Count me in as the curmudgeon of the reviewers here. The problem is that this terrific cast is let down by a story which doesn't either get fantastic enough to be, well, fantastic, but which is instead just silly. That said, just watching this superb character group in action, led by the wonderful Margret O'Brien, is worth at at least a view or two.
The problem for me was the overlay of some sort of Irish superstitious fairy tale upon what could have been just a fine tale of a young bright girl coming to live with three crusty bachelors. To get her in the house, instead we get some sort of muddled mess about an Irish curse or blessing, a princess-like character running off with her fair prince-like character and all dying while being buried standing up - or something. I don't even think that a spoiler because I didn't get enough of it to really be able to make a spoiler.
Once in the household, O'Brien plays well against the three old crusts despite affecting a silly Irish accent and pitching her voice so high that I had to ask my dog for a fill in of at least some of the dialog.
Seeing this cast in action was a treat. Too bad the story wasn't stronger. They deserve better.
The problem for me was the overlay of some sort of Irish superstitious fairy tale upon what could have been just a fine tale of a young bright girl coming to live with three crusty bachelors. To get her in the house, instead we get some sort of muddled mess about an Irish curse or blessing, a princess-like character running off with her fair prince-like character and all dying while being buried standing up - or something. I don't even think that a spoiler because I didn't get enough of it to really be able to make a spoiler.
Once in the household, O'Brien plays well against the three old crusts despite affecting a silly Irish accent and pitching her voice so high that I had to ask my dog for a fill in of at least some of the dialog.
Seeing this cast in action was a treat. Too bad the story wasn't stronger. They deserve better.