The Long Grey Line (1955)

The Long Gray Line
Directed by John Ford
Written by Edward Hope based on “Bringing Up the Brass” by Marty Maher
1955/USA
Columbia Pictures Corporation/Rota Productions
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

Old Martin: Do you have the Irish, woman of the house?
Mary O’Donnell: I have.

This is John Ford at his most Irish, patriotic, and sentimental.  Nonetheless, I enjoyed it.

This is based on the true story of Marty Maher who spent 50 years as a non-commissioned officer at West Point training and coaching cadets in various sports.

Maher (Tyrone Power) is fresh off the boat when he is hired as a waiter at the Point. His main talent seems to be breaking dishes.  He finds it is cheaper to enlist than continue to pay for his breakages.  Soon after, he gets into a slugfest with one of the cadets and is spotted by the “Master of the Swords” Captain Kohler (Ward Bond) for his wicked right cross.  After a try out, he starts training the cadets in boxing.

Early on, Maher falls in love with Mary O’Donnell (Maureen O’Hara), a recent Irish emigre whom the Kohler’s have hired as a cook.  After a comic and one-sided romance, they are wed.  Maher wants to return to Ireland but Mary eventually gets her way by bringing his father (Donald Crisp) and brother over.

The story continues in a Good-Bye Mr. Chips-type vein through generations of new cadets, all of whom grow to love the avunclar Maher.  Good times and bad times abound all accompanied by regular doses of choral singing.  With Robert Francis, Harry Carey Jr., and Peter Graves as cadets and Betsy Palmer as one of their girls.

This is all pretty calculated but it did bring a tear to my eye.  Somehow Ford makes things work for me that really shouldn’t.  It’s always nice to see his stock company together again.  I thought Power was excellent and did well with his Irish accent.

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