St. Paddy's Tuna Flicks

HTM would like to offer a sampling of three classic films that were made to be enjoyed on or around St. Patrick's Day ... Enjoy!

The Quiet Man (1952)
John Ford is perhaps the most renowned filmmaker of the American Western to ever live. Rio Grande (1950) and The Searchers (1956) are two of the most beloved masterpieces in the genre, which is why it must have been a bit of a surprise when Ford took America's most iconic cowboy and placed him in a romantic comedy set in Ireland. Nonetheless, John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara (see also A Miracle on 34th Street) absolutely sizzle with passion in this beautifully shot story that won two Academy Awards (Director and Cinematography). Wayne plays Sean Thorton, a U.S. steel industry benefactor who leaves America and a troubled past as a prize fighter behind in order to reclaim his roots and ancestral homestead in Ireland. Along with an array of whimsical characters, he meets and immediately falls in love with Mary Kate -- played by the radiant O'Hara in one of the most underrated performances put to screen. The Quiet Man is both romantic and hilarious, culminating in an epic town brawl that will leave you in stitches ... They may be best known for The Searchers, but The Quiet Man is in fact Ford and Wayne at their best.

My Left Foot (1989)
This is by far the most dramatic film on the list, and not exactly a St. Patrick's Day flick as much as it is brilliant, inspiring, and Irish. It's the true story of Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral pulsy to a working-class Irish family. Chisty (played beautifully be Danile Day-Lewis in a role that won him an Academy Award) is believed to be retarded for the first 10 years of his life, as he is only able to communicate via gutteral sounds and limited movements in his left foot ... Through his own drive and determination, aided by his mother, teachers, and friends, Christy is able to transcend his affliction and develop into a brilliant artist, poet and author. A wonderful feel-good and masterfully acted work of art.

Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959)
This is the film that brought Sean Connery to the attention of producer Albert R. Broccoli, who at the time was in the process of casting the first James Bond film, Dr. No. Darby O'Gill is the story about an aging caretaker in a small Irish village who spends most of his time in the local pub regaling over his attempts to catch a local fabled leprechaun king. Connery plays the love interest of O'Gill's daughter, who both become intertwined in proving her father's sanity as Darby attempts to match wits with the leprechaun king, all for a pot of gold ... This is a St. Patrick's Day gem!