Far and Away (1992)
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Two Irish immigrants risk everything to claim their own land in the American frontier during the 1893 Land Run.
The story
In 1892 Ireland, impoverished tenant farmer Joseph Donnelly dreams of owning land. After his family home is burned by their landlord's men for unpaid rent, Joseph attempts to kill the landlord but is injured and captured. His headstrong daughter, Shannon, dreams of fleeing to America where land is being given away for free. When Joseph is challenged to a duel by the estate manager, Shannon convinces him to run away with her. They sail to America, seeking a new life, but face numerous hardships, including poverty in Boston and the loss of their savings, before eventually heading toward the Oklahoma land giveaway.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1892 Ireland, Joseph Donnelly is an impoverished tenant farmer whose home is burned by his landlord, Daniel Christie. After an attempted revenge killing on Christie leaves Joseph injured, he is nursed back to health by Christie's daughter, Shannon. Shannon, who resists being a refined lady, wants to flee to America for free land. When the estate manager, Stephen Chase, challenges Joseph to a duel, Shannon convinces Joseph to flee with her. They sail to America and meet McGuire, who confirms the Oklahoma land giveaway. In Boston, McGuire is killed, and Shannon loses her silver spoons. They find work with a ward boss, Mike Kelly, where Joseph fights in boxing matches. After Kelly cheats them out of their money, the couple is left starving in the winter. After a series of hardships, including Shannon being shot and Joseph working on train tracks, they eventually join a wagon train to Oklahoma. During the Land Run of 1893, Joseph outpaces everyone to reach Shannon. A fight breaks out with Stephen Chase, and Joseph is crushed by Stephen's horse. Shannon rejects Stephen, and Joseph, appearing to die, is revived by her love. They drive their flag into the ground and claim their land together.
- First release year
- 1992
- Runtime (minutes)
- 140
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ron Howard
- Writers
- Bob Dolman · screenplay; Ron Howard · story; Bob Dolman · story
- Cast and characters
- Tom Cruise · Joseph Donnelly; Nicole Kidman · Shannon Christie; Thomas Gibson; Robert Prosky; Cyril Cusack
- Genres
- epic Western; romantic adventure drama; Soundtrack
- Themes
- Immigration; Class Struggle; Persistence; Love
- Tone and mood
- Epic; Melodramatic; Romantic
- Setting
- Ireland, Boston, and the American frontier (Oklahoma/Ozarks) in the 1890s.
- Premise and plot tags
- Historical Drama; Western; Romance; Adventure
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $137.8 million against a $60 million budget.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 51% · review count: 39; Metacritic · score: 49 · scale: 100 · review count: 19; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A to F
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Raspberry Award · Worst Original Song · 13th · Nominated
- Production trivia
- Ron Howard's grandfather participated in the Land Run of 1893.; The film was the first to be shot in 70 mm in a decade since Tron (1982).; The film was shot in Montana for business reasons, but the Oklahoma Historical Society was involved.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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