Plot
In 1892 Ireland, impoverished tenant farmer Joseph Donnelly dreams of owning his own land. After his father dies, their family home is burned down by their landlord Daniel Christie's men, due to unpaid rent. Joseph goes to Christie's home to kill him in revenge but injures himself. Daniel's wife, Nora, and their daughter, Shannon, nurse Joseph back to health so he can be hanged for the attempted murder.
Headstrong Shannon, who resists her mother's attempt to mould her into a refined lady, dreams of going to America where land is being given away for free. When Joseph tries to flee the Christie home, Stephen Chase, the Christies' estate manager stops him. Stephen then challenges Joseph to a duel for the next morning. Mr. Christie has told Joseph that he knew nothing about tenant evictions or unfair rents. Early the next morning, Shannon runs away from home and convinces Joseph to come to America with her as her servant and protector, interrupting the duel.
While sailing to America, Shannon and Joseph meet Mr. McGuire, who confirms Shannon's story about the Oklahoma land giveaway. He explains that Oklahoma is a thousand miles inland and the desired land is claimed in a race. Shannon reveals she has a collection of silver spoons that will pay their way to Oklahoma.
Upon arriving in Boston, McGuire is shot in the street, and Shannon loses her spoons. Mike Kelly, an Irish ward boss, finds jobs for Joseph and Shannon and a room to rent. Joseph soon becomes a regular in bare-knuckle boxing matches at Kelly's club for extra cash. Over the following weeks, Joseph and Shannon struggle to earn money and adapt to their new lives. Romantic tension flares between them, especially after Grace, a dancer at Kelly's club, shows interest in Joseph, inciting Shannon's jealousy.
One night, Joseph discovers Shannon dancing in Kelly's burlesque show to earn extra money. When he storms in to take her home, Kelly and the other Irishmen there beg him to fight an Italian contender, promising to split the two-hundred-dollar purse. It will be enough money to go to Oklahoma. Joseph is winning until he notices one of his backers groping Shannon. Distracted, Joseph is defeated by a sucker punch. As payback for the loss, Kelly and his men take all of the couple's money and toss Shannon and Joseph out into the streets.
Cold and starving, the pair break into a seemingly abandoned house. They share a romantic moment before the owners return, chasing them off and shooting Shannon in the back as they escape. Joseph, knowing the Christies are in Boston, takes Shannon to them. After leaving her in their care, he heads west to the Ozarks and finds work laying train track. Months later, while en route to the next work site, Joseph notices a wagon train headed for Oklahoma and joins them.
He arrives in Oklahoma just in time for the Land Run of 1893 and finds that Shannon, Stephen, and the Christies are also there. Stephen, after seeing Joseph talking to Shannon, threatens to kill him if he goes near her again. Joseph, who has procured a half-broke horse outpaces everyone during the race. He catches up to Shannon and Stephen, who prematurely sneaked across the starting line. Before Joseph can plant his claim flag, a fight breaks out between him and Stephen, ending with Joseph being crushed by Stephen's horse. Shannon rushes to Joseph, rejecting Stephen. Joseph professes his love for Shannon and seems to die but is revived when she reciprocates his feelings. They drive his flag into the ground and claim their land together.
Production
The film was shot in Montana for business reasons, but the Oklahoma Historical Society was involved in its production. [7] Imagine Production Co. toured the areas around Montana for a week. They visited different areas before selecting Billings, Montana. Ron Howard, whose film Backdraft was in the stages of being released in theatres at the time, arrived in Billings to begin the groundwork for the film. One site outside of town was a 12,000-acre (49 km2) ranch, which was going to be used to film the Oklahoma Land Rush scene. Working titles for the film included The Irish Story [8] and An Irish Story. [9]
Principal photography began in Montana on May 28, 1991. After several weeks of preparation, the cast and crew filmed the Oklahoma Land Rush scene on July 7, 1991. Eight hundred riders and extras, nine hundred horses, mule, oxen, and two hundred wagons were used on a quarter-mile wide set. Nine cameras were used to film the action sequences. During the filming of the scene, four people broke bones and one horse died. [5] Cruise's boxing match was filmed at the Billings Depot. Local area residents were used as extras for the sequence. [10] American Humane reported that "The production company not only met American Humane's Guidelines, but went that extra mile to ensure both the physical and mental wellness of the animals." [11] After filming wrapped in Billings, the cast and crew traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to complete filming. Ardmore Studios in Wicklow was used to film interior sequences, [12] and the streets of Boston were filmed in Dublin.
It was the first film shot in Panavision Super 70 [13] and the first film to be shot in 70mm in a decade since Tron (1982). [14] [15] The Arriflex 765 camera was also used, as the camera was capable of 100 frames per second which was used for slow-motion shots during the Oklahoma land rush scene. [13]
