Of all the incredible acting collaborations seen throughout Hollywood history, the pairing John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara stood as one of the greatest of cinema. With Wayne's reputation as perhaps the best leading man in classic American cinema and O'Hara's talent for portraying dynamic and passionate heroes, the two were a match made in heaven, and it was always a pleasure to see them play off each other. Wayne and O'Hara collaborated with legendary filmmaker John Ford on three separate occasions, adding to the legacy of their work with each other.
The films that both Wayne and O'Hara have starred in are very diverse and range from fantastic Western team-ups, quirky country romance and even slice-of-life comedy. Wayne and O'Hara played to each other's strengths and their on-screen chemistry cemented their reputation as box office hits together five times over more than 20 years. along with classic films such as Rio Grande and Quiet ManDespite the varying qualities of their five films, seeing the duo together on screen always felt like an opportunity.
5 Wings of Eagles (1957)
John Wayne as Frank “Spig” Wead and Maureen O'Hara as Min Wead
Wings of eagles A 1957 biopic about United States Navy aviator Frank “Spig” Wade, it also served as a historical account of American aviation from its inception to World War II. Actual Navy flight students and instructors appeared as extras, adding an air of authenticity to the film. Many of the interior sets for the film were recycled from other MGM films to save money.
Directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne Spieg and Maureen O'Hara as his wife Min Wead. Wings of eagles played the role of a pleasant melodrama which glorifies military life and fills its story with family drama and, unfortunately, dated humor. With faithful performances, the best Wings of eagles At this point, Wayne and O'Hara, who had already starred in three films together, were a couple.
4 Big Jake (1971)
John Wayne as Jacob McCandles and Maureen O'Hara as Martha McCandles
The last film starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, O'Hara retired 20 years after the release of the Technicolor Western. Big Jake. With a plan to capture a kidnapped boy for ransom, Big Jake it was a movie with great character introductions and a thrilling climax, but unfortunately it took a while to get to the point and felt a bit tedious at times. However, the reunited pairing of Wayne and O'Hara was enough to justify the ticket price, with the two showcasing one last time what makes them such a great team.
Wayne played Jacob McCandles and O'Hara was his wife Martha.
Wayne played Jacob McCandles and O'Hara was his wife Martha. Together with his sons, they ran a ranch that was attacked by the notorious Fain Gang, who kidnapped their son, Jake Jr. This action sets off a cowboy adventure that sees Wayne on the hunt to save his son. However, the film could have benefited from more interaction between Wayne and O'Hara, as his role was reduced. unfortunately Big Jake was an uneven film that could have stood in between with a stronger screenplay and better direction Wayne and O'Hara's best work together.
3 McLintock! (1963)
John Wayne as GW McLintock and Maureen O'Hara as Kate McLintock
John Wayne showed off his funny side McLinktock! a comedy starring Maureen O'Hara, partly inspired by William Shakespeare The Taming of the Shrew. extreme adventure, McLinktock! It featured exciting gun chases, hilarious hijinks, and the famous tattoo scene, which O'Hara says is the real deal (via Express.) Unusual for a Western led by Wayne, McLinktock! set aside the usual action-oriented nature of the genre and gave some time to stories of everyday life and those who lived in rural America's Old West.
McLintock! may not have gone down in history as the greatest comedy of all time, but it remained a fun piece.
Telling the story of a wealthy vigilante played by Wayne who uses his power and influence to keep the peace between ranchers, squatters, Native Americans, and corrupt government officials, McLintock! It was a box office success that did well on the delicious premise of the western comedy. O'Hara shone as the beautiful red-haired Kate McLintock, responsible for some of the film's funniest scenes and passionately committed to delivering professional physical comedy. McLintock! may not have gone down in history as the greatest comedy of all time, but it remained a fun piece.
2 Rio Grande (1950)
John Wayne as Lieutenant Colonel Kirby York and Maureen O'Hara as Kathleen York
The first film starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, Rio Grande established a long-term collaboration with famous Western director John Ford that would span three films. The story of a cavalry officer's encounter with deadly raiding Apaches, as well as his estranged wife, Rio Grande brought out themes of conflict, love and military life. Rio Grande It was the third and final installment in Ford's Cavalry Trilogy Ford Apache and He wore a Yellow Ribbon.
Wayne played Lt. Col. Kirby York, tasked with leading the cavalry against Apache raiders. On the Mexico-United States border, O'Hara reunited with his long-lost wife, Kathleen York, who unexpectedly arrives to take their teenage son home after being bought from the military. Facing both personal and professional challenges, Kirby must manage the tensions between his family and his troops. Rio Grande For Wayne and O'Hara, it was a powerful collaboration that showcased the complex personal sacrifices faced by those in the military.
1 The Quiet Man (1952)
John Wayne as Sean Thornton and Maureen O'Hara as Mary Kate Danaher
Best Picture was a quirky romantic comedy and ode to Ireland featuring the dynamic duo of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Quiet Man. An important point for the cinematic representation of Ireland, Quiet Man brought hordes of American tourists to Cong, County Mayo, to witness the legendary film director John Ford's portrayal of the rolling green hills and elegant small-town life of the fictional community of Innisfree. Quiet Man It was a sentimental success, portraying Ireland in a way never before seen on the big screen.
Quiet Man It told the story of a retired American boxer, played by Wayne, who falls in love with an outgoing and excitable Irish redhead played by O'Hara while visiting his hometown in rural Ireland in the 1920s. The natural chemistry expert pair of Wayne and O'Hara, under the direction of the famous director Ford, Quiet Man It was a successful collaboration It represented everything that was great about the duo's work together. A funny, heartfelt and memorable romance, Quiet Man It was Wayne and O'Hara's biggest hit and was one of Wayne's favorite films.
The fictional community's name, Innisfree, is inspired by the DB Years poem “The Isle of Loch Innisfree”, a small island within Lough Gill on the Sligo-Leitrim border in Ireland.
John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara's Off-Screen Relationship
In the nearly 40 years they've known each other, they've clearly been as close as family.
Although Wayne and O'Hara have appeared in numerous projects together and care deeply for each other, they have never been romantically involved. O'Hara has repeatedly denied rumors that something romantic was going on between them. It's called Wayne's Autobiography John Wayne: The Life and Legend, A 2014 paper by Scott Eyman argues otherwise. A friend of Wayne's who spoke to Eyman claims that Wayne and O'Hara had an affair going on for years, but this has never been confirmed.
Although their first film together did not hit theaters until 1950, the two truly met and became friends when O'Hara immigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1939. They maintained their friendship throughout their lives. When O'Hara appeared for a television interview with Larry King in 2000, she was unfazed by the idea that people thought she and Wayne had been romantically involved for a long time. She again denied romantic claims against the King, but also told him:
An old woman used to stop me in the street and say, “I saw all your children today,” and they were all Duke's children.
Of course, she said, Wayne's children call her “Aunt Maureen” and share all their secrets with each other. In the nearly 40 years they've known each other, they've clearly been as close as family.
In 1978, O'Hara beat cancer, while Wayne himself was seriously ill from a cancer diagnosis. He traveled to speak to Congress on his behalf, arguing for the Congressional Medal for his friend:
I have known John Wayne for 39 years, and in those 39 years I have called him my dearest friend – my best friend. For the people of the world, John Wayne is not just an actor and a very good actor. John Wayne is the United States. I beg of you to strike a medal for Duke, order the President to strike him. And I think the medal should say just one thing: “John Wayne, American.”
O'Hara achieved his wish for a Congressional Medal for Wayne. He died the following year.
Source: Express, Larry King Live, John Wayne: The Life and Legend,