How Long Is “Ryan's Daughter”?

This romantic war drama takes place in the political turmoil of Ireland in 1916. While the British battle European aggressors in World War I, The Irish Republican Army makes a secret deal with the Germans for a cache of weapons to battle British rule. Charles (Robert Mitchum) who meets rosy (Sarah Miles) on a return trip to Dublin. They fall sin love and marry, but Rosy has an illicit affair with British officer Randolph Doryan (Christopher Jones). Tim O'Leary (Barry Foster) is the IRA gun runner waiting for a shipment of German rifles to arrive by sea on the West coast of Ireland. When evidence of the affair (a military button) is paraded in the streets to discredit the unfaithful Rosy, Charles ignores the indignant neighbors. He does tell British authorities of the impending gun shipment in an effort to halt reprisals from the occupied forces. IRA loyalists break in to their home, stripping Rosy and shaving her head when they believe she is the one who tipped off the British. Leo McKern plays Rosy's father, and Trevor Howard plays the kindly Catholic priest. John Mills won an Oscar for his portrayal of the village idiot Michael as did cinematographer Freddie Young for his excellent lensing of this wartime romantic triangle.