to consummate the marriage until Sean retrieves the money.

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Critics Consensus

Director John Ford and star John Wayne depart the Western for the Irish countryside, and the result is a beautifully photographed, often comedic romance.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Since Ford’s father was born in Co Galway and his mother on the island of Inishmore, and since this is such an enjoyable piece of nonsense, he gets a pass for this depiction of the country as a nation of loveable, blarney-spouting, brawling drunks.

May 8, 2024

Full Review

Bob Thomas

Associated Press

The Quiet Man is John Ford's best picture since The Informer, but much, much funnier.

Jul 24, 2019

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

As much an anthropological adventure as a romantic rhapsody.

Dec 5, 2016

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

No other John Ford movie provides me with as much pure pleasure -- and leaves a perpetual grin on my mug -- as the Irish-American director’s ode to his family’s ancestral country.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 8, 2023

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Ford early on captures the film's more dramatic moments before giving way to its lightly romantic humor.

Rated: 3.5/4.0

Sep 20, 2020

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

A lovely film. A bucolic romance with a western soul. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Sep 14, 2020

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Lucy N

This is my favorite movie. Great memories watching with my dad.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/10/24

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Melanie

A classic! Well cast and well acted! A joy! Only negative: Thestre had sound set too loud. 😞

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/18/21

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Joyce

A true "feel good" movie with old-fashioned movie stars. Loved it!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/17/21

Full Review

Wayne K

The Quiet Man is not the kind of film you can imagine being directed by the legendary John Ford. No rugged, desert landscapes, no cowboys, nothing especially brutal or harsh about the subject matter. It’s what you could call an early rom-com, full of comedically over the top locals, comic misunderstandings and zany characters. The tone is set right from the start, when John Wayne arrives at a sleepy Irish train station and is immediately bombarded with useless information from a group of kindly but hyperactive and contradictory residents. John Wayne’s presence on screen is undeniable, but he’s playing a character that’s much more paired back and understated than usual, a literal quiet man who’d like to get by with the minimum amount of fuss. He’s well supported by Maureen O’Hara, a fiery redhead whose romance with Wayne is much more mature than you usually get in films of this nature, but that’s likely because of the time period and the names involved. It can feel overlong at times, but there’s plenty of comedy to laugh at and earnest drama to get involved in. Not your typical Ford film, but its one we should be very grateful he decided to make.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/18/25

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G W

Such a beautiful and fun movie, an absolute must see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/17/25

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Nick E

Arguably John Ford's most gorgeously shot film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/02/25

Full Review

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John Ford

Director

John Wayne

Sean Thornton

Maureen O'Hara

Mary Kate Danaher

Barry Fitzgerald

Michaleen Flynn

Victor McLaglen

Red Will Danaher

Mildred Natwick

The Widow Sarah Tillane

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The Quiet Man: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

After accidentally killing an opponent in the ring, boxer Sean Thornton leaves America and returns to his native Ireland, hoping to buy his family's homestead and live in peace. In doing so, he runs afoul of Will Danaher, who long coveted the property. Spitefully, Will objects when his fiery sister, Mary Kate, begins a romance with Sean, and refuses to hand over her dowry. Mary Kate refuses to consummate the marriage until Sean retrieves the money.

Director: John Ford
Producer: Merian C. Cooper, John Ford
Screenwriter: Frank S. Nugent, Maurice Walsh
Distributor: Republic Pictures
Production Co: Republic Pictures Corporation, Argosy Productions Corporation
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 1, 1952, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 14, 2014
Runtime: 2h 9m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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