Top 10 Maureen O'Hara Movies

As I write this the number of acting greats who were making movies back during the golden age of cinema is down to just a few and one of those greats who whilst not having made a movie for over a decade is still with us is the lovely Maureen O'Hara. The Irish beauty who was born back in 1920 appeared in her first movie way back in 1938 under her real name Maureen FitzSimons and since then has appeared in over 60 movies, many of which are classics as she worked with stars such as Charles Laughton and John Wayne as well as influential directors John Ford and Alfred Hitchcock. To honour the not only beautiful but talented Maureen O'Hara here is The Movie Scene's Top 10 Maureen O'Hara movies including one which whilst might not be on many people's lists proved that even in to her 70s Maureen O'Hara could put in a fantastic performance.

10 - The Christmas Box (1995)

The Christmas Box (1995)

When his wife Keri (Annette O'Toole) responds to an ad looking for a couple to be line in home help for an elderly woman, her workaholic husband Richard (Richard Thomas) is less than happy about having to look after this old woman and her home whilst also keeping his busy job going. He's even less than happy when after being interviewed they get the job and find's himself continually having issues with the elderly woman, the frosty Mary Parkin (Maureen O'Hara) as she doesn't like having to have live in helpers. Not only that he struggles to settle in to Mary's large home, suffering reoccurring surreal dreams about angels which keep him awake most nights. But as time goes by Mary slowly warms to Richard, Keri and their young daughter Jenna (Kelsey Mulrooney) becoming a surrogate grandmother as they all grow close. But as Mary's health deteriorates she is determined to make Richard realise that being with his family is more important than his devotion to work... read the movie review

9 - Sons of the Musketeers (1952)

Sons of the Musketeers (1952)

With the Duc de Lavalle (Robert Douglas) openly planning to seize power by forcing Queen Anne (Gladys Cooper) to let him marry her daughter Princess Henriette (Nancy Gates) and then making sure that Young Louis XIV, who is in hiding doesn't live, the Queen is running out of options. In hope she sends out messengers to the four musketeers asking for their help but in return their children D'Artagnan Jr. (Cornel Wilde), Aramis Jr. (Dan O'Herlihy), Porthos Jr. (Alan Hale Jr.) and Claire (Maureen O'Hara) the daughter of Athos who is as good with a sword as D'Artagnan Jr. come to her aid. But whilst swearing to protect the Queen and her children the Musketeers must deal with betrayal within the Royal household... read the movie review

8 - Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)

Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)

As a business man in the bustling city Mr. Hobbs (James Stewart) wants to go on vacation, a peaceful holiday with just his wife Peggy (Maureen O'Hara). Unfortunately Peggy has other ideas and arranges for the entire family to go on holiday together. So rather than being a time for rest and relaxation it turns out as stressful as being in the office for Mr. Hobbs as he has to deal with a rickety old beach house, temperamental plumbing and teenager children who are not in the holiday spirit... read the movie review

7 - The Parent Trap (1961)

The Parent Trap (1961)

Having turned up for summer camp Sharon McKendrick (Hayley Mills) is stunned when she meets Susan Evers (Hayley Mills) because other than their haircuts and the fact that Susan was raised on a ranch by her dad whilst Sharon in the city with her mum they are identical. They soon realise that it isn't just some freak of nature and they are in fact twins who were separated when they were still babies when their parents divorced. With Susan wanting to get to know her mum and Sharon wanting to know about her dad they decide to switch places and cut their hair to be the same. All goes well until Sharon, whilst pretending to be Susan so that she can meet her father Mitch (Brian Keith) learns that he is planning to get married again to Vicky (Joanna Barnes) who is just after his money. So the twins get to work on not only trying to stop him from marrying but getting their mother Maggie (Maureen O'Hara) to the ranch to try and reunite them... read the movie review

6 - McLintock! (1963)

McLintock! (1963)

As a respected local landowner and cattle baron GW McLintock (John Wayne) has many friends as well as a few enemies and as such finds himself not only drawn into the problems when a band of settlers arrive in the are but also the return of the Indian Chiefs who ask him to be their representative in their fight to keep their territories. But that is the least of his issues as with his daughter Becky (Stefanie Powers) coming home it also brings the return of his fiery estranged wife Katherine (Maureen O'Hara) whose bossy, forthright manner simply does his head in... read the movie review

5 - The Black Swan (1942)

The Black Swan (1942)

The promotion of legendary pirate Captain Henry Morgan (Laird Cregar) to Governor of Jamaica after putting an end to all pirate activity it is not without great scepticism as few trust him. His new position also is met with disdain by other pirates including Captain Leech (George Sanders) who rebels and keeps on with his pirate ways. Determined to stop Leech, Morgan sends Jamie Waring (Tyrone Power) to try and stop him but in a moment of confusion Jamie is accused of kidnapping the attractive Lady Margaret Denby (Maureen O'Hara) the daughter of Lord Denby (George Zucco). It leas to Captain Morgan believing Jamie has turned and pirate and goes after both him and Leech... read the movie review

4 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

Whilst gypsies are banned from the city the beautiful Esmeralda (Maureen O'Hara) grabs the attention of many men including King Louis XI (Harry Davenport) and his Chief Justice Frollo (Cedric Hardwicke). It causes Frollo to feel guilt over how he feels about Esmeralda and decides to hide her in the church where she will be protected from the law. But when Esmeralda sees deformed bell ringer Quasimodo (Charles Laughton) she runs and in the confusion Quasimodo is not only arrested but is publicly flogged with only Esmeralda answering his cries of pain and in doing so befriending him. But Esmeralda's beauty keeps on attracting men and when one of her admirers is murdered the finger of suspicion points directly at Esmeralda leading to Quasimodo pulling off a daring rescue before she is hung in the square... read the movie review

3 - Rio Grande (1950)

Rio Grande (1950)

Returning to base after days of riding the Mexican border Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke (John Wayne) learns that the son he hasn't seen in 15 years, Jefferson (Claude Jarman Jr.), has flunked out of West Point and instead become an enlisted soldier stationed at his outpost with 18 other young soldiers ready for training. But not only does he find his son but Kirby also discovers his estranged wife, Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara), has arrived determined to stop this nonsense and buy their son's release from service, something which goes against Kirby's morals despite no really knowing his son. But having his estranged family around is not the only problems which face Kirby as with Indians nearby father and son must face great danger... read the movie review

2 - Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

With the Santa she hired for the Macy's parade turning into a problem Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara) talks kindly old gentleman Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) to step in and play Santa. So impressed by Kris's popularity with the crowds Doris convinces him to also become the store Santa where Kris's gift with children wins him even more fans. The only child whom Kris struggles with is Doris's young daughter Susan (Natalie Wood) who is a non believer. But as Kris tries to get young Susan to believe there is a dark shadow looming as a psychiatrist sets about proving that Kris is delusional... read the movie review

1 - The Quiet Man (1952)

The Quiet Man (1952)

With his roots in Ireland Sean Thornton (John Wayne) heads back home from America to the small village of Inisfree where he sets about doing up his old family cottage. But his arrival doesn't go unnoticed as the locals speculate over Sean's past especially as he doesn't like talking about it whilst Sean manages to upset Squire 'Red' Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen). That turns out to be a bad move as Sean falls for Will's red headed sister Mary Kate (Maureen O'Hara) and sets about courting her even if that means going through all the Irish traditions including getting Will's permission to take her out... read the movie review