The mystery of what Maureen O’Hara said to startle John Wayne so much at the end of the Quiet Man has intrigued fans since the classic movie was first released.

It’s a question O’Hara was constantly asked by fans, even when she retreated to her beautiful getaway mansion in Ireland. She joked that many fans would turn up at her doorstep pretending to be lost after walking through the neighbouring woods.

They’d ask for directions back to the town but would always try to engage her in conversation and pump her with questions about her films and her life as a star in Hollywood.

The question of what did she say to John Wayne came up time and time again.

In the scene at the end of the movie, O’Hara’s character Mary Kate Danaher is standing outside by a stream with her husband Sean Thornton, who was played by Wayne.

They were waving goodbye to Michaeleen Óge Flynn, who had helped them to pursue their blossoming romance.

Mary Kate then turns to Sean and whispers something in his ear. What she says in inaudible as the soundtrack is playing over the action.

Sean is taken aback and Mary Kate turns to run back to the cottage with Sean chasing shortly after.

O'Hara was always very coy about what she said...but she does give us a good idea that removes a lot of the guesswork.

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