Main Cast: Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hara, Robert Francis, Ward Bond, Donald Crisp
Release Year: 1955
Country: US
Run Time: 138 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
The life story of West Point athletic director Marty Maher was the inspiration for John Ford's The Long Gray Line. Told in flashback, the film recalls the first days at the Point for Irish immigrant Maher (Tyrone Power), a pugnacious boy who can't seem to fit in with the institution's regimen of unquestioning discipline. Athletic director Ward Bond takes a liking to Maher and arranges for the young man to become his assistant; Bond also plays Cupid between Maher and Irish maidservant Mary O'Donnell (Maureen O'Hara). When Mary's baby is stillborn, the Mahers begin to regard the West Point cadets as their surrogate children: this eventually leads to the film's most touching scene, in which Mary bids farewell to her son-substitute as he marches off to World War II. Following Mary's death, Marty stays on at the Point, until the place seems somehow incomplete without his presence. On the occasion of his forced retirement, Maher gently pleads with one of his former students--President Dwight D. Eisenhower--to permit him to remain at his post (Ike is played by Harry Carey Jr. in his early scenes, and by the voice of Paul Frees in the wraparound White House scenes). Based on Marty Maher's autobiography, The Long Gray Line seems at first glance too leisurely for its own good, but this appealing film gradually grows on its audience--just like Marty Maher himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
While not among John Ford's very best films, The Long Gray Line has more than enough to recommend it, especially for devotees of the director's work. Although Ford reportedly had an intense dislike for Cinemascope, that certainly is not evident from Line. The director uses the wide screen to exceptionally good effect, creating vistas of stunning beauty for the "big" scenes, and using the trick of keeping interiors full of detail in such a manner that it "closes in" on the human subjects for those scenes that are more intimate. As is expected of Ford, almost every shot is beautifully composed, with an almost unerring eye for placement and impact. Line also features a sterling performance from Tyrone Power, demonstrating that he could do a good deal more than swashbuckle when given the chance, and an equally fine one from Maureen O'Hara. The supporting cast is quite solid, with special mention going to Betsy Palmer and Donald Crisp. Where Line comes up a bit lacking is in the screenplay. While the flashback framing works well, the earlier chronological portions of the film are played rather jarringly for laughs, and the latter sections go too far in the other direction, lapsing into sentimentality that doesn't always ring true. Still, it's worth putting up with these problems for Ford's firm, sure handling of it and for the cast. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Betsy Palmer - Kitty Carter; Philip Carey - Chuck Dotson; William Leslie - Red Sundstrom; Harry Carey, Jr. - Dwight D. Eisenhower; Patrick Wayne - Cherub Overton; Sean McClory - Dinny Maher; Peter Graves - Capt. Rudolph Heinz; Milburn Stone - Capt. John Pershing; Fritz Apking; Don Barclay - Maj. Thomas; Richard Bishop; Willis B. Bouchey - Maj. Thomas; Chuck Courtney - Whitney Larson; Ken Curtis - Specialty Bit; Lisa Davis - Eleanor; Diane DeLaire - Nurse; Mimi Doyle - Nun; Martin Milner - Jim O'Carberry; Erin O'Brien-Moore - Mrs. Koehler; Pat O'Malley - Priest; Robert Roark - Cadet Pirelli; Mickey Roth - Cadet Curly Stern; Mickey Simpson - New York Policeman; Robert Ellis - Cadet Short; Jack Pennick - Recruiting Sergeant; Harry Denny - Priest; Jean Moorhead - Girl; John Ford; Tom Hennessy - Peter Dotson; Philip Kieffer - Superintendent; Don Murphy - Army Captain
Credit
Robert A. Peterson - Art Director, Jean Louis - Costume Designer, John Ford - Director, William Lyon - Editor, George Duning - Composer (Music Score), Morris W. Stoloff - Composer (Music Score), Charles B. Lang - Cinematographer, Charles Lawton - Cinematographer, Robert Arthur - Producer, Frank A. Tuttle - Set Designer, George Cooper - Sound/Sound Designer, Edward Hope - Screenwriter, Nardi Reeder Campion - Book Author, Marty Maher - Book Author
