THE PRISONER OF SHARK ISLAND

THE PRISONER OF SHARK ISLAND - 1936

RATED - NR but probably PG.

RATINGS - 5 Amazon (4/5), 793 Netflix (3.3/5), 472 IMDB (7.4/10).

STARRING - Directed by JOHN FORD with Warner Baxter & Gloria Stuart.

THEMES - Justice.

STORY - The film begins with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth jumping on to the stage and making his escape out the back of the theater. In jumping from the balcony, Booth breaks his leg and soon needs medical attention. In the movie he asks for directions to a local doctor and appears unannounced at the home of Dr. Samuel Mudd, who, of course (without the Internet & cable TV) has not yet heard of the assassination. He treats Booth and keeps him overnight until he can travel again. The authorities trace Booth's escape to Mudd's estate and arrest him for being an accomplice. He is tried in what appears to be somewhat of a kangaroo court and sent to Shark Island Prison in the Florida Keys. He tried to escape once, unsuccessfully. A violent outbreak of Yellow Fever in which he heroically saves the lives of many of the prisoners while risking his own, convinces his accusers to rethink his guilt. The question is whether Dr. Mudd was an innocent bystander as the movie depicts or was he, in fact, part of the Booth conspiracy. This movie is well done and entertaining and is a terrific introduction to the whole story of John Wilkes Booth and the conspiracy theories. Like the JFK assassination debate, was this a lone gunman or a conspiracy much larger? A fascinating subject. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/07/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IDMB, TCM(Spoilers), WIKIPEDIA

THE QUIET MAN

THE QUIET MAN - 1952

RATED - NR but probably G/PG. Very family friendly with some Irish pub scenes and good old fashioned brawl the only negatives for younger children. Netflix recommended for 8+.

RATINGS - 253 Amazon (4/5), 215,021 Netflix (3.9/5), 11.264 IMDB (7.9/10). TV Guide (5/5)

STARRING - John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara

AWARDS - Two Academy Awards including Best Director (John Ford) plus 5 Academy nominations. AFI TOP 100 Passions, AFI TOP 100 Laughs nominee, AFI TOP 100 Movies nominee.

THEMES - Love, family, forgiveness.

STORY - The film begins with American Sean Thornton (John Wayne) getting off the train in Castleton, Ireland and asking directions to Inisfree, the little village he had been born in. We learn that he is an ex-professional boxer wanting to forget the tragedy of his last fight in which his opponent was killed. He quickly falls in love with his 'spinster' neighbor Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O'Hara). As an American he is not familiar with the ways of courting in Ireland and soon learns the hard way that the direct approach does not work. He goes about winning her hand over the opposition of her stubborn brother who does not like Sean. When her brother discovers he has been tricked into giving permission to Mary Kate to marry Sean, he withholds the dowry he has promised. Sean does not care but it is a matter of extreme pride to Mary Kate that she produces the dowry she is owed and promised. She challenges Sean to fight her brother for the rightful dowry. It is then that Sean must confront the demons of his past that only one person in the village knows about. A delightful comedy romance, they truly don't make these anymore. With Wayne and O'Hara, two bigger than life stars, how could they? Great entertainment and a wonderful look at another culture. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/15/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB