The first Maureen O’Hara movie I saw in was Disney’s 1961 hit, The Parent Trap with Haley Mills and Brian Keith. I have seen that movie at least a dozen times (and that is likely an understatement). I remember watching it as a kid and being completely mesmerized by O’Hara’s character, Maggie. This was the beginning of my deep love and respect for Maureen O’Hara movies. 
In her memoir, ‘Tis Herself (one of our May picks), Maureen O’Hara took the reader through her life story in a delightful series of stories ranging from heartbreaking to hilarious.
In her memoir, O’Hara opened the book by talking about growing up in Ireland – her parents, her siblings, and her introduction to acting. If there was one thing evident throughout the whole book, it was her love for Ireland.
She talked about all of the films she worked on. It was wonderful to hear about some of the movies I love from the woman who starred in them. I loved all of the behind-the-scenes stories she told about some of my favorites: Jamaica Inn (1939), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), How Green Was My Valley (1941), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), The Quiet Man (1952), The Parent Trap (1961), Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962), Spencer’s Mountain (1963), and The Christmas Box (1995).
The most fascinating person she wrote about was John Forde, director of How Green Was My Valley and The Quiet Man. O’Hara’s relationship with Forde could be described as a rollercoaster at best. He was a brilliant artist with an unpredictable personality. In her memoir, O’Hara recognized his talent as a director, his strengths as a friend, and his faults as a man. As fascinating as O’Hara’s life was, Forde’s story takes the cake.
If you have seen even one Maureen O’Hara movie and been dazzled by her charm or inspired by her feisty Irish spirit, this book is for you.
Live, Love, Learn,
Candice & The Write Teacher(s)