What do you think?
Rate this book
Troubled Epic: On Location With Ryan's Daughter
An unvarnished account of the troubled shooting, both on and off camera, of the Oscar-winning film, Ryan's Daughter.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
2 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 1, 2017
This is a juicy read. The story of the actors playing the characters, together with the townspeople and crew, all interacting on the West Coast of Ireland, specifically the Dingle Peninsula (interesting that this is the same area where Luke Skywalker hid out) is almost as intriguing as the story of the characters and the townspeople, in the movie itself.
Some thoughts raised by the book:
1. What happens when a small group of outsiders are transplanted to a relatively isolated area and must live there for a year--before the Internet and smartphones? Its almost as if they are living a half life, stuck in a prison of sorts, periodically interrupted by the opportunity to do a scene. But then these opportunities were few given the long period it took to make the movie and involved much waiting and repetition.
2. How was it for Sarah Miles to be in a movie where all the major male characters love her in some way, while being married to the screenplay author meaning, he--in a sense--embodied all of those characters?
3. How was it for Sarah Miles that, despite the above, the actor who is playing her lover in the movie is majorly not attracted to her? So much so, she says she kept smelling her armpits to see if that was the reason he could not get excited about doing love scenes with her.
4. The whole drama around Christopher Jones, who played the lover. He was living with Olivia Hussey at the time (she of Romeo and Juliet fame) and mourning the death of Sharon Tate, which occurs during filming.
Concerning the movie itself, I can see where the critics largely panned it. Yet its a movie with beautiful scenery and a great depiction of a time, place and people. Also I like the story, my biggest problem with it though is that the lovers BARELY SPEAK TO EACH OTHER. In fact Major Doran barely speaks at all. He is handsome and has the "I'm it" look, down. But the story would be much more passionate if it had included passionate dialogue between the two.
Some thoughts raised by the book:
1. What happens when a small group of outsiders are transplanted to a relatively isolated area and must live there for a year--before the Internet and smartphones? Its almost as if they are living a half life, stuck in a prison of sorts, periodically interrupted by the opportunity to do a scene. But then these opportunities were few given the long period it took to make the movie and involved much waiting and repetition.
2. How was it for Sarah Miles to be in a movie where all the major male characters love her in some way, while being married to the screenplay author meaning, he--in a sense--embodied all of those characters?
3. How was it for Sarah Miles that, despite the above, the actor who is playing her lover in the movie is majorly not attracted to her? So much so, she says she kept smelling her armpits to see if that was the reason he could not get excited about doing love scenes with her.
4. The whole drama around Christopher Jones, who played the lover. He was living with Olivia Hussey at the time (she of Romeo and Juliet fame) and mourning the death of Sharon Tate, which occurs during filming.
Concerning the movie itself, I can see where the critics largely panned it. Yet its a movie with beautiful scenery and a great depiction of a time, place and people. Also I like the story, my biggest problem with it though is that the lovers BARELY SPEAK TO EACH OTHER. In fact Major Doran barely speaks at all. He is handsome and has the "I'm it" look, down. But the story would be much more passionate if it had included passionate dialogue between the two.
January 31, 2017
Excellent read especially if you've been to Ireland's Dingle town and adjoining areas. I learned alot about movie production and the character of Robert Mitchum, Sarah Miles and director David Lean. When I return this spring I'll have a few more sites to check out.
February 6, 2021
I thought it’s very well told; the expense, the glamour, the ambition, the folly.
I read it because I watched the film again. I disagree completely with the critics in 1970. I think Ryan’s Daughter’ has really strong elements and great dramaturgy!
I read it because I watched the film again. I disagree completely with the critics in 1970. I think Ryan’s Daughter’ has really strong elements and great dramaturgy!
April 13, 2023
There have been many books written about the fiasco of Ryan's Daughter.This book concentrated on the experiences of local people and how the making of the film became the making of the area.Some excellent photos
November 5, 2017
Marvelous production history of a fascinating and sorely underrated film.
April 30, 2015
The book is mainly collated from stories from Dingle residents (where it was filmed).
I felt in parts there was a little too much info I could have lived without,such as a large section devoted to the transport organizer and the various cars needed for the production.
But for a fan of David Lean films,it was an interesting read with some great on set bnw images I hadn't seen before.
I felt in parts there was a little too much info I could have lived without,such as a large section devoted to the transport organizer and the various cars needed for the production.
But for a fan of David Lean films,it was an interesting read with some great on set bnw images I hadn't seen before.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews