Region: 1
Video: Enhanced Widescreen Letterbox for 16x9 TV, Pan and Scan for TV
DVD Aspect Ratio: Cinemascope (2.35:1), Pre-1954 Standard (1.33:1)
Audio: Dolby Digital w/ 3 discrete audio channels. Includes 2 for the front speakers & 1 mono channel for the surround
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, ko, th
Weight factor: 1 item(s)

Plot Synopsis

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

Editorial Reviews:

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