FILM REVIEWS

A popular, whimsical fantasy-comedy, “The Luck of the Irish” stars Tyrone Power as an American journalist, Stephen Fitzgerald, visiting the home of his ancestors in Ireland.

One day, Stephen encounters a jolly old man, Horace Lee (Cecil Kellaway giving an Oscar-caliber turn) who claims to be a leprechaun, and is able to prove it to the journalist. The leprechaun trails Stephen to New York, oversees his romance with Nora (Anne Baxter), and watches in dismay as Stephen becomes manipulated by his publisher.

In the end, the journalist comes to his senses thanks to the leprechaun’s intervention and goes to work for a more liberal publication.

Stephen heads back to Ireland with new wife Nora, and the beneficent leprechaun.

This was the second teaming of Power and Baxter, who first appeared in “The Razor’s Edge,” for which Baxter received her first and only (Supporting) Oscar.

Directed by Henry Koster in a style that fits its flimsy nature, “Luck of the Irish” was based on a novel by Guy Jones and Constance Jones

Oscar Nominations: 1

Supporting Actor:  Cecil Kellaway

Oscar Awards: None

Oscar Context:

The winner of the Supporting Actor Oscar was Walter Huston for “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.”

Credits

Running time: 99 Minutes.

Directed by Henry Koster.

Released: September 15, 1948.

DVD: July 29, 2008

Cast

Tyrone Power as Stephen Fitzgerald

Anne Baxter as Nora

Cecil Kellaway as Horace Lee

Lee J Cobb as D.C. Augur

James Toddas Bill Clark

Jayne Meadows as Frances Augur