While in Ireland, an American political journalist with Irish roots (Tyrone Power) meets a Leprechaun (Cecil Kellaway) and falls in love with a lovely maidservant (Anne Baxter).
Once he's back in the United States, he lands a job a for a newspaper mogul (Lee J. Cobb) and gets tangled up in a relationship with the boss' daughter (Jayne Meadows).
The Leprechaun reappears in Power's life, and serves as his conscience of sorts. Power also meets up with the maidservant again in the most unlikeliest of places - on a New York subway.
Once the film is 3/4 over, Power must decide whether or not to pursue Anne Baxter. Luckily, the Leprechaun is there to help him make the decision.
My Take (some spoilers ahead):
I enjoyed the first 20 minutes or so, when the film takes place in the Irish village and Power meets Kellaway. They have some interesting banter. "Let me go you bosthoon, or I'll parch your bones with fever", says the Leprechaun when Power catches him and demands to see his pot of gold. Kellaway calls him an "omadhaun"; but when he finds out Power isn't interested in harming him or stealing his gold, he is forever grateful, and even offers him a good luck gold piece.
When the setting moves to New York, a "cold and inhospitable city" as its called, the magic seems to disappear. Power encounters the Leprechaun again, who has left his green coat and hat behind and has assumed the name of "Horace". When Power first sees him, he doesn't even recognize him. Even when Horace becomes a servant in Power's apartment, I still didn't understand what Horace's purpose was - was he going to grant a wish to the Power character? Or serve as his conscience?
I was a bit disappointed in this film, and odd romantic-drama fantasy with a touch of comedy. In one odd scene, Horace is caught having stolen the milk of everyone in the building (Leprechauns really like milk apparently). There's a bit of a gloomy tone throughout the film; by the end of the film, Horace gets a bit philosophical with Power, and I was left scratching my head. Laura reviewed this movie on her blog a few years ago and enjoyed it more than I did.
Kellaway is amusing as the Leprechaun, and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor of 1948. His cousin, actor Edmund Gwenn, won an Oscar the year before playing Santa Claus in Miracle on 34th Street (I was reminded of that film while watching this one). But this film is not nearly as good, in my opinion.
Somewhat recommended.
Available on DVD. Special features includes a remembrance by Jayne Meadows. The scenes in Ireland are tinted green (the movie in in black-and-white)
Available on DVD. Special features includes a remembrance by Jayne Meadows. The scenes in Ireland are tinted green (the movie in in black-and-white)
More thoughts on this film:
I'm in agreement with with this review.
Louis reviews Cecil Kellway's performance.
Laura points out the similarities to Brigadoon