Customer Reviews

The Quiet Man (1952 Film)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My favorite movie of all time, I was thrilled that the Dublin Screen Orchestra was re-releasing the soundtrack to the quiet man. The only disappointments (really, surprises) of the soundtrack were The Wild Colonial Boy/River Cottage (which lacked the drunken luster of Barry Fitzgerald's in the film version) and The Isle of Innisfree (vocal) by Anne Buckley (who didn't sound nearly as good as Maureen O'Hara).

My wedding would not have been the same without it.

If you're reading this it's because you, too, fell under the enchantment of the music of that masterpiece of a movie; "The Quiet Man". Music can often enhance and even improve a movie. I read one critic's observation that the opening and closing music to "Chariots of Fire" was the edge that got it the Best Picture Oscar that year. In "The Quiet Man" the music certainly embellishes the movie right from the very beginning. The uniquely Irish quality of the songs and the background orchestration creates as much or more of the Irish flavor as the on-location settings.

Some of the music of this soundtrack sounds just like the original and may be, for all I know. Other parts are modern versions orchestrated to sound as much as possible like the original. Some seem added and, in at least two glaring examples, some seem missing. For example, I'm familiar with the ballad "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen" and I believe I recall it being sung in John Ford's "Rio Grande". However, I don't recall ever hearing it sung or played in "The Quiet Man". Two of the songs I really enjoyed and hoped to hear in this CD were the two sung just after the wedding. I don't know the titles but I called the one "The Humour is Off Me Now" and the other "The Mush Mush Mush Song". They were both missing from this CD and I'm sorry they were. I suppose once I read the liner notes, I may find some sort of explanation for this. In the meantime, I'll try and focus on the great music I got rather than the fun songs I missed. That may not be too hard because there's plenty of great music to focus on.

I was curious when I read that John Williams' 'Jaws' music was heavily influenced by the Quiet Man score, so I listened a bit more attentively and I was stunned. The heartbeat rhythm of Jaws is very clearly present here, in "Prelude To The Big Fight" if memory serves, and other tracks are also glaringly similar.

Victor Young has seemingly taken every Irish tune ever whistled and put a new spin on it, creating a soundtrack both rousing and romantic, and strongly evocative of the utopian Ireland of the movie.

The only possible complaint I could have about this is that it left me a little disappointed in John Williams. GO BUY IT NOW!

For those who have had the pleasure of seeing this cinematic delight, you will be overjoyed with the actual soundtrack. For those who haven't see it, you could enjoy this soundtrack strictly for its textured and flowing Irish themes. The music helped contribute so greatly to the overall tone and mood of the film - rich enough to accompany the tremendous landscapes that serves as the film's majestical backdrop. What is so refreshing is that the music stands so completely on its own apart from the movie. A marvelous original score (which John Williams has admitted to stealing from for the theme to Jaws) interlaced with Irish traditionals, this will be a soundtrack you will gladly listen to over and over again. Pure joy.

The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, has long been one of my all-time favorite movies. It is a story of an american retired boxer who goes to Ireland and falls in love, but soon realizes he must "fight" for her love.

The Irish flavored music in this movie is captivating, exciting and fun. I was thrilled to find this complete recording of the original score. It was newly recorded IN Ireland by the Dublin Screen Orchestra. It is a wonderful addition to any music collection.

This is a beautiful and relaxing album that evokes the images from that great movie. Most of the tracks are instrumentals, in the manner of overatures, and you hear the lovely strands of "The Isle of Inisfree" throughout. There are a couple of vocal tracks that don't sound exactly like the singing in the movie, but they don't detract. Buy the movie, and buy this album for those times you can't watch the movie.

My fellow students and I went back packing through Europe (a long time ago) and lo and behold , our last stop was Ireland. It took my breath away,truly blessed by God. Victor Young must have had a leprauchan under his hat for the music had me walzing through the greenery again. Thanks

The Quiet Man has always been one of my favorite movies, partially because the music helps to create so much of the mood of the movie. I have been waiting a long time for someone to wake up and make this music available - it's a must have.

FINALLY, A AUDIO CD TO COMPLIMENT A CLASSIC. I SEARCH HIGH AND LOW FOR THIS WONDERFUL SOUNDTRACK. MY WEDDING WILL NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT THE MUSIC OF"THE PRELUDE TO THE FIGHT".

Great music for one of the greatest films of all time.

A must for John Wayne fans.