The Long Gray Line
| The Long Gray Line | |
|---|---|
 1955 Theatrical Poster |
|
| Directed by | John Ford |
| Produced by | Robert Arthur |
| Written by | Nardi Reeder Campion Edward Hope Marty Maher |
| Starring | Tyrone Power Maureen O'Hara |
| Music by | W. Franke Harling |
| Cinematography | Charles Lawton Jr. Charles Lang |
| Editing by | William A. Lyon |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) | January 22, 1955 |
| Running time | 138 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,748,000 (estimated) |
The Long Gray Line is a 1955 American drama film directed by John Ford[1][2] based on the life of Marty Maher. Tyrone Power stars as the scrappy Irish immigrant whose 50-year career at West Point took him from dishwasher to non-commissioned officer and athletic instructor.
Maureen O'Hara, one of Ford's favorite leading ladies, plays Maher's wife and fellow immigrant, Mary O'Donnell. The film costars Ward Bond as Herman Koehler, the Master of the Sword (athletic director) and Army's head football coach (1897-1900), who first befriends Maher. Milburn Stone appears as John J. Pershing who in 1898 swears Maher into the Army. Harry Carey, Jr. makes a brief appearance as the young cadet Dwight D. Eisenhower. Philip Carey plays (fictional) Army football player and future general Chuck Dotson.
The story follows Maher's arrival at West Point and his progress from servant to beloved leader and teacher. The film also covers Maher's personal life, his romance and marriage to Mary O'Donnell, and his declining years after her death.
The phrase "The Long Gray Line" is used to describe, as a continuum, all graduates and cadets of the USMA at West Point, New York. Many of the scenes in the film were shot on location at West Point, including the "million dollar view" of the Hudson River near the parade grounds. The film was the last one in which actor Robert Francis appeared before his death at age 25.
[edit] Cast
- Tyrone Power as Martin Maher
- Maureen O'Hara as Mary O'Donnell
- Robert Francis as James N. Sundstrom Jr.
- Donald Crisp as Old Martin
- Ward Bond as Captain Herman Koehler
- Betsy Palmer as Kitty Carter
- Philip Carey as Charles "Chuck" Dotson (as Phil Carey)
- William Leslie as James Nilsson "Red" Sundstrom
- Harry Carey Jr. as Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Patrick Wayne as Abner "Cherub" Overton
- Sean McClory as Dinny Maher
- Peter Graves as Corporal Rudolph Heinz
- Milburn Stone as Captain John J. Pershing
- Erin O'Brien-Moore as Mrs. Koehler (as Erin O'Brien Moore)
- Walter D. Ehlers as Mike Shannon
- Willis Bouchey as Major Thomas
[edit] References
- ^ Variety film review; February 9, 1955, page 10.
- ^ Harrison's Reports film review; February 12, 1955, page 26
[edit] External links
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