The gorgeous picture of the gorgeous Maureen O’Hara is a promotional pic for Bagdad (1949).
Remembering Maureen O’Hara
Maureen O’Hara and Paul Henreid in The Spanish Main
The uncommonly beautiful, colorful, talented, vivacious, and Classy (with a capital C) Maureen O’Hara died on this date in 2015 in Boise, Idaho. She was 95 years wonderful.
Maureen has been one of my personal favorite actresses since I was a little girl and first saw her on television (in Miracle on 34th Street). Each year.. every single time I saw this film, I’d always think that she was probably the most beautiful actress I’d ever seen on tv or anywhere.
I still watch the film (more than once, actually) every December and I still think the same thing.
“Every star has that certain something that stands out and compels us to notice them. As for me I have always believed my most compelling quality to be my inner strength, something I am easily able to share with an audience. I’m very comfortable in my own skin. I never thought my looks would have anything to do with becoming a star. Yet it seems that in some ways they did.” ~ Maureen O’Hara
Maureen O’Hara, husband Will Price, and beloved daughter Bronwyn.
Maureen O’Hara Autobiography: ‘Tis Herself (Review of a Personal Favorite)
One of my favorite actresses of any time, all time is Maureen O’Hara. As far as I’m concerned, she made any scene (or movie, for that matter) instantly better simply by showing up.
If she is listed in the credits, count on it… it’s a movie I’ll see. As in dozens of times.
The beautiful, spirited actress enjoyed a wonderful career in Hollywood for over 70 years. Known as “the queen of Technicolor,” she had a reputation for having an especially strong will – a trait that allowed her to have such an illustrious career and a trait that allowed her to live her life on her terms. Take advantage of Miss O’Hara? I don’t think so.
This strength of will came shining through in her performances as beautifully as it did in her life. It was part of the reason it was simply impossible not to follow wherever her character led.
As an avid, die-hard, obsessive fan of Old Hollywood, I literally have at least three biographies, autobiographies, or memoirs in my hand or within reach at all times. Currently I’m besting my own record – I recently re-read (for the third time) Maureen’s autobiography, ‘Tis Herself: An Autobiography
Why would anyone re-read bios and autobiographies as I have ‘Tis Herself? For one thing, as with movies, you sometimes miss things the first or second time through. For another, some stars are such excellent writers and story-tellers that reading their words is like having a cup of coffee with them.
Sign me up for that anytime!
Maureen O’Hara’s HIGH character, intelligence, wit, beauty, and independent nature earned her a legion of admirers in and outside of Hollywood. ‘Tis Herself: An Autobiography
From Amazon:
O’Hara was brought to Hollywood as a teenager in 1939 by the great Charles Laughton, to whom she was under contract, to costar with him in the classic film The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She has appeared in many other classics, including How Green Was My Valley, Rio Grande, The Quiet Man, and Miracle on 34th Street. She recalls intimate memories of working with the actors and directors of Hollywood’s Golden Age, including Laughton, Alfred Hitchcock, Tyrone Power, James Stewart, Henry Fonda, and John Candy.
With characteristic frankness, she describes her tense relationship with the mercurial director John Ford, with whom she made five films, and her close lifelong friendship with her frequent costar John Wayne.
Successful in her career, O’Hara was less lucky in love until she met aviation pioneer Brigadier General Charles F. Blair, the great love of her life, who died in a mysterious plane crash ten years after their marriage. Candid and revealing, ‘Tis Herself is an autobiography as witty and spirited as its author.
One of the things that jumps out at you first (and then again and again) with her autobiography is the fact that the lady is not the least bit shy about speaking her mind. If she didn’t like someone, you don’t have to ask, “Hmmmm, I wonder if she liked him?”
You’ll know!
If she thought a certain someone was not a strong actor or good director – she’ll flat out say so. If someone told lies about her – or anyone she loved – or tried to take advantage of any of them, she didn’t take it on the chin, she fought back. A few VERY big names found out she wasn’t one to be pushed around. Heck, she wasn’t one to even be poked! She lacked boldness about as much as she lacked beauty – not one bit.
