8 replies to this topic

[Lady Templar]

Six decades after Hollywood came to Connemara, a fictional film about the making of The Quiet Man is to be made in the village where the 1952 classic was filmed.

Former James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore, Aidan Quinn and Geraldine Chaplin have signed up for the “romantic comedy”, based on the impact of director John Ford’s arrival in Cong, on the Galway-Mayo border.

Moore, returning to the screen after a 10-year gap, is also executive producer of the film, Connemara Days , which is to be directed by Kevin Connor and produced by Belfast company Causeway Pictures with support from Fáilte Ireland.

Stacy Keach, star of Escape from LA, will play director John Ford, who arrived in Cong in 1951 with the “Duke” John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. As The Irish Times Pictorial Weekly correspondent Nouvelliste reported in July 1951, electricity had arrived into Cong just a week before, and locals were paid 30 shillings a day to work as extras.

In Dublin, there were queues for fuel, for jobs, for almost everything, The Irish Times noted, but in Cong they were “queuing for crisp pound notes”.

Nouvelliste, who spent the day on the set, was unsuccessful in his efforts to get hired for a “street scene” – wryly noting that Cong only had “two streets” in any case.

The "Connemara Days" plot concerns an 18-year-old girl, Heather O’Dea, who falls for one of Ford’s assistant directors. Also lined up to act in the film are Sarah Bolger ( In America ) and Thomas Dekker ( Sarah Connor Chronicles ). In a statement issued yesterday by Fáilte Ireland, Moore said he was very excited to be part of a “delightful project”.

“ The Quiet Man was undoubtedly the best movie John Ford ever directed. It is also one of my all-time favourite films,” he said.

“The opportunity to revisit the time when Hollywood arrived in Ireland to shoot it was simply too delicious an opportunity to miss.”

The script, based on a novel by Steve Mayhew, has been described as “excellent” by director Kevin Connor, who also directed Marco Polo and Black Beard , among other films.

[Mr. Somerset]

Excellent news. I never saw that film Roger did with Stacy Keach back in the 70s. Still, two of my favorite actors in a film again, very exciting!!!

[Trident]

Excellent news. I never saw that film Roger did with Stacy Keach back in the 70s. Still, two of my favorite actors in a film again, very exciting!!!

Gli esecutori/Abrechnung in San Francisco/Showdown In San Francisco (translated from the German title)

Frankly, it was nothing to write home about. Moore played a blonde Sicilian character, which didn't really convince. Still, it was a scurrile piece of fun. But don't think you've missed much.


EDIT: Just saw in German wikipedia (so I have no idea how reliable this is, mind you) that there supposedly exists an American title for this flick: 'Street People'

[marktmurphy]

That's good news; I'd like to see Sir Roger acting again.

[Mark_Hazard]

Finally - I heard about this script/project many years ago and recall that Andrew McLaglen (son of original Quiet Man actor Victor) was to have been involved with it in some way.

[TheSaint]

Excellent news. I never saw that film Roger did with Stacy Keach back in the 70s. Still, two of my favorite actors in a film again, very exciting!!!

Gli esecutori/Abrechnung in San Francisco/Showdown In San Francisco (translated from the German title)

Frankly, it was nothing to write home about. Moore played a blonde Sicilian character, which didn't really convince. Still, it was a scurrile piece of fun. But don't think you've missed much.


EDIT: Just saw in German wikipedia (so I have no idea how reliable this is, mind you) that there supposedly exists an American title for this flick: 'Street People'

It's also known as "The Sicilian Cross". Moore & Keach had great chemistry in the film.

[David Schofield]

Always felt Rog's greatest missed opportunity for a new, high profile post-Bond career was when he dropped out of "Aspects of Love" in the West End at the 11th hour in the early 90s.

[Attempting Re-entry]

It will be great for Sir Roger to get out there again. Career revival? Wouldn't put it past him. Loved seeing hom on the BBC's One Show recently (a year or two back?)

[Trident]

Excellent news. I never saw that film Roger did with Stacy Keach back in the 70s. Still, two of my favorite actors in a film again, very exciting!!!

Gli esecutori/Abrechnung in San Francisco/Showdown In San Francisco (translated from the German title)

Frankly, it was nothing to write home about. Moore played a blonde Sicilian character, which didn't really convince. Still, it was a scurrile piece of fun. But don't think you've missed much.


EDIT: Just saw in German wikipedia (so I have no idea how reliable this is, mind you) that there supposedly exists an American title for this flick: 'Street People'

It's also known as "The Sicilian Cross". Moore & Keach had great chemistry in the film.

Ah, thanks, never knew that! Yes, Keach and Moore did well together (as far as I can remember; haven't seen the flick for roughly twenty years), kind of a Persuaders touch to the affair.