My Wild Irish Rose (1947) User Reviews

There's entertainment beyond all the corniness and black-face.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 8 May 2017]

I couldn't tell you the last film to utilize black-face, but it was at least seven years after this colorful musical biography. You can't hide history, and it should be recalled with nostalgia if never done again outside the historical aspects that it did happen. The great American songbook began long before Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, the Gershwins and Rodgers and Hart. Before there was a legitimate Broadway, there was the minstrel show, and black-face, as shameful as it is today, was a major part of that.

This is the typical pull yourself up from the bottom and rise to the top story of an American songwriter, and frankly, the story of Chauncey Olcott is probably based more upon legend than fact, but in the capable hands of Dennis Morgan, it's done very well. Arlene Dahl, a gorgeous redhead, plays his love interest, with Andrea King as the legendary Lillian Russell, helping Olcott and causing a strain between Morgan and Dahl.

There are so many wonderful little ditties here, many still heard today, proving that good taste never dies even after its wounded a bit. The colorful costumes, energetic dance numbers and endearing corny comedy is the spark that lights this up. Some great comic character actors best known for their TV work to youngsters (George Tobias, "Bewitched") and William Frawley ("I Love Lucy") will give a sense of familiarity. Only one rose is needed here, as it's a rich, fat one, colorful and majestic.

Dennis Morgan's best musical is nostalgic technicolor charmer...

[Doylenf · 25 May 2001]

Dennis Morgan is a perfect choice to play Chauncey Olcott, Irish songwriter in a tune-filled musical biography full of Irish folk songs and dances. All of it is filmed in luscious technicolor with a pleasant cast of supporting players--Andrea King (especially good as Lillian Russell), Alan Hale, Arlene Dahl, George Tobias, Sarah Allgood and you may be surprised to see William Frawley as an Irish singer, William Scanlon, who figures importantly in some musical sequences.

This vastly underrated film is hardly ever shown on TV (except for Turner Classic Movies) and still not available on video. Watch it if you enjoy nostalgic turn-of-the-century musicals about Irish musicians. Some of the material is pretty dated, but you have to accept that in the context of when it was made. Some of the comedy supplied by Ben Blue and George Tobias is a little on the corny side--but the film itself is still a delight for the eye and ear.

Sentimental musical biopic of famed Irish-American tenor proves dated, lightweight and racist

[Turfseer · 3/10 · 2 November 2021]

My Wild Irish Rose is the fictionalized musical biopic of Chauncey Olcott, the Irish-American tenor who was popular around the late 1800s and well after the turn of the century. Olcott was not only a world renowned vocalist but also a composer, having written for example, the title song of this movie. The screenplay was written by his widow Rita and the picture was released in 1947 approximately 15 years after Olcott's death.

Olcott is played by Dennis Morgan who despite his excellent voice and good looks was an unremarkable actor who never achieved stardom like a luminary in musical theater cinema such as Bing Crosby.

Morgan is completely bland as Olcott which probably has a lot to do with the maudlin script. None of the characters here have any depth-we learn virtually nothing about say (for example) their political views or life outside the theater.

The narrative follows Olcott's rise to Broadway stardom. He's helped along the way by the famed singer/actress Lillian Russell (Andrea King)-Russell is depicted as effervescent and optimistic, making it clear to Olcott that theirs is a platonic relationship.

There is a very unfortunate segment in the film which proves just how dated the film is. For part of his career, Olcutt was part of a traveling minstrel show performing with other actors in black face. One cringes as one watches these scenes fraught with racism and how even "progressive" Hollywood was utterly clueless toward racial issues back then.

Aside from the entertaining musical numbers (primarily) consisting of Irish romantic ballads, My Wild Irish Rose focuses on Olcott's courtship and eventual marriage to Rose Donovan (featuring the attractive Arlene Dahl-still alive today as of this writing). The courtship machinations are intended as comedy as the plot focuses on Rose's father John (Alan Hale Sr.) mistaking Olcott for someone else (as Olcott earlier used a stage name) and trying to prevent the famed crooner from ending up with his daughter.

The story wraps up with Olcott featured as the worthy successor to the famed Irish singer William J. Scanlan (William Frawley of I Love Lucy fame) who graciously retires, passing the mantle on to his younger protégé.

My Irish Wild Rose is so lightweight with characters so buffoonish and sentimental that the only reason to watch this is for the music. That's the bottom line.

A fairy tale like quality and totally entertaining film

[Eddy-13 · 10/10 · 23 April 1999]

I enjoyed this film very much. I found it to be very entertaining for me in that I feel that it captured the romanticism of turn of the century Irish-American culture. There's no messages. There's no violence and there's no overt sex, just wholesome 1947 style entertainment and Dennis Morgan had a chance to sing some really good songs. A really good movie.

Skip the first two-thirds of this movie and just watch it for the songs at the end

[richard-1787 · 4/10 · 14 March 2021]

The first two-thirds of this mediocre musical are largely a melodrama about the early days of songwriter Chauncy Olcot. Dennis Morgan, who had charisma and to spare, does his best with the lead, but the script is terrible and he can't save it. (If you want to see him at his best, try *Christmas in Connecticut*) He gets NO help whatsoever from the female lead, Arlene Dahl, who was certainly very beautiful, but who had no charisma whatsoever and couldn't act at all. The supporting roles are taken by Warner Brothers reliables, but they can't save the script either.

