Three crusty old bachelors (Lionel Barrymore, Edward Arnold, Lewis Stone) are among the most successful men in town but have no loved ones. One day they are approached by the granddaughter (Margaret O'Brien) of the woman who rejected them in their youth. The little Irish girl, now an orphan, tells them her grandmother's last wish was for her to come live with them. The three old cranks reject her but then realize that her name is on the deed to some property they want. So they reluctantly take her and her manservant (Thomas Mitchell) in. But they find she won't give up the property easily because she believes a tree on the property is home to fairies and leprechauns.
When I first saw this movie listed on TCM's lineup I was hesitant to get too excited. Despite having a phenomenal cast, it's not a well-known film and it appears to have mixed reviews from critics, professional and otherwise. This made me concerned that it would be a disappointment. Well it wasn't! This is a charming, fantastical little film with lots of humor and heart. The cast is perfect. Margaret O'Brien brings all of the adorable tools in her little bag out here. She hits all her comedy notes right without overplaying it and is her usual melodramatic self with the weepy stuff. She could be an over-actor, no doubt, but so was Bette Davis and everybody loves her for it. She has wonderful chemistry with all of the older actors, especially the terrific Thomas Mitchell. For their parts, the three lead actors are all great. It might amuse some fans of their respective MGM series that Barrymore plays a cantankerous doctor (as he did in the Kildare movies) and Stone plays a judge (as he did in the Hardy series). In addition, there is wonderful support from Harry Davenport (wearing Yoda ears),Jane Darwell, Charles Dingle, Ray Collins, and Henry O'Neill. Also Cyd Charisse appears briefly near the beginning.
Other reviewers have complained that the movie should not have included the fantasy elements. They say that the simple story of the little girl melting the hearts of the old men would have been good enough. I can see where it would still be a fine film without the leprechauns but I fail to see how the addition of these things hurts the film. To me, it adds an extra bit of charm. Unless you're an old fusspot who likes everything grounded in reality as much as depressingly possible, then I don't really get the beef. You're either going to welcome a movie like this with open arms on its terms or your not. If not, you'll probably be put off by just about everything in this because it's very sentimental and delightfully corny.
Three Wise Fools
1946
Action / Comedy / Drama / Fantasy
Three Wise Fools
1946
Action / Comedy / Drama / Fantasy
Keywords: orphanpre-codelittle people
Plot summary
1910. Long having lived together, elderly Dr. Richard Gaunght, Judge James Trumbell, and Theodore Findley have had successful professional lives in their chosen fields of medicine, law, and banking, respectively, they believing deep in their hearts that success, in part, due to the blessing bestowed upon them forty years ago by Irishman Michael O'Monahan, known better solely as The O'Monahan. What they are unaware of however but which The O'Monahan was up front about is that it was actually a curse which he bestowed upon them in they disparaging his good name in the love of all three men's lives, Rena Fairchild, choosing The O'Monahan and running off to Ireland with him instead of marrying any of the three of them. The curse was that success would be at the price of unhappy personal lives, which has been the case whether they realize it or not in none of the three ever having found love after Rena, and most people merely tolerating them because of their professional stature. Their past comes knocking on their door in the form of seven year old Sheila O'Monahan, The O'Monahan and Rena's granddaughter, along with her manservant Terence Aloysius O'Davern, who has worked in such capacity for various O'Monahans for fifty years. With no biological relations left in the world, Sheila has been bequeathed upon them for them to act as her caregivers in the form of godfathers, with O'Davern further to ensure that her Irish interests are best served. Initially wanting nothing to do with Sheila let alone take care of her, the three change their mind when they discover that she has something that could get them out of a bind, namely the deed to the Fairchild property. With no interest in money, Sheila will not give up the property, her want to retain it not for outward family heritage, but for inward family heritage in her belief that, like all good Irish, there live fairies, pixies and leprechauns on the property, specifically in the majestic oak tree, despite she never having seen such herself, they who cannot survive without that tree. As the three try to get the deed away from Sheila using whatever above board and underhanded means available with O'Davern looking out for her at every turn, they have to decide on their priorities in receiving the unconditional love of another human being for the first time since Rena in the form of Sheila.
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"God sit on your pillow."
Fantastic fantasy
Maggie O'Brien was one of my favorites when I was a kid. Her delicate pixie looks and intensity, plus her flexible ability to mimic dialects at an early age made her a choice favorite in kid roles in the 40s. Born in 1937, the same year as Dyan Cannon, Natalie Woods and Jane Fonda, she never made it beyond a few potboilers in her late teens and a few TV spots. In this film as an immigrant Irish orphan who is able to see fairy folk attached to an old tree, she plays well off of the original grouch, Lionel Barrymore, perennial villain, Edward Arnold and veteran character actor, Thomas Mitchell. Add to that Henry Davenport and the host of MGM vets and you have a great kid feel-good classic on your hands.
I remember seeing this film at that time when WW2 was over and we all were full of hope about the future. I was born the same year as Maggie and those previously maintained women and she has always connected me with those times during my youth when fantasy was as important as the future.
MGM Classic
This deserves a ten on the IMDB scale. It's a superb film about hope, love, and blarney. This is Margaret O'Brien's finest film effort, and she is backed by skilled MGM veterans. Why on earth this isn't available, is beyond me. Watch for showings on TCM and get out your video recorder.