Speaking of her obvious beauty, the book is FILLED with rarely-seen (and never seen by many) gorgeous pictures of Maureen, her family, friends, and co-stars.
(Book Review concluded below….)
While I love the Hollywood tales and, in particular, the stories of her and her wonderful friends Lucille Ball, Charles Laughton, and John Wayne – I loved spending time with her as she retold the story of her childhood every bit as much.The love for her family, friends, and life in general comes shining through and it is simply a beautiful life, beautifully told.
See ‘Tis Herself: An Autobiography for more information.
McLintock! Starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara…. Love This One!
While I have a great number of “favorites”when it comes to actresses and actors from Old Hollywood, Maureen O’Hara and Lucille Ball are my measuring sticks. All others are held up to them as a means of determining if they’ve achieved “absolute favorite” status or not.
Some make it. Some don’t.
I had just as soon be sitting in front of a Maureen O’Hara movie as anyplace in the world. Even one I’ve seen far more times than I could even begin to count. Which, if we’re being honest is most of them.
It’s just that way with measuring sticks, you know.
The Quiet Man, McLintock, How Green Was My Valley, Rio Grande, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Parent Trap, The Black Swan… she has had some incredible movies – which makes being a fan extra fun.
McLintock (1963) is one of my favorites. John Wayne is one of those stars who passed the measuring test and made “absolute favorite” status – which means I watch movies he and Maureen were in together often… make that OFTEN. It’s actually playing right now as I work online.
It may or may not be the third time I’ve seen it just this year. It is.
Westerns are just in my blood. Sometimes I think I’d rather watch a bad Western than a good movie from another genre. Naturally, a good Western is preferable and, cowboy oh cowboy, is McLintock ever a good one?! It’s hilarious, fun, colorful, and just an awful lot of fun.
I think of McLintock as a Comedy-Romantic Western because it’s quite a bit different from Action Westerns (or Traditional Westerns) such as Stagecoach, Rio Bravo, El Dorado, The Undefeated, etc. If you go into McLintock looking for lots of action and shoot-outs, you’ll be left wondering what in the heck happened.
But if you go into it looking for an awful lot of fun and laughs and a little bit of romance, you’ll have a great time.
I should know!
The movie stars John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara as an estranged married couple. Stephanie Powers is their daughter. Patrick Wayne (John Wayne’s son), Yvonne DeCarlo, and Jerry Van Dyke are part of the excellent cast. Jerry Van Dyke’s role isn’t a big one but it’s a heckuva memorable one.
You can see the movie below in its entirety, so grab your popcorn and kick back for a fun ride.
Movie Poster Books on Amazon… Very Fun Collectibles
Have you seen the Movie Posters books on Amazon? They’re from Abby Books and I’m pretty crazy about them. Being the biggest Maureen O’Hara fan in the world, naturally I have (and love) the Maureen O’Hara Movie Poster Book.
From Amazon: Spirited, strong-willed, tempestuous beauties. All of these words have been used to describe the roles played in the 1940s and 1950s by Irish-born actress Maureen O’Hara. With more than 50 films to her credit, O’Hara is best remembered for her roles in Miracle on 34th Street, The Quiet Man and The Parent Trap. The Maureen O’Hara Movie Poster Book features original one sheet posters, and some poster art, from all of O’Hara’s 53 Hollywood films, from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) to Only the Lonely (1991) with John Candy. Printed in full color on white paper, the Maureen O’Hara Movie Poster Book is a must have collector’s item for fans of the Queen of Technicolor
This Maureen O’Hara Movie Poster Book is filled with Maureen O’Hara’s wonderful movie posters – from The Hunchback of Notre Dame to Only the Lonely. The years are given for each. It’s fun to look through the book and take an up close and personal look at each detail of the poster, as well as the director, producer, co-stars, and other details we often miss.
{Continued Below…}
There are a LOT of other stars available (some are listed below). I plan to buy the rest of the books because…
A. I’m obsessed with Old Hollywood.
B. I’m obsessed with movie posters.
C. I collect Old Hollywood books and memorabilia.
Seriously, it’s like these books were made with me in mind. I mean, it’s as easy as A.B.C.
