John Ford’s The Rising of the Moon is an anthology of three short stories set in Ireland. The film is obviously a work of love for all those involved, chief among them Ford himself who returned again and again to the Emerald Isle throughout his career as a source of inspiration. However, Ford’s passion for his ancestors’ homeland results in an indulgent production which seems bloated despite its 81 minute runtime. The highlight of the film is the second story, “A Minute’s Wait,” a comedy about a train stopping for a pit stop at a station. Despite the best efforts of the conductor and engineers, odd circumstances prevent the train from leaving several times, forcing them to announce one more “minute’s wait” over and over again. For such a short story, the film is full of richly nuanced and sharply defined characters who give the comedic goings-on extra weight. But perhaps the most fascinating character in the film is Dan O’Flaherty, a proud old man accused of assaulting one of his countrymen in the first short film entitled “The Majesty of the Law.” Fans of Ford’s work will be drawn to the story’s themes of manly honor, tradition, and respected customs which bypass the letter of the law but nevertheless serve the cause of justice. But the average viewer might be turned off by its casual pace and leisurely tone. Indeed, most of the story consists of pleasant, reminiscent conversations. We only learn that there is an actual plot until it is nearly over. The last short film, “The Rising of the Moon,” is a rather unremarkable story about a Police Sergeant during the Black and Tan War who must choose whether or not to let an escaped prisoner scheduled for execution get away. With the exception of some interesting cinematography and dutch angles in the first few minutes, “The Rising of the Moon” is stylistically dull. In short, the film is an interesting curio for fans of John Ford and those curious about America’s views on Irish culture. But other viewers will get bored quickly.
6/10
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