Directed by Henry Koster and released by 20th Century Fox, The Luck of the Irish is a whimsical blend of fantasy, romance, and moral introspection. Adapted from the novel For Fear of Little Men by Guy and Constance Jones, the film follows a worldly American reporter whose encounter with a leprechaun in Ireland challenges his values and ambitions.
Plot Summary
Stephen Fitzgerald (Tyrone Power), a successful New York journalist, travels to Ireland and meets Horace, a mysterious old man who turns out to be a leprechaun (Cecil Kellaway). After a series of mystical encounters—including a vision at a waterfall and a chance meeting with the spirited innkeeper Nora (Anne Baxter)—Stephen returns to New York, only to find Horace has followed him.
As Stephen prepares to accept a lucrative job with a powerful publisher, Horace subtly intervenes, acting as both conscience and saboteur. Nora reappears in New York, and Stephen must choose between material success and a more authentic life rooted in love and heritage.
Cast Highlights
- Tyrone Power as Stephen Fitzgerald
- Anne Baxter as Nora
- Cecil Kellaway as Horace (the leprechaun)
- Lee J. Cobb as D.C. Augur
- Jayne Meadows, J.M. Kerrigan, and Phil Brown in supporting roles
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The Irish sequences were tinted green in the original release to emphasize their magical tone
- The source novel was purchased for $50,000 in July 1947, a substantial sum for the time
- Director Henry Koster originally designed a more atmospheric introduction for the leprechaun, but it was cut by producer Darryl F. Zanuck
- Peggy Cummins was initially considered for the role of Nora, and Barry Fitzgerald was a contender to play Horace
- The name Sean O’Fearna, mentioned in the film, is actually the real Gaelic name of director John Ford, used as an inside joke
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