Photo of the Day: Maureen O'Hara

A cheerful and sunny Maureen O'Hara to brighten everyone's day...

Happy Monday to all!

Maureen O' Hara, with a Irish Blessing.

Irish Blessing:
May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.

Great On Screen Couples: John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara

John Wayne made a lot of films. Something like 142 in which he was the lead. And he starred with a host of actresses, but his best on screen partner had to be Maureen O'Hara. They made five films together between 1950 and 1972: Rio Grande, The Quiet Man, The Wings Of Eagles, McLintock! and Big Jake. They made four really good films and one all time classic (The Quiet Man). The fiery O'Hara was the perfect sparring partner for the rough and tumble Wayne. Their first pairing came with the 1950 western Rio Grande, which was the third film of director John Ford's calvary trilogy (the other two being Fort Apache and She Wore A Yellow Ribbon). This would be the first of Maureen's westerns with Wayne. The other two were Big Jake and the rambunctious McLintock! (which is one of my all time favorites). They switched gears for the military drama The Wings Of Eagles, which was directed by Ford. But the pair's crowning achievement came with the sentimental The Quiet Man, which is beloved by so many fans around the world. This film perfectly captures the love/hate on screen relationship of Wayne and O'Hara. And while the film would lose the Oscar for Best Picture that year, John Ford did take one home for directing. So 5 films and the wonderful chemistry of Big John and the fiery red-headed Maureen provided movie lovers with great cinema and lasting memories.

Maureen O Hara: The Birthday Girl.

Maureen O Hara's father wanted her to learn a skill so that she would have something to fall back on, if acting did not work out. She enrolled in a business school and became a bookkeeper and typist. She used those skills many years later, when she worked taking production notes dictated by John Ford, for the film, The Quiet Man.

O'Hara was offered an seven-year contract with, Mayflower Pictures. Her first major film was Jamaica Inn (1938). Directed by Alfred Hitchcock adapted from Daphne du Maurier's novel of the same name. The first of three of du Maurier's novels that Hitchcock adapted (the others were Rebecca and The Birds). The film is a period piece set in Cornwall in 1820. The real Jamaica Inn still exists and is a pub on the edge of Bodmin Moor. The score was written by Eric Fenby.

Laughton was so pleased with O'Hara's performance that he cast her in the film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939). After the completion of Hunchback, World War II began, and Laughton, realizing their studio could no longer film in London, sold O'Hara's contract to RKO. They cast her in low-budget films until she was discovered by director John Ford, who cast her in, How Green Was My Valley. Which won the 1941 Academy Award for Best Picture.

Six years later, she made what maybe her best known film, Miracle on 34th Street. The film also helped to further O'Hara's career after the film won an Academy Award Nomination for Best Picture.

O'Hara had a soprano voice and said singing was her first love and in the late '50's and early '60's, she was a guest on musical variety shows with Perry Como, Andy Williams, Betty Grable and Tennessee Ernie Ford.

In 1960, she performed on Broadway in the musical Christine and released two recordings, Love Letters from Maureen O'Hara and Maureen O'Hara Sings her Favorite Irish Songs.


O'Hara was thought of as one of the world's most beautiful women. She is often remembered for her on-screen chemistry with John Wayne. They made five films together between 1948 and 1972: Rio Grande, The Quiet Man, The Wings of Eagles, McLintock! and Big Jake.

Happy Birthday Maureen O'Hara

Legendary Irish actress Maureen O'Hara turns 90 today. She recently wrote an autobiography a few years ago and was touring the country to promote it. As far as everyone knows, she is still doing great in 2010. That's good to hear. My favorite films of Maureen are The Quiet Man, McLintock, The Parent Trap, The Black Swan, and Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation. So let's all wish her a Happy Birthday. I know Dawn is writing a profile of her to post on here in celebration of her birthday and her day on TCM's Summer Under The Stars.

The Quiet Man (1952).

The Quiet Man(1952). Romantic/drama. Director: John Ford. Cast: John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Victor McLaglen and Barry Fitzgerald. It was based on a 1933 Saturday Evening Post short story by Maurice Walsh. The film is known for its beautiful photography of the Irish countryside and the semi-comic fist fight between Wayne and McLaglen.

Sean Thornton, an Irish-American, returns to his Ireland family's farm in Inisfree. He meets and falls in love with Mary Kate Danaher, the spinster sister of Will Danaher. Danaher, angry that Sean outbid him for the Thornton land, refuses to give permission for his sister marriage to Sean. Until the priest tricks him into believing that the wealthy Widow Tillane also wants to marry him. After learning the truth on Sean and Mary Kate's wedding day, Will refuses to give his sister her full dowry. Sean, knowing nothing in Irish customs, does not care about the dowry. Mary Kate wants her dowry because it represents her pride. Shamed by Sean's refusal to confront her brother she calls him a coward. They become estranged as husband and wife. Soon, Mary Kate boards a train leaving Castletown and headed for Dublin. Sean arrives to the train station and drags her off the train, followed by the townspeople. He forces her to walk the five miles to Will Danaher's farm. Will Sean demand that Will hand over her dowry and regain Mary Kate's love and respect?

For me The Quiet Man, is one of my favorite John Ford films. Amazing scenery and beautiful music by Victor Young make this movie classic as wonderful as it is.. The romance between Wayne and Maureen O'Hara is magical and very believable.
The Quiet Man Movie Trailer.

FUN FACTS:

John Ford first read the story in 1933 and bought the film rights for $10. It took him another 12 years to find financing, and another 10 years to get the film made.

This is one of the few Hollywood films in which you can hear Gaelic, the national language of Ireland.

The last line of the wedding toast was censored by Republic Pictures. It should have said, "May their days be long and full of happiness. May their children be many and full of health. And may they live in peace and national freedom". After the film was completed, Republic Pictures decided "national freedom" in Ireland was too controversial a concept.

Green, the national color of Ireland, can be seen in every shot in this film, but not on any of the actors' costumes except for Maureen O'Hara green floral dress in the cemetery scene.

Second of five movies that paired John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.