Ryan's Daughter

UK (1970): Romance/Drama

The logic behind inflating Robert Bolt's minimalist romantic drama into a $12 million epic seems to have been "When David Lean directs, it's a super-spectacular." One of the reasons for the large cost of the film was the village of "Kirrary." It was built just for the film and dismantled afterwards -- shops, schoolhouse, church, pub, post office, etc. 200 workmen built it all using slate and 20,000 tons of granite from a dozen local quarries; anything less substantial wouldn't have stood up to the Atlantic gales. Many buildings had fitted interiors, ceilings, lighting, plumbing and even working fireplaces and chimneys.

Sarah Miles (who at the time was Mrs. Robert Bolt) stars as Rosy, the daughter of Irish pubkeeper Tom Ryan (Leo McKern). Married to tweedy, sexless schoolmaster Charles Shaughnessy (Robert Mitchum), restless Rosy has an affair with British officer Randolph Doryan (Christopher Jones). When village idiot Michael (an Oscar^®-winning turn by John Mills) innocently uncovers evidence of Rosy's indiscretion, the local gossips begin wagging their tongues. Shaughnessy chooses to remain above the scandal, assuming that Rosy will come to her senses. Later, Rosy's father informs on a group of IRA insurgents, hoping to keep the peace in his village. The locals assume that Rosy, still enamored of Doryan, is the informer, and exact a humiliating punishment. Realizing that his very presence has caused disgrace for Rosy, Doryan kills himself. For Rosy and Shaughnessy, life goes on... not happily ever after, just ever after.

Lensed on location in Ireland by frequent Lean collaborator Freddie Young, Ryan's Daughter is simply too large-scale for its basically intimate story. Audiences didn't seem to mind Lean's directorial elephantiasis, however; the film brought in more than twice its cost. (MGM) (Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide)

When John Mills accepted his Oscar in 1971 -- for playing a mute in the film -- he bowed and said nothing in the shortest acceptance speach on record.

 View a clip from this film on YouTube.com. (VIEWER CAUTION: Contains nudity)

4 nominations, 2 Awards