the quiet man

the year: 1952

the genre: drama


the cast: John Wayne (Sean Thornton); Maureen O'Hara (Mary Kate Danaher); Barry Fitzgerald (Michaleen Oge Flynn); Ward Bond (Father Peter Lonergan); Victor McLaglen (Squire "Red" Will Danner); Mildred Natwick (The Widow Sarah Tillane)


the plot: After fatally knocking out his opponent in the ring, boxer Sean Thornton returns to the place of his birth in Ireland. Seeking a life of quiet and rest, Sean plans to buy his family's old cottage, and keep his boxing identity a secret. En route to Innisfree, Sean catches sight of Mary Kate Danaher and is captivated by her beauty, but finds he has to deal with her brother "Red" Will Danaher, an ill-mannered bully.


don't miss: Michaleen the Matchmaker. And his horse.



did you know: anytime John Wayne lights up a cigarette in this movie he takes exactly two puffs before pitching it away.



extra bonus points: if you know which other film had John Wayne playing a character with the last name of Thornton.



listen for: "He'll regret it till his dying day, if ever he lives that long."



also listen for: "Mind you, I'm fresh as a daisy!" "You look more like a black-eyed Susan to me."



And check out a jim dandy of a fight scene here.

miracle on 34th street

the year: 1947

the genre: comedy


the cast: Maureen O'Hara (Doris Walker); John Payne (Fred Gailey); Natalie Wood (Susan Walker); Edmund Gwenn (Kris Kringle)


the plot: When Doris Walker frantically recruits a last minute replacement for a drunken Santa for Macy's Christmas parade, he seems just ideal for he job and perhaps for good reason - he says his name is Kris Kringle and that he's the real Santa Claus. He proves to be popular with the children visiting the store when he's hired full-time, but after a run-in with the store's psychologist, Kris finds himself at Bellevue. Doris' friend/neighbor, Fred Gaily, agrees to represent Kris and to try to prove in court that Kris is the real Santa Claus.


don't miss: whether Santa Claus sleeps with his whiskers outside or in the covers.


count: the mailbags carried into the courtroom at the end of Kris's hearing.


listen for: "But you go ahead Henry, you do it your way. You go on back in there and tell them that you rule there is no Santy Claus. Go on. But if you do, remember this: you can count on getting just two votes, your own and that district attorney's out there." "The District Attorney's a Republican."


did you know: this was Thelma Ritter's film debut.


extra bonus points: if you know what the little girl says in Dutch to Kris when he asks her what she wants for Christmas.

the parent trap

the year: 1961

the genre: comedy



the cast: Hayley Mills (Susan Evers / Sharon McKendrick); Maureen O’Hara (Margaret “Maggie” McKendrick); Brian Keith (Mitch Evers); Charles Ruggles (Charles McKendrick); Leo G. Carroll (Reverand Moseby); Una Merkel (Verbena)



the plot: Thirteen year olds prim and proper Bostonian Sharon McKendrick and tomboyish Californian Susan Evers meet at summer camp. It's hate at first sight because besides the differing length of their hair, they look exactly the same. After the girls carry out one battle after another against each other, the camp administrators place the two in solitary confinement with each other. Since they’re stuck with each other, the girls finally get a chance to know each other and learn that they are indeed twins, separated when they were babies when their parents divorced. Wanting to get to know the parent they never met, Sharon and Susan decide to switch places. They figure that their parents would ultimately have to 'un-switch' them, and the girls hope when they do, they will fall in love all over again. In California their plan hits a snag when Mitch introduces his daughter to Vicky Robinson, who aspires to be the second Mrs. Mitchell Evers. Sharon and Susan have to figure out a way to get rid of Vicky and bring Maggie to California quickly so that their parents can reconcile and the foursome can be one big happy family.



count: how many time Verbina says “I don’t say a word.”



don’t miss: Miss Inch’s welcome to the girls at camp.


check out: Reverend Moseby. And Grandpa McKendrick. It’s a toss up for which I like more.




listen for: “That plus-faced child bride and her electric hips!”




also listen for: “I shan't tell my aunt about the ants nor the debutantes. Shall I?”



did you know: the screenplay originally called for only a few trick photography shots of Hayley Mills in scenes with herself - the bulk of the film was to be shot using a body double. But when Walt Disney saw how seamless the processed shots were, he ordered the script reconfigured to include more of the special effect.




extra bonus points: if you can name the two artists who sang the title song. Hint: they were on the lot shooting Babes in Toyland.