{Continued below Lady Godiva…}
Below are just some of the stars to choose from. I actually just discovered these incredibly fun books, so I don’t have them all.
Yet.
- Cary Grant
- Clark Gable
- Sean Connery
- Katharine Hepburn (the next one I’m buying!)
- Thelma Todd
- Bette Davis and Joan Crawford
- Natalie Wood
- Frank Sinatra
- Lon Chaney
- Claudette Colbert
- Douglas Fairbanks
- Mary Pickford
- Sidney Poitier
- Harold Lloyd
- Jean Arthur
- Lana Turner
- Ginger Rogers
- Laurel & Hardy
- Buster Keaton
- Veronica Lake
- Joan Crawford
- Marilyn Monroe
- Bette Davis
- John Wayne
- Barbara Stanwyck
- Doris Day (Still reeling from this loss – even though she was 97, it’s so hard to believe she’s gone.)
- Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis
- Fred Astaire
- Spencer Tracy
- And more…
See Movie Posters books on Amazon to see all of the stars available. These make especially fun collectibles. (Be sure to keep going to the “next page” – there are 4 pages in all.) Click Maureen O’Hara Movie Poster Book for the Maureen O’Hara book. Highly recommended!
There just aren’t enough words to describe the Kangaroo movie poster. I mean….
The Quiet Man: One of the Most Beautiful & Enjoyable Movies Ever Made (Review)
The Quiet Man with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara
Father Peter Lonergan, Narrator: “Well, then. Now. I’ll begin at the beginnin’. A fine soft day in the spring, it was, when the train pulled into Castletown, three hours late as usual, and himself got off. He didn’t have the look of an American tourist at all about him. Not a camera on him; what was worse, not even a fishin’ rod.”
And with those lines, one of the most special movies you’ll ever have the privilege of watching begins.
One of my absolute favorite actresses is Maureen O’Hara. Right up there with Lucille Ball, Rita Hayworth, and Audrey Hepburn.
Two of my favorite actors are John Wayne and Barry Fitzgerald.
How could one of my favorite movies NOT be The Quiet Man?! I mean, some things are just destiny.
Maureen O’Hara in The Quiet Man
Although.. truth be told… the writing, scenery, production, dialogue, direction – the EVERYTHING about The Quiet Man is so perfect, I have a feeling it would be one of my favorite movies even if these three exceptional stars weren’t in it.
But am I ever glad they are.
Director John Ford created an absolute MASTERPIECE with The Quiet Man – a masterpiece wherein every single thing is perfect. While the cast is as wonderful as a cast can possibly be, they’re darn near upstaged by the incredible scenery! In a word, Ireland is breathtaking. Absolutely breathtaking.
Everything about The Quiet Man is phenomenal – the music, the scenery, the acting, the cast, the wardrobe, the dialogue, the writing. When I first watched it, years ago, I remember thinking (several times throughout the movie), “Please don’t take a bad turn… I’m falling in love with you.. please don’t go bad!”
We’ve all had movies suddenly go from great to awful, halfway through or at the end. In fact, I’ve had THREE in the last month go from 10s to 3s within the last 30 minutes! When a movie goes south, it always feels like a blow, doesn’t it?
I was so thankful when The Quiet Man just kept getting better and better with each passing minute.
John Wayne plays Sean Thornton, an ex-boxer from America who had a horrifying experience in the ring and has moved to Ireland to reclaim a family homestead and escape his past. Right off the bat, in one of the most beautiful scenes in film history, Sean notices Mary Kate Danaher (perfectly portrayed by Maureen O’Hara). She’s (obviously) a very beautiful and spirited woman who happens to be the sister of a hot-head named “Red” Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen). Both of the Danahers (to varying enjoyable degrees!) cause trouble for Sean.
Mary Kate Danaher: Could you use a little water in your whiskey?
Michaleen Flynn: When I drink whiskey, I drink whiskey; and when I drink water, I drink water.
