THE POST GOES TO THE MOVIES
The Quiet Man (1952)
Maurice Walsh was an Irish novelist best known for the short story “The Quiet Man,” which first appeared in the February 11, 1933, issue of the Post. The tale centers on an American boxer who returns to his native Ireland and finds romance and a new life with a hot-headed Irish beauty. Director John Ford read Walsh’s story when released and purchased the rights. However, it wasn’t until 1952 that the romantic comedy starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara was made, largely in Ireland. The film became one of the year’s top-grossing pictures, received a total of seven Academy Award nominations, and won Ford his fourth Best Director Oscar.
LASSIE COME HOME (1943)
The author of many books and short stories, Eric Knight is best remembered for creating the captivating canine character Lassie, who first appeared in the short story “Lassie Come-Home” in the. The quintessential boy-and-his-dog story about a faithful collie’s arduous journey to be reunited with the boy she loves was so popular that Knight expanded it into a bestselling book. In 1943, MGM adapted the bestseller into a feature film, , starring Roddy McDowall and a young Elizabeth Taylor. The film was a box office hit and spawned a series of sequels and long-running TV series. Sadly, Knight was killed in a plane crash in 1943 before the film’s release while serving during WWII.
