"The Luck of the Irish" is a comedy fantasy with romance at the end. The film is based on a novel of the same year by Guy Jones, entitled, "There Was a Little Man." Cecil Kellaway's leprechaun, Horace, is the best part of the film, and he was nominated for an Oscar for his performance. The film has a considerable cast for such a lightweight subject and screenplay. I probably enjoyed this film more the first time I would have seen it on late night TV runs, when I was much younger. But, the plot seems awfully light to one who is older. It's a morality tale as well, but that does nothing for the comedy.
There's nothing exceptional about the film, and the comedy in the screenplay is mostly Kellaway's Horace hopping around in a couple of scenes, and a few humorous lines. Most audiences today might quickly become bored. Older viewers might find it okay and not mind nodding off.
Here are the better lines in this film.
Stephen Fitzgerald, "Let me see that map. Well, the road isn't even marked." Bill Clark, "That's the Irish of it."
Fitzgerald, "I'll scout up the road a bit. Must lead somewhere." Clark, "Don't be too sure. Irish paths are whimsical - like the Irish character."
Horace, "I never stole anything in my life except what was rightly mine."
Fitzgerald, "I was never one to argue with miracles."
Fitzgerald, to D. C. Augur, "My agreement with you calls for perjury, but not under my own byline."
Senator Ransom, "How much do you want for Mr. Fitzgerald, D. C.?" D. C. Augur, "He's not for sale." Ransom, "Really? I understood he was."
Frances Augur, "Of course, you'd use the power for good, Fitz, but the important thing is to have it."
Horace, "I offered you gold. 'Tis not my fault you preferred a pebble."
There's nothing exceptional about the film, and the comedy in the screenplay is mostly Kellaway's Horace hopping around in a couple of scenes, and a few humorous lines. Most audiences today might quickly become bored. Older viewers might find it okay and not mind nodding off.
Here are the better lines in this film.
Stephen Fitzgerald, "Let me see that map. Well, the road isn't even marked." Bill Clark, "That's the Irish of it."
Fitzgerald, "I'll scout up the road a bit. Must lead somewhere." Clark, "Don't be too sure. Irish paths are whimsical - like the Irish character."
Horace, "I never stole anything in my life except what was rightly mine."
Fitzgerald, "I was never one to argue with miracles."
Fitzgerald, to D. C. Augur, "My agreement with you calls for perjury, but not under my own byline."
Senator Ransom, "How much do you want for Mr. Fitzgerald, D. C.?" D. C. Augur, "He's not for sale." Ransom, "Really? I understood he was."
Frances Augur, "Of course, you'd use the power for good, Fitz, but the important thing is to have it."
Horace, "I offered you gold. 'Tis not my fault you preferred a pebble."