Free Admission
On September 14, 1952, John Ford’s classic film The Quiet Man premiered in the US, marking the start of a decades-long love affair between Irish American audiences - as well as fans of classic films - and the technicolor wonders of 1950s Ireland, Maureen O’Hara’s red hair, and the undeniable chemistry between her and leading man John Wayne.
The movie, which John Ford (birth name John Martin Feeney) had been wanting to make since 1933, when he was captivated by a Maurice Walsh short story by the same name, was a runaway success despite the skepticism of the Hollywood executives who’d thought it would be a waste of time and money to send Ford, his cast, and his crew to Ireland. It grossed $3.8 million in box office sales (a hefty sum by the standards of the day) and went on to win seven Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture.