Taglines: They needed a country that was big enough for both of their dreams.
Far and Away movie storyline. In Ireland in 1892, Joseph Donnelly’s family home is burned down by his landlord Daniel Christie’s men led by Stephen Chase because of unpaid rent. Vowing revenge, Joseph unsuccessfully attempts to kill Daniel. Joseph meets the landlord’s daughter Shannon, who has rebelled against family tradition and made plans to claim free land in America. She offers to take Joseph with her as her servant so she, a single woman, can travel without scandal.
At first Joseph doesn’t agree, he is planning to pistol fight with Stephen Chase who burned his father’s house at dawn. Daniel meets Joseph during the fight, and tells him that he had nothing do with his family’s eviction or any of the other tenant farmers since the land is managed by Stephen. Dawn arrives and Stephen is very close to shooting Joseph in their duel, but Shannon dashes in with her horse and buggy, convincing Joseph at the last moment to accompany her to America.
On a ship bound for America, Shannon meets Mr McGuire who tells them about America’s free land, convincing them both of its arability. He tells them it is in Oklahoma, informing them that once they get there, they must race to claim it like everyone else. She explains that her collection of valuable silver spoons will cover all expenses to get the pair to Oklahoma and McGuire offers to help her find a shop to sell them to once they arrive in America.
On arriving in Boston, McGuire is shot and Shannon’s spoons fall out of his clothing and get snatched up by passersby. Joseph rescues her but not the spoons. A worker for Ward Boss Mike Kelly, a leader of the Irish immigrant community, introduces the pair to him. Kelly finds them lodging and jobs, but only one room, which they must share. To avoid scandal, Joseph says she’s his sister. Because they are working class people, it would be dangerous for their fellow Irish immigrants to find out she is of a privileged background.
As the pair continue to share a room, Joseph and Shannon become attracted to each other but both keep up a front of indifference. One night Joseph rushes out to Boss Kelly’s club, where a bare-knuckle boxing match is underway. Joseph challenges the winner, knocks him out and soon becomes a regular at the club and makes extra cash while both of them work in a chicken plucking plant. Back in Ireland, the Christies’ house is burned down by angry tenants in the Irish Land War, so the Christies decide to emigrate to America, hoping also to find their daughter.
Joseph is told Shannon is at Kelly’s club. Rushing to the club, he discovers Shannon on stage as a burlesque dancer. He tries to cover her with his jacket, demanding that she stop dancing. The Irish men surrounding the couple beg him to fight and offer him a small fortune ($200). Shannon, who previously scorned boxing, urges him to fight, since the money would get them to Oklahoma.
Joseph agrees and is winning until he notices one of his backers (a member of the city council) groping Shannon on his lap. Joseph pushes through the crowd to free her, but is pushed back into the ring, where his foot accidentally “toes” the line, falsely signaling he is ready to begin fighting. But he isn’t ready and the Italian lands a sucker punch, after which he’s beaten.
Far and Away is a 1992 American romantic adventure drama film directed by Ron Howard from a script by Howard and Bob Dolman. It stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Thomas Gibson, Robert Prosky, Barbara Babcock, Cyril Cusack, Eileen Pollock, Colm Meaney, Michelle Johnson and Niall Toibin are in the supporting cast. The cinematographer was Mikael Salomon, and the music score was done by John Williams. It was screened out of competition at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.
Cruise and Kidman play Irish immigrants seeking their fortune in 1890s America, eventually taking part in the Land Run of 1893. This was Cyril Cusack’s final film before his death the following year.
Far and Away (1992)
Directed by: Ron Howard
Starring: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Thomas Gibson, Robert Prosky, Barbara Babcock, Cyril Cusack, Eileen Pollock, Colm Meaney, Michelle Johnson, Niall Toibin
Screenplay by: Bob Dolman
Production Design by: Allan Cameron, Jack T. Collis
Cinematography by: Mikael Salomon
Film Editing by: Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill
Costume Design by: Joanna Johnston
Set Decoration by: Richard C. Goddard
Art Direction by: Jack Senter
Music by: John Williams
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some violence and sensuality.
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release Date: May 22, 1992
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