Tony the "Quiet Man"
Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 10:41 pm
Why was Tony Watching the Quiet Man? We all know that David Chase carefully chooses the programs and movies that we get to see Tony (and others) watching on Television (as carefully as he chooses the music for the show). In this episode, while asleep in the living room (with an empty ice cream bowl on his belly) Tony is watching “The Quiet Man”, the 1952 classic starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. It is directed by the legendary John Ford and is the story of an American boxer (Sean Thornton - played by John Wayne) returning to his native Ireland to escape a ring tragedy (he accidentally killed another fighter). Seeking the peace of rural life in Innisfree (his birthplace) he buys back his family’s “ancestral” home and falls in love with Mary Kate Danaher (played by Ms. O’Hara) the unwed sister of his loudmouth neighbor, “Red” Will Danaher (played marvelously by Victor McLaglen). Will refuses to let Sean court his sister, trying at every turn to get the “Yank” to fight. Sean resists fighting because he is gun shy (having previously killed a man). The trouble between the 2 men continues a slow simmer until the movie climaxes with a sprawling fistfight between them that covers field, town and bar.
        The scene that Tony is watching happens near the end of the movie when the epic (or for fans of the movie - “Homeric”) fight is in full swing. The spectators have flung themselves into the fight and it is a mobbish donnybrook. At this point the town’s pre-eminent character and matchmaker, Michaelene O’Flynn (played by Barry Fitzgerald) shoots a gun into the air to get everyone’s attention, stating “This is a private fight. Non-belligerents will kindly remain neutral. I thank you.” The fight resumes only between Will and Sean.
        I have been trying to make a connection between this movie (and this scene especially) and the many major themes of the Sopranos. The connections I have been able to conjure up are not great and are stretches, but here they are:
        The movie has been described as “the longest build up to a fight and a piece of ass in movie history.” Perhaps Chase was providing a gentle “jab” to those Sopranos fans who have been complaining of the “slow build up” of this season, teasing us with the promise of a major fight or climax to soon come.
        There are also the “Irish” connections between this film and Tony’s NDE persona, Kevin Finnerty.
        John Wayne, like Gary Cooper, is the “strong silent type” of American that Tony most admires; Tony may be a fan of the Duke’s films and nothing deeper than that is meant.
        Tony may long to be a Quiet Man himself, enjoying his peace, and reluctant to fight (with Phil, Johnny Sac, Carmella, Vito and/or his own crew) because of the tragedy of his “accidental” shooting by Junior.
        Perhaps there is no connection at all; maybe Chase is just a fan of the film and was using the opportunity to pay homage to director John Ford.
        Have any of the other members, who are more intelligent than I, given any thought to why Chase chose to have us see Tony watching this particular film.
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        The scene that Tony is watching happens near the end of the movie when the epic (or for fans of the movie - “Homeric”) fight is in full swing. The spectators have flung themselves into the fight and it is a mobbish donnybrook. At this point the town’s pre-eminent character and matchmaker, Michaelene O’Flynn (played by Barry Fitzgerald) shoots a gun into the air to get everyone’s attention, stating “This is a private fight. Non-belligerents will kindly remain neutral. I thank you.” The fight resumes only between Will and Sean.
        I have been trying to make a connection between this movie (and this scene especially) and the many major themes of the Sopranos. The connections I have been able to conjure up are not great and are stretches, but here they are:
        The movie has been described as “the longest build up to a fight and a piece of ass in movie history.” Perhaps Chase was providing a gentle “jab” to those Sopranos fans who have been complaining of the “slow build up” of this season, teasing us with the promise of a major fight or climax to soon come.
        There are also the “Irish” connections between this film and Tony’s NDE persona, Kevin Finnerty.
        John Wayne, like Gary Cooper, is the “strong silent type” of American that Tony most admires; Tony may be a fan of the Duke’s films and nothing deeper than that is meant.
        Tony may long to be a Quiet Man himself, enjoying his peace, and reluctant to fight (with Phil, Johnny Sac, Carmella, Vito and/or his own crew) because of the tragedy of his “accidental” shooting by Junior.
        Perhaps there is no connection at all; maybe Chase is just a fan of the film and was using the opportunity to pay homage to director John Ford.
        Have any of the other members, who are more intelligent than I, given any thought to why Chase chose to have us see Tony watching this particular film.
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