The Quiet Man 1952 - Paving tile at the entrance to the administration offices of CBS Studios. Photo for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2010 by Jerry FechtOne of the most loved films of its era, The Quiet Man, directed by John Ford was considered a big financial risk for Republic Studios. High action films and western movies were Republic’s bread and butter money makers, and a high profile romantic drama was a significant departure for the studios.
To give The Quiet Man’s investors some security for their investment, the main performers and director of the film were contracted to make a western, the Rio Grande before making the Irish love story.
The Quiet Man was directed by John Fold and starred a beloved cast including: John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Victor McLaglen and Ward Bond to name just a few.
The great film composer Victor Young was chosen by John Ford to create The Quiet Man’s musical score. To our family’s everlasting delight, Katherine Fletcher Shreves was Republic Studio’s principal cellist for the film. We have a 78 recording on which the orchestra plays the dear old Irish song, “The Wild Colonial Boy”, after which is ambient sound pause and Victor Young said, “Oh Katherine, that was so beautiful.”
Jerry Fecht
PS – If you haven’t seen The Quiet Man, it has the penultimate fistfight between the actors John Wayne and Victor McLaglen. What a movie!
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