The John Wayne Birthplace, in Winterset, Iowa, will be celebrating the legendary actor's birthday with a lavish salute to the enduring 1952 film classic, "The Quiet Man" over two days.
In addition to big screen presentations of the film at Winterset's vintage Iowa Theatre, the weekend will include a plethora of celebrations.
These will include:
- the Midwest premiere of the Loopline Film documentary "Dreaming The
Quiet Man" by Dublin director Se Merry Doyle
- live stage performances of "Maurice Walsh's The Quiet Man" by Frank Mahon
- the Inisfree Race Meet (a 5K run/walk)
- breakfast at the Winterset firehouse
- traditional Irish music at the Little Dublin Irish Pub
- guided tours of the John Wayne Birthplace home
- "Pie Squared," a pie tasting event on the historic Courthouse square,
- corned beef and cabbage at the Pheasant Run tavern
- a special Birthplace Museum Benefit Dinner and auction
-rides on an authentic horse-drawn Irish jaunting car like the one featured in “The Quiet Man”.
Hailed as director John Ford's greatest triumph, the "The Quiet Man" stars John Wayne as an American boxer who, after accidentally killing an opponent in the ring, returns to his Irish birthplace to forget his troubles. Instead he falls in love with the fiery Maureen O'Hara and their ensuing onscreen romance became a Hollywood legend.
The picture received Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Cinematography. But the real star of the picture, according to O'Hara, is Ireland itself, a fact not lost on organizers of this event.
The original Quiet Man story was written by popular Irish author Maurice Walsh and, using the same source material, Chicagoan Frank Mahon wrote an award-winning stage adaptation of the tale, "Maurice Walsh's The Quiet Man." Mahon's play has been presented throughout the United States and Ireland and will be performed by The Winterset Stage theater company throughout the weekend.
The documentary "Dreaming The Quiet Man" includes interviews with Maureen O'Hara, John Wayne's daughter Aissa, directors Martin Scorsese and Peter Bogdanovich and surviving bit players in Ireland who worked in the film. Much of the documentary takes place at the actual sites in Ireland where "The Quiet Man" was filmed 60 years ago and where very little has changed.
A highlight of the celebration will be a Benefit Dinner program ($100 per person) to help raise funds for the planned John Wayne Birthplace Museum. Hosted by the actor's daughter, Aissa Wayne, the evening will include traditional Irish food, a performance of music from "The Quiet Man" score, an auction of "Quiet Man" collectibles and memorabilia and a performance by the acclaimed Shannon Rovers pipes and drums.
The celebrations are set to take place on 25th and 26th May. For further details on the event and dinner reservations visit the John Wayne Birthplace website.
For further information contact Brian Downes, Executive Director: (515) 462-5817 [email protected]
Here’s the trailer to the famous movie - “The Quiet Man”:
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