Directed by John Ford. Written by Maurice Walsh, Frank S. Nugent, and Richard Llewellyn.

Sean Thornton

• There'll be no locks or bolts between us, Mary Kate, except those in your own mercenary little heart!

Michaleen Oge Flynn

• [To Mary Kate, "introducing" Sean] Mr. Sean Thornton, bachelor, meet Miss Mary Kate Danaher. Miss Danaher, meet Mr. Thornton, from Pittsburgh, Massachusetts, USA.

• Is this a courting or a donnybrook? Have the good manners not to hit the man until he's your husband and entitled to hit you back.

Father Peter Lonergan

• Ah, yes. I knew your people, Sean. Your grandfather, he died in Australia, in a penal colony. And your father, he was a good man too.

• Now when the Reverend Mr. Playfair, good man that he is, comes down, I want us all to cheer like Protestants.

Others

• Townswoman: [sweetly, to Sean] Here's a good stick to beat the lovely lady.

Dialogue

Michaleen Flynn: What do they feed you Irishmen in that Pittsburgh?

Sean Thornton: Steel, Michaleen. Steel and pig iron furnaces so hot a man forgets his fear of hell.

Michaleen Flynn: I have... I have come.

Mary Kate Danaher: Oh, I can see that. But from whose pub was it?

Michaleen Flynn: Pub? Pub? You've the face of an angel with the tongue of an adder. I have a good mind to go about me own business and tell Thean Shornton he's better off without ya!

Mary Kate Danaher: Wait a minute, what was that?

Michaleen Flynn: Well ye be listenin' then and not interrupting the shockelhorn;mdash;the matchmaker... I have come at the request of Thean Shornton...

Mary Kate Danaher: Sean Thornton.

Michaleen Flynn: Shut up... bachelor and party of the first part, to ask if you, uh—strictly informally, mind you—uh, Mary Kate Danaher, spinster, and party of the second part.

Mary Kate Danaher: Well. Go on. You were sayin'?

Michaleen Flynn: Actually, me mouth is like a dry crust and the sun is that hot on me pate.

Mary Kate Danaher: Would you be steppin' into the parlor? The house may belong to my brother, but what's in the parlor belongs to me.

Michaleen Flynn: I will then, and I hope that there's a bottle there, whoever it belongs to.

Mary Kate: What manner of man is it that I have married?

Hugh Forbes: A better one, I think, than you know, Mary Kate.

Father Paul: Father Lonergan!

Father Longergan: Shhh...

Father Paul: It's, it's a big fight in the town!

Father Longergan: And there's a big fight in this fish right here.

Father Paul: I'd have put a stop to it, but you see...

Father Longergan: You do that, lad. It's your duty.

Father Paul: But see now, it's Danahar and Sean Thornton!

Father Longergan: Who?

Father Paul: Danahar and Sean Thornton!

Father Longergan: Well why the devil didn't you tell me? [Quickly drops fishing rod and runs]

. . .

[The two priests arrive at the scene of the fight]

Father Paul: Father, shouldn't we put a stop to it now?

Father Longergan: [Smiling, making fighting movements] Ah, we should lad, yes we should, it's our duty. Yes, it's our duty... [Smiles as a punch is heard]

Cast

• John Wayne - Sean Thornton
• Maureen O'Hara - Mary Kate Danaher
• Barry Fitzgerald - Michaleen Oge Flynn
• Victor McLaglen - Squire "Red" Will Danaher
• Ward Bond - Father Peter Lonergan
• Mildred Natwick - The Widow Sarah Tillane