The relationship that develops between Sean and Mary Kate could not be more enjoyable – the chemistry between the two stars is palpable and the writing is superb. John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara were friends in real life and they worked magic when they were on the screen. This was the second of five movies they made together.
While the love story is a wonderful, huge part of the movie, it doesn’t strike me as purely a romantic movie. Will’s nastiness and the underlying plot of Sean trying to escape himself, to an extent, make for a compelling and fascinating movie.
When I stop and think about The Quiet Man, the thing that truly stands out is the characters. There are so many larger than life, lovable, and FUN characters in this film – they are a joy to watch. John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara lead the way, certainly, but The Quiet Man would not be the perfect movie that it is without Barry Fitzgerald as the wonderful Michaleen Oge Flynn or Ward Bond as Father Peter Lonergan.
The characters in this film stay with you long after you’ve seen the movie.
It’s one of those movies, too, that seems to be EVEN better each time you watch it. I think it’s because you notice new things each time – and everything is so stunningly wonderful about this film, noticing new things is a huge positive. You “catch” new lines of dialogue, too. I’ve seen the movie quite a few times and I often hear something one of the characters says and think, “I didn’t know he/she said that…’ The reason is there are so many wonderful lines, you’re often laughing at one while another is being said!
Fast Facts About The Quiet Man
- The Quiet Man is one of the few Hollywood films in which Gaelic (the native Irish language) is spoken…. and it is a beautiful, beautiful thing. It adds to the authenticity of the movie so much.
- Green, Ireland’s national color, can be seen in every scene of this beautiful movie.
- In the famous scene where Sean finds Mary Kate in his cottage, the wind blew her hair so wildly that she kept squinting. Apparently John Ford screamed at her with a stream of profanity… something that didn’t go over well with Maureen O’Hara! Apparently she yelled back at him, “What would a bald-headed son of a bitch know about hair lashing across his eyeballs.” Sigh. I love her so.
- Cast members Charles B. Fitzsimons (Hugh Forbes) and James O’Hara (Father Paul) were Maureen O’Hara’s younger brothers.
- John Wayne described why the role of Sean Thornton (considered one of his best) was difficult to portray: “For nine weeks I was just playing straight man to those wonderful characters, and that’s really hard.”
- Barry Fitzgerald, who plays the character of the Roman Catholic Michaleen Oge Flynn (not only one of the best characters in this movie, but one of the most enjoyable ones in any movie as far as I’m concerned!), and Arthur Shields, who played the Protestant vicar Cyril ‘Snuffy’ Playfair, were brothers in real life.
- I’ve read that when Maureen O’Hara passed away (2015), she did so while listening to Victor Young’s score to The Quiet Man.
- In 1986, a New York police officer, was shot and paralyzed on the job. His young wife mentioned to reporters that The Quiet Man was her husband’s favorite movie and that he was a huge fan of Maureen O’Hara. After reading this, Maureen O’Hara flew to New York to meet the officer and lift his spirits! She became involved with the couple as he recovered, attended their baby’s christening, and even marched in a parade on his behalf. Phenomenal woman… phenomenal.
- The Quiet Man was Maureen O’Hara’s favorite of her movies.
- The scene where Sean and Mary Kate take a stroll through the countryside is so beautiful and so perfect, it leaves me speechless. Okay, so this is more an opinion than a “fast fact,” but.. well, there you have it.
There are many movies I would “make” people watch if I had the power. You know how it is when you love a movie so much you want everyone else to experience the joy for themselves. This is one of those movies I recommend to others… then frequently bug them by asking, “Have you watched The Quiet Man yet??”
I don’t mind being a pest when it comes to The Quiet Man. In fact, I insist upon it. Speaking of which, have you watched The Quiet Man yet?
John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in The Quiet Man
Father Was a Fullback with Maureen O’Hara and Fred MacMurray: Watch the Movie Online
I collect the filmographies of my favorite actors and actresses on DVDs and buy my favorite movies as well. However, I also get a HUGE kick out of finding full movies on YouTube – whether they’re movies that are new to me or movies I’ve seen at least a dozen times. Many times, I actually own the DVD but watch it conveniently on my iPad or iPhone if I can find it on YouTube.
