Page 89 - WDT MAGAZINE IRELAND ISSUE WINTER 2018

The Quiet Man Plot

Sean Thornton (John Wayne), an Irish-American the name of “Trooper Thorn.” After killing an oppo-
from Pittsburgh, returns to Ireland to reclaim his nent in the ring, he hung up his gloves and vowed
family’s farm. He meets and falls in love with the never to fight again.
fiery Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O’Hara), sister of Later, in an attempt to force Sean to stand up to
the bullying, loud-mouthed landowner “Red” Will Da- Red, Mary Kate leaves him and boards a train out
naher (Victor McLaglen). Danaher at first refuses to of the village. Infuriated, Sean drags her off the train
sanction the marriage until he is tricked into believ- and demands her dowry from Red. To Red’s horror,
ing that a wealthy widow will not marry him unless Mary Kate and Sean then throw the money into a
Mary Kate leaves the house. After learning the truth furnace. Sean and Will slug it out through the village
on their wedding day, an enraged Will refuses to give and then become the best of friends. Sean has
his sister the full dowry to which she is entitled. regained Mary Kate’s love and respect, and all is well.
Sean couldn’t care less, but Mary Kate is obsessed If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing The Quiet
with obtaining her dowry. Enraged at Sean’s reluc- Man, do yourself a favor and rent or stream the
tance to confront her brother, she regards him as a movie today online. It’s 129 minutes of Irish fun.
sniveling coward. The truth, however, is known only
to one other person in the village, the Church of Ire- Courtesy Irish Tourism.
land minister “Snuffy” Playfair (Arthur Shields). Sean
was once a famous boxer in the United States under

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