The Irish-American icon Maureen O’Hara Carved a place for herself among the greatest actresses Hollywood has ever seen and starred in countless classic movies. Born and raised in Dublin, O’Hara began to pursue acting from a very young age and, before long, became a major star in comedies, romances and western movies. With acclaimed collaborations with the likes of John Wayne and James Stewart, throughout her career she has worked with some of the biggest names in show business.
As the star of some of the legendary director John Ford’s best movies, O’Hara was a movie star in the truest sense of the word, as she gave her all to every role she played. with an ethereal, timeless beauty, O’Hara has portrayed some of the most effective and iconic love interests the big screen has ever seen.. Although O’Hara took a 20-year break from acting, it was a testament to her incredible appeal that she lost none of her native charm when she returned to filmmaking in the 1990s.
10
McLintock! (1963)
Maureen O’Hara as Kate McClintock
Of the five Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne movies, McLintock! was certainly the funniest, as it showcased the comedic talents of the two frequent collaborators. Partly inspired by William Shakespeare’s The taming of the scarThis western comedy featured shootouts, hijinks, and even an infamous spanking scene in an over-the-top lighthearted adventure. As a depiction of daily life and living in the rural American Old West, which McLintock! What it lacks in adventure, it makes up for with strong characterization and a unique sense of humor.
While Wayne gave an enjoyable performance as a wealthy farmer using his influence to keep peace in the community, it was O’Hara as Kate McClintock who was responsible for the film’s funniest scenes, as she displayed her expert talent for physical Comedy. As a bright box office hit, McLintock! It may not have the prestige credentials of O’Hara’s most acclaimed work, but it more than proved her skills for pure entertainment. It’s funny, it’s witty, it’s carefree, and it’s always a pleasure to see O’Hara and Wayne share the screen.
9
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)
Maureen O’Hara as Peggy Hobbs
The light comedy Mr. Hobbs is taking a vacation See Maureen O’Hara team up with screen legend James Stewart for an off-the-wall story the whole family can enjoy. Although Stewart’s Roger Hobbs was looking forward to a trip abroad with his wife Peggy, that fell apart when the trip was rescheduled as a seaside getaway with the whole family. What was supposed to be an opportunity to get some relaxing alone time together became extremely chaotic as they were joined by two adult daughters, a teenage brother and sister, the family cook, two sons-in-law, and three young grandchildren.
As a wacky, crowd-pleasing comedy that brought to mind the outrageous, bloated family humor of Cheaper by the dozenStewart and O’Hara are in top comedic form here. Mr. Hobbs is taking a vacation Poked fun at the frustrations of family togetherness When, although a family may love each other, getting some time apart from the kids would not always be such a bad thing. Mr. Hobbs is taking a vacation was a light-hearted look at a nightmare holiday that, although it’s a little dated today, still packs a lot of laughs.
8
Only the Lonely (1991)
Maureen O’Hara as Rose Muldoon
After a 20-year retirement from the film industry, O’Hara returned in 1991 to star opposite John Candy in the romantic comedy-drama. Only the lonely. This exciting comeback proved that O’Hara has lost none of her innate comedic talents as she co-stars as Candy’s controlling Irish mother in This underrated classic from writer and director Chris Columbus and producer John Hughes. With impeccable timing and truly funny characterization, O’Hara proved she could hold her own in the 1990s comedy scene, whose humor was vastly different from her heyday in the 1950s and 1960s.
While Candy and his love interest, played by Ally Sheedy, gave hilarious performances, O’Hara was truly the star of the show as the mother they couldn’t get a moment away from. As a performer of such iconic stature, Will O’Hara returns to the screen for his film made Only the lonely A defining moment in her career. O’Hara then continued to act throughout the decade and appeared in several made-for-TV movies.
7
The Parent Trap (1961)
Maureen O’Hara as Maggie McKendrick
Although many viewers will picture Lindsay Lohan’s breakout role when they think about The parent trapThis was actually a remake of the 1961 rom-com starring Maureen O’Hara. As the story of two teenage twins trying to reunite their divorcing parents by switching places, the classic story is based on the German children’s novel The double latch by Erich Kästner. O’Hara played Maggie McKendrick, the mother of mischievous twins Susan Evers and Sharon McKendrick (Hayley Mills in a dual role), who were determined to reconcile her love for her soon-to-be ex Mitch (Brian Keith.)
The parent trap was a box office hit that appealed to adults and kids alike and was made all the better by Mills’ spectacular performance. While its story may be predictable, the lighthearted fun at the center of the story made for truly engaging viewing, and it’s no surprise that Disney chose to remake it in 1998. The parent trap Also did several direct made for television sequels throughout the 1980s.