At least the DVD lasts longer this way!
Father Was a Fullback (1949) is one of those wonderful and delightful movies that somehow is more enjoyable each time you watch it. Fred MacMurray and Maureen O’Hara worked perfectly together… they both tended to work perfectly with their co-stars, didn’t they?!
This is actually one of the Maureen O’Hara films I don’t have on DVD, yet… the horrors! While I’m thinking about it, I need to just go toss it directly into my Amazon cart. I actually have a Judy Garland biography, Maureen O’Hara coffee mug, and Katharine Hepburn dvd waiting for me anyway.
Me and my redheads!
Father Was a Fullback has a phenomenal cast. In addition to Maureen O’Hara and Fred MacMurray, the cast includes Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou), Natalie Wood, Jim Backus (Thurston Howell III), Thelma Ritter, and Rudy Vallee.
Plot: College football coach George Cooper (Fred MacMurray) not only has his hands full with his football team, but with his wife (Maureen O’Hara) daughters, Ellen (Natalie Wood) and Connie (Betty Lynn) as well!
Maureen O’Hara was only 6 years older than Betty Lynn, who played her daughter.
Enjoy the movie – it’s a lot of fun.
Maureen O’Hara’s Pride and Joy: Her Daughter Bronwyn
When she was just 23, Maureen O’Hara gave birth to what would be her only child, a daughter Bronwyn on June 30, 1944. Bronwyn’s father was Maureen’s second husband (and subsequent ex-husband), William Price.
Bronwyn was named after Anna Lee’s character in How Green Was My Valley.
Whenever you read Maureen O’Hara biographies (or certainly her own autobiography), you’re always struck by just how much she absolutely adored Bronwyn. It’s as it should be, of course, but if you read many Old Hollywood biographies, you know as well as I do how rare it actually was.
How Well Do You Know Maureen O’Hara?
Maureen O’Hara as Esmerelda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Beautiful Maureen O’Hara has long been one of my favorite actresses. I first saw her in Miracle on 34th Street and remember thinking, even as a child, that she was extraordinarily beautiful and compelling. Of course, I had no idea what compelling meant at that time, but I knew she was all over it.
The second movie I remember seeing her in was The Parent Trap with Brian Keith. Still gorgeous and still compelling – and this time I understood the word. You just cannot look away when she’s commanding a scene.
Growing up with a father who loved Westerns like kids love candy (that’s where I get my infatuation with Westerns from), I’d go on to see her very, very often alongside one of our favorite cowboys, John Wayne.
While Maureen O’Hara starred with John Wayne in five films, it often felt like she was in every other one. In each film they starred in together, they portrayed a married couple. John Ford directed the first three:
- Rio Grande (1950)
- The Quiet Man (1952)
- The Wings of Eagles (1957)
- McLintock! (1963)
- Big Jake (1971).
She and John Wayne remained friends until his death. In fact, in her home in St. Croix, she had a wing she actually called the John Wayne Wing because he stayed there while visiting.
Fast Facts About the Compelling Maureen O’Hara!
- She was having lunch with Lucille Ball when Lucy first saw Desi Arnaz.
-
Was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
-
She became an American citizen on January 25, 1946 but retained her Irish citizenship. It was the first time in history that the United States government recognized an Irish citizen as Irish, leading to a change in process for all Irish immigrants.
- An exceptional typist, she typed some of her own scripts and rewrites.
-
In 1993, she was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
- Gave birth to her only child, daughter Bronwyn Brigid Price (aka Bronwyn FitzSimons) in 1944. Bronwyn was named after the character played by Anna Lee, Maureen’s co-star, in How Green Was My Valley (1941).
-
She was one of four actresses to be nicknamed “Queen of Technicolor”. The other three: Maria Montez, Yvonne De Carlo, and Rhonda Fleming.
-
She was the second actress (Myrna Loy was the first) to receive an honorary Academy Award without ever having been nominated previously.
