Ryan's Daughter (1970)

Director:

David Lean

Writer:

Robert Bolt (writer)

Release Date:

17 December 1970 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A story of love...set against the violence of rebellion

Plot:

World War I seems far away from Ireland's Dingle peninsula when Rosy Ryan Shaughnessy goes horseback...

Plot Keywords:

Period Drama | Dynamite | Cigarettes | Sex | Father Daughter Relationship

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Robert Mitchum	...	Charles Shaughnessy
Trevor Howard	...	Father Collins
Christopher Jones	...	Randolph Doryan
John Mills	...	Michael
Leo McKern	...	Thomas Ryan
Sarah Miles	...	Rosy Ryan
Barry Foster	...	Tim O'Leary
Marie Kean	...	Mrs. McCardle
Arthur O'Sullivan	...	Mr. McCardle
Evin Crowley	...	Maureen
Douglas Sheldon	...	Driver
Gerald Sim	...	Captain
Barry Jackson	...	Corporal
Des Keogh	...	Lanky private
Niall Toibin	...	O'Keefe

Also Known As:

Michael's Day (UK) (working title)
A Filha de Ryan (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Fille de Ryan, La (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Ryans Tochter (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Bito Shel Ryan (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Córka Ryana (Poland) [pl]
Figlia di Ryan, La (Italy) [it]
Hija de Ryan, La (Spain) [es]
Irlandali kiz (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Rayanova kæi (Croatia) [hr]
Ryanin tytär (Finland) [fi]
Ryans datter (Denmark) [da]
Ryans dotter (Sweden) [sv]

MPAA:

Rated R for a sex scene.

Runtime:

195 min (general release version) | 206 min (roadshow/DVD version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:AA (original rating) | Iceland:16 | USA:R (re-rating) (1996) | UK:15 (video rating) | West Germany:16 (f) | Singapore:M18 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | USA:GP (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Bridges of Ross, County Clare, Ireland

Company:

Faraway Productions

Trivia:

'John Mills' was the first actor cast in the film; he happened to be vacationing in Rome when Lean and Bolt began developing the project. Lean (who lived in Venice at the time) met Mills in Rome and offered him the role of the village idiot; Mills accepted, though he remarked that he felt the role was "typecasting".

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Father Collins wears a traditional black garment with white "dog collar" but apparently in the period this film was set, the law forbad a catholic priest to dress this way.

Quotes:

Maureen: Aren't the police a dirty lot, hobnobbing with British soldiers!
Const. O'Connor: I heard that, Maureen Cassidy!
Maureen: You were meant to, Constable O'Connor!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Extras: Kate Winslet (#1.3)" (2005)

Long, sweeping and underrated - but easy to see why many don't like it.

In 1918 Ireland a school teacher's wife and an army captain have an illicit affair that has far reaching consequences.

The film that cast Robert Mitchum so against type as to be untrue (a cuckold husband!) and whose critical response drove a great director to near two decades of silence has to be viewed; if only as cinema history.

This is a small film blown up to try and be an epic, which it is not and that is the first of its faults. Nevertheless I think it is an important and enjoyable product that I have seen twice, once for the film and once to re-live the unbelievable cinematography and action scenes. The lifeboat scene is one of the greatest pieces of cinema ever, it should feature in film schools.

The problem with adultery is that directors always try and limit blame because they fear alienating the audience. Here we have no reason for it other than lust and selfishness, one person's happiness (if only brief) is only achieved by taking someone else's.

I have long held the view that Mitchum was underrated as an actor and has a wonderful speaking voice. I am glad he has this on his C.V, not that he will be need it anymore. Miles is equally good, although it is not as hard as hard a part to play. John Mills - as the village idiot - won an Oscar for his over-the-top performance that he reports upon faithfully on his autobiography. "They sat me down and gave me the worst haircut they could think of..."

It has been said so many before, but there is no real need for a film with modest intentions to be so long. I actually don't mind because I have a lot of patience with quality material and know there will be some great scenes in any David Lean film. I am just sorry that the main man had such a fragile ego; especially when the industry had rewarded him with so much silverware.