6
Rio Grande (1950)
Maureen O’Hara as Kathleen Yorke
Like the first Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne film, Rio Grande was a western movie with some serious star potential under the expert direction of John Ford. Rio Grande brought up themes of conflict, love and military life and was the third in Ford’s “Cavalry Trilogy,” which also included Ford Apache And She wore a yellow ribbon. As the story of Wayne confronted by murderous riding Apaches as well as his estranged wife, played by O’Hara, Rio Grande was a romantic western that is still loved by fans of the genre to this day.
with O’Hara as the long-lost wife Kathleen Yorkewho arrived to take her undergrown son home after he joined the army, the story of family and war tested personal and professional problems in the decades after the Civil War. The more serious topics of Rio Grande was balanced with music from the Western singing group The Children of the Pioneers. The excellent chemistry between O’Hara and Wayne led Ford to cast them in two more of his films, including The quiet man And The wings of eagles.
5
The Black Swan (1942)
Maureen O’Hara as Lady Margaret
Long before Darren Aronofsky’s ballet-based psychological thriller of almost the same name, there was The Black Swan, a swashbuckling adventure starring Maureen O’Hara. Starring Tyrone Power as Captain Waring, the leader of the ship Revenge, this technicolor nautical story saw him facing off against the Black Swan, a ship belonging to his enemy, Captain Leech. Caught in the middle of it all is O’Hara as Lady Margaret, a beautiful maiden smitten with an English nobleman who catches Waring’s eye.
As one of the most enjoyable adventure movies of the 1940s, The Black Swan was a pure cinematic spectacle where O’Hara exuded beauty and charisma with her portrayal of Margaret. While the characterization of Lady Margaret is not as deep as some of O’Hara’s other most acclaimed roles, the part of a pirate’s love interest does not require complexity. generally, The Black Swan was a visually spectacular showcase of cinema’s power to engage and enthrall.
4
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Maureen O’Hara as Doris Walker
As if Maureen O’Hara hadn’t already carved out an iconic place in Hollywood history, she then added a Christmas classic to her impressive filmography with the release of Miracle on 34th Street. This holiday favorite tells the story of a department store Santa Claus who claimed to be the real deal and the subsequent effects of that claim. As a story that shines a light on the real magic of Christmas, this timeless classic was even nominated for a Best Picture Oscar but lost to Gentleman’s agreement.
O’Hara played Doris Walker, the divorced New York mother who hired Kris Kringle to play Santa and soon found herself embroiled in a legal case that questioned the potentially magical man’s sanity. With a clever and original concept, Miracle on 34th Street Capture the wonder of the best Christmas movies And was a heartfelt reminder of its enchanting effect on young children. Although it is impossible to beat the original, Miracle on 34th Street Was remade in 1994 with Richard Attenborough and Mara Wilson.
3
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
Maureen O’Hara as Esmeralda
The Hunchback of Notre Dame was Maureen O’Hara’s American film debut and was truly a star-making role as she played Esmeralda to perfection. Based on the acclaimed novel by Victor Hugo, although the Disney animated version may be more widely known, the darker retelling was the greatest screen depiction of this heartbreaking story. As Esmeralda, it was incredible to witness O’Hara and Charles Laughton playing off each other, who gave an equally impressive performance as the mysterious and malevolent bellringer Quasimodo.
Quasimodo was a horribly disabled hunchback and was hidden from the world at large, only friendship with the kind and emphatic Esmeralda. This timeless tearjerker was one of the most expensive films ever made by RKO Radio Pictures, which can be seen in the beautiful way it captured the streets and buildings of Paris in the Middle Ages. like One of O’Hara’s most nuanced and complex rolesHer performance in The Hunchback of Notre Dame was a real tour de force.
2
The Quiet Man (1952)
Maureen O’Hara as Mary Kate Danaher
Maureen O’Hara’s greatest movies with John Wayne Has to be the eternal classic The quiet man. As a quirky romantic comedy, a beautiful homage to the wonder of the Irish countryside, and an enjoyable example of the couple’s incredible on-screen chemistry, this John Ford movie was a smashing success. The influence of The quiet man Was so great that more than 70 years after its release, hordes of tourists still flock to Cong, County Mayo, to witness the green hills and idyllic small-town life of its fictional setting of Inisfree.
O’Hara played the beautiful Irish redhead Mary Kate Danaher, with whom Wayne’s Sean Thornton was intensely smitten. As a beautiful picture of rural 1920s Ireland, The quiet man was a heartfelt and memorable romance that represented the best of O’Hara, Wayne and Ford’s work together. With awe-inspiring visuals that still hold up to this day, The quiet man Triumph was anything but quiet.
1
How Green is My Valley (1941)
Maureen O’Hara as Angharad Morgan
How green was my valley is truly the pinnacle of Maureen O’Hara’s incredible career. Based on the novel by Richard Llewellyn, This John Ford classic won the Academy Award for Best Picture Due to its stunning portrayal of the hard-working Welsh mining family, the Morgans. As a bleak family drama in the Victorian era, O’Hara’s portrayal of Angharad’s love for the local minister, Mr. Gruffydd, and love marriage with Evans proved much of the sentimental story.
As a powerfully moving film that has lost none of its innate power, How green was my valley Considers itself a timeless classic about a tight-knit community. While it controversially earned its Oscar ahead of Citizen no And The Maltese FalconThis was a testament to just how well-received the film was when it was first released. In a career full of extraordinary performances, How green was my valley Bringing together everything extraordinary about the enormous talent that was Maureen O’Hara.