Riders to the Sea (1937)

In this story of Western Ireland, the most famous work of Irelands greatest dramatist John Millington Synge is brought to the screen by Ulster's greatest film director Brian Desmond Hurst. It tells of a deeply religious people who speak English with all the poetry and strange turn of phrase of their Irish mother tongue. The women still keep the custom of keening their dead. When the story opens, Maurya (Sara Allgood), the mother, has lost to the sea her father, husband and two sons. Now only two sons are left for her, Michael (Denis Johnston) and Bartley (Kevin Guthrie). The appearance of Synge's bereaved fiancée Maire O'Neill is most poignant. Actor and film critic Patrick Kirwan plays the Donegal Priest and a host of Abbey players provide much of the cast. Gracie Fields helped Hurst finance the film and artist John P. Flanagan co-produced the film and provided the art direction. Location shots were at Renvyle, Connemara, Co Galway, Ireland.