- Bronwyn’s son Conor Beau FitzSimons became an hairdresser who owns his own line called “The Red Collection“, honoring his famous grandmother.
- Maureen got her daughter started in movies with a cameo in Spencer’s Mountain(1963). Though a gifted actress, Bronwyn dropped out of films after a brief career and began a family.
-
A Conservative Republican, she supported the Presidencies of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George Bush and George W. Bush.
-
Maureen O’Hara was the last credited cast member of Miracle on 34th Street to pass away (October 24, 2015 in Idaho). She is buried at Arlington Cemetery, beside her late husband Charles Blair, a great military officer.
Continued Below…
John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, and Claude Jarman, Jr. in Rio Grande
Maureen O’Hara Quotes
“Every star has that certain something that stands out and compels us to notice them. As for me I have always believed my most compelling quality to be my inner strength, something I am easily able to share with an audience. I’m very comfortable in my own skin. I never thought my looks would have anything to do with becoming a star. Yet it seems that in some ways they did.”
“I made John Wayne sexy. I take credit for that.”
(About some of her leading men.) “I enjoyed James Stewart, I enjoyed Brian Keith and I enjoyed Henry Fonda. Jeff Chandler was a nice man but a bad actor.”
(When asked what her most marked characteristic was.) “The hell and fire in me. They came as a set.”
“Speaking as an actress, I wish all actors would be more like Duke (John Wayne), and speaking as a person, it would be nice if all people could be honest and as genuine as he is. This is a real man.”
(About Walt Disney referring to her as, “That bi*ch.”) “I don’t mind what he said. He didn’t like me because I wouldn’t let him get out of a contract. Not many people had the guts to stand up to him. At least he didn’t think of me and say, ‘That wimp’.”
“I proved there was a bloody good actress in me. It wasn’t just my face. I gave bloody good performances.”
Miracle on 34th Street: Memorable Scenes from One of the Greatest Christmas Movies of All Time
- Jimmy Stewart: It’s a Wonderful Life
- Maureen O’Hara: Miracle on 34th Street
- Barbara Stanwyck: Christmas in Connecticut
- Bing Crosby: White Christmas
I’m not sure why, but Miracle on 34th Street (1947) doesn’t seem to get the attention many other Christmas movies do. Yes, the others are outstanding… but so is Miracle on 34th Street!
This has been one of my favorite movies since I was around the age of Natalie Wood’s adorable character Susan. The movie is filled with love, laughter, emotion, and hope – who can ask for more than that from a Christmas movie?
The fact that you often hear people talk about Die Hard as a Christmas movie more than this one is enough to make you as nutty as the cookies you leave out for Santa.
Okay, ranting over. Let’s just celebrate this wonderful, beautiful movie!
Did You Know?
- According to a Natalie Wood biography, young Natalie believed that Edmund Gwenn was actually Santa Claus! In fact, it wasn’t until she saw him out of costume at the wrap party that she realized he wasn’t Santa.
- Natalie Wood was eight years old when filming Miracle on 34th Street.
- Maureen O’Hara had this to say about Edmund Gwenn, “By the time we were halfway through the shoot, we all believed Edmund really was Santa Claus. I’ve never seen an actor more naturally suited for a role.”
- The department stores (Macy’s and Gimbel’s) depicted in the movie had to grant permission in order for the producers to use their names. Both stores wanted to see the finished film first before they gave this approval. Fortunately (and for obvious reasons), both stores loved the film and gave their permission!
- From Maureen O’Hara’s autobiography: “Everyone felt the magic on the set and we all knew we were creating something special. I am very proud to have been part of a film that has been continually shown and loved all over the world for nearly sixty years. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) has endured all this time because of the special relationship of the cast and crew, the uplifting story and its message of hope and love, which steals hearts all over the world every year. I don’t think I will ever tire of children asking me, ‘Are you the lady who knows Santa Claus?’ I always answer, ‘Yes, I am. What would you like me to tell him?'”
Below are just a few special scenes from this extra special movie.
Santa Won’t Lie to Susan:
Susan Believes:
The One and Only Santa Claus!
