The Luck of the Irish (1948)

What It's About
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)

More thoughts on this film:

Classic Filmboy's Movie Paradise

I'm in agreement with with this review.

Best Actor/Best Supporting Actor Oscar blog

Louis reviews Cecil Kellway's performance.

Laura's Miscellaneous Musings

Laura points out the similarities to Brigadoon

Top 10 Most Popular Movie Stars of 1940

1932| 1933| 1934| 1935| 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 |
1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948| 1949 | 1950 |

1951 |1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959|1960 |
1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977-present

The rankings come from Quigley Publishing Co.'s annual list (since 1932) of top money making stars, which based on a poll of hundreds of theater executives. The list does not rank stars only on how much cash their films made, but on what theater owners say about who attracts audiences on their star power alone.




1.

Mickey Rooney

(1940 films: Strike Up the Band, Andy Hardy Meets Debutante, Young Tom Edison)




Mickey Rooney again had a huge year, as did Spence and Clark Gable, who appeared together in "Boom Town", which was the #1 box office hit of the year ("Pinocchio" and "Fantasia" are usually credited as the top 1 and 2, but only after repeated re-releases)

2.

Spencer Tracy

(1940 films: Boom Town, I Take This Woman, Young Tom Edison, Edison The Man)



3.

Clark Gable

(1940 films: Boom Town, Comrade X, Strange Cargo)



4.

Gene Autry

(1940 films: Melody Ranch, Carolina Moon, Rancho Grande, Shooting High, Gaucho Serenade, Ride Tenderfoot Ride.



Also among the top 10 is Gene Autry. He began his weekly radio show in 1940, which contributed to his popularity at the box office. The film "Melody Ranch", considered his signature film, was released in 1940, and co-starred Jimmy Durante and Ann Miller. He was in 5 other films this year and was the #1 western star.


5.

Tyrone Power

(1940 films: The Mark of Zorro, Brigham Young, Johnny Apollo)


6.

James Cagney
(1940 films: Torrid Zone, The Fighting 69th, City for Conquest)




7.

Bing Crosby

(1940 films: The Road to Singapore, If I Had My Way, Rhythm on the River)



Bing Crosby returns to the Top 10; the first "Road" movie was a hit and he and Bob Hope were enjoying success both in films and on radio, where they were superstars.


8.

Wallace Beery

(1940 films: Wyoming, 20 Mule Team, The Man from Dakota)


I was most surprised by the addition of Wallace Beery to the Top 10, a veteran Oscar winning star who was enjoying a resurgence in popularity starting in 1940. That year he was teamed with Marjorie Main in Wyoming, which was a big hit, and was the first of 7 films they both did together.

9.

Bette Davis
(1940 films: All This, And Heaven Too, The Letter)


10.

Judy Garland

(1940 films: Strike Up the Band, Little Nellie Kelly, Andy Hardy Meets Debutante, The Wizard of Oz-released Aug. 1939)



Judy makes the top 10, and appeared in two films with Mickey. "Little Nellie Kelly" was the only 1940 movie that was truly "hers", and was the first film where she had an "adult" role. (I haven't seen this one yet)

1932| 1933| 1934| 1935| 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 |
1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948| 1949 | 1950 |

1951 |1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959|1960 |
1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977-present

Top 10 Most Popular Movie Stars of 1939

1932| 1933| 1934| 1935| 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 |
1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948| 1949 | 1950 |

1951 |1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959|1960 |
1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977-present

The rankings come from Quigley Publishing Co.'s annual list (since 1932) of top money making stars, which based on a poll of hundreds of theater executives. The list does not rank stars only on how much cash their films made, but on what theater owners say about who attracts audiences on their star power alone.




1.

Mickey Rooney

(1939 films: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Hardys Ride High, Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever, Babes in Arms, Judge Hardy and Son )




2.

Tyrone Power

(1939 films: Jesse James, Day-Time Wife, The Rains Came, Second Fiddle, Rose of Washington Square)



3.

Spencer Tracy

(1939 film: Stanley and Livingstone)




4.

Clark Gable

(1939 films: Gone With the Wind, Idiot's Delight )





5.

Shirley Temple

(1939 films: The Little Princess, Susannah of the Mounties)



6.

Bette Davis
(1939 films: Dark Victory, Juarez, The Old Maid, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, The Sisters - released Oct 1938)




7.

Alice Faye

(1939 films: Rose of Washington Square, Tail Spin, Hollylwood Cavalcade, Barricade)



8.

Errol Flynn

(1939 films: The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Dodge City, The Dawn Patrol - released Dec 1938, The Sisters - released Oct 1938 )



9.

James Cagney
(1939 films: The Oklahoma Kid, The Roaring Twenties, Each Dawn I Die, Angles With Dirty Faces-released Nov. 1938)


10.

Sonja Henie

(1939 films: Second Fiddle, Everything Happens At Night)

1932| 1933| 1934| 1935| 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 |
1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948| 1949 | 1950 |

1951 |1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959|1960 |
1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977-present

This Above All (1942) with Joan Fontaine

To celebrate Ms. Joan Fontaine's 92nd birthday (Oct 22), I wanted to post this special piece about one of her best movies, "This Above All" from 1942, co-starring Tyrone Power.


Joan as Prudence. Oh those eyebrows!

From 1942, right during WW2: Joan plays Prudence Cathaway, a rich woman from a distinguished British family who decides to join the United Kingdom's Women's Auxiliary Air Force. In the service, she meets Clive (Tyrone Power) who is absent without leave from the British Army. They begin to fall in love, but as she gets to know him, learns of his anti-war views and distain for the rich. He decides to leave as she goes back into service. Prudence's story seems to dominate the first hour, as she joins the air force and then meets Tyrone's Clive. And Clive's story dominates much of the first part of the second hour, finding spiritual inspiration with the council of a clergyman (Alexander Knox, from "Wilson"). But they're love won't keep them apart for long. A real tearjearker ending. Co-starring Gladys Cooper and Thomas Mitchell. Won Oscar for Best Art Direction (B/W), beating out "Random Harvest"(!), "Pride of the Yankees"(!!), and "Magnificent Ambersons"(!!!) Joan is beautiful in this movie with or without a uniform. 25 years old at the time, she gives a wonderful, emotion-filled performance, worthy of an Oscar nomination.



From 20th Century Fox Pictures. Directed by Anatole Litvak ("All This And Heaven Too", "The Snake Pit", "Anastasia"). Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and Robert Bassler.



At the dinner table, Prudence tells her family she's enlisted in the WAAF


Prudence and other women about to enter service.

Joan and Tyrone have a roll in the hay.

Joan looking beautiful as Prudence, dressed up during her 6-day leave.


Lovely Joan sings "Leave the Home Fires Burning" in an unforgettable scene.


Our stars in a lavish Oscar-winning set. Clive gets a telegram issuing him to come back.



Prudence pleas with reluctant Clive to fight the good fight for England.


Prudence visits Clive in the hospital as bombs go off outside.
"This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man." - William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Also interesting, read the notes about the movie production from Turner Classic Movies.