There is also a cringe-inducing minstrel show that goes on way too long.

Then, about an hour into all that, Scanlan passes the torch to Olcot and the rest of the movie abandons the plot and presents one Olcot song after the next, all well done and some very nicely staged.

So, again, skip the first two-thirds until Dennis Morgan takes over for William Frawley.

"The Sweetest Flower That Grows"

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 16 August 2011]

Dennis Morgan took his pleasing tenor voice and in My Wild Irish Rose created the image of Irish entertainer Chauncey Olcott for generations to come. I doubt there are too many people who actually saw Chauncey Olcott perform in one of those tearful plays about the Auld Sod and they're not revived too often.

But Olcott as performer and credited songwriter endures, no St. Patrick's Day would be complete without some of Olcott identified songs like When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Mother Machree, and A Little Bit Of Heaven and of course the title song. These are a staple for St. Patrick's celebration in America. Remember these classics are of American origin, they were written for the musical plays Olcott starred in, but have endured so that they've become pure Irish out of love.

Note in the film that Olcott is identified as a performer and that is more correct than to say he wrote these numbers. Back in the day before the founding the American Society for Composers, Authors, and Publishers it was common for songwriters to give copyright credit to a performer to cut him in on royalties for the sale of sheet music which was the venue by which popularity was measured. Al Jolson was the performer who most frequently used that practice.

The film messes somewhat with the facts, but does get the basic story of Olcott's life down with him marrying Arlene Dahl a hometown girl from Buffalo. Olcott did in fact get his first theatrical break as the leading man for Lillian Russell played here by Andrea King. And he did succeed William J. Scanlon as the most popular singer of Irish ballads and Scanlon is played by William Frawley. I'm reasonably sure no one is around who saw Scanlon perform.

Morgan was never in better voice than for this film. The musical numbers are staged well if not in the opulent style of Busby Berkeley. All in all My Wild Irish Rose is an enduring classic, no St. Patrick's Day would be complete without it.

Fine, fine movie, and a "must-see" for any Barbershopper.

[TxMike · 13 August 2001]

"My Wild Irish Rose", attributed to Chauncy Olcott, is one of the most popular, and my favorite, song commonly done by Barbershop quartets. This film is a story of his life, an Irish immigrant in the 1890s with a beautiful tenor voice, determined to make it big on stage. If this film is an accurate account, then he did very well indeed.

Dennis Morgan stars as Olcott, and was 39 when the film was released in 1947, a veteran in the movies. His co-star, Arlene Dahl was 23, in her first film, played his love interest, Rose Donovan, who he supposedly wrote the song for. I don't recall seeing any of her other films, but she sure was beautiful as a 23-year-old.

The movie is just one uplifting 100-minute pleasure to watch. Loaded with songs, and near the end a medley of Irish stage productions, including the title song. Dennis Morgan, with his great smile and great singing voice, is just perfect as Chauncy Olcott. His song to his mother, near the end, after she expressed remorse for not having believed in him, brough tears to my eyes. This is such a fine movie, any rating under "7" should be considered bogus. I give it a strong "8" of 10.

An Irish Celebration!

[Dejael · 10/10 · 17 March 2004]

This excellent musical movie, in beautiful Technicolor, is so wonderful it's enough to make every person of Irish descent feel proud. Full of the joy and celebration of all things Irish, a fine cast, with brilliant settings and superb theatrical trappings, lovely Irish music and the superlative Irish tenor voice of star Dennis Morgan, 'tis the luck o' the Irish to have such a marvelous movie to enjoy over and over again! Not just just for St. Patty's Day, mind you, but for all year round.

One of the jewels produced by Jack L. Warner during his heyday as studio boss in Burbank in the 1940s.

Shame on Warner Brothers for not having this fine picture available on home video and DVD!

The movie just makes you feel good.

[none-85 · 9/10 · 10 May 1999]

One of the better musical bios. Dennis Morgan is great as the singer/composer Chauncey Olcutt. The supporting cast is very good, especially Andrea King as the glamorous Lillian Russell. The turn of the century atmosphere is the perfect setting. The technicolor is excellent. A simple plot, but the movie just makes you feel good. Morgan was always underrated as an actor and a singer.

A delightfully entertaining movie

[cjenkins · 2 June 1999]

The music is wonderful; the cast is a delight; the story is charming (not a word that one hears much today!) - so why is this movie not on home video? Dennis Morgan, to quote Lillian Russell, sings 'beautifully'. This film is a gem and is one of the best musicals made. Ben Blue is hilarious, and Arlene Dahl is stunning as Rose. This movie is a joy to see. If you have never seen it - and I had not until last year - check it out when next it comes on TCM. It is better for you than 99.99999% of the idiocy on TV or at the movies.

A joyful celebration of popular songs and the romance of theater

[aciolino · 9/10 · 10 April 2008]

Yes, I give it a 10 because I compare it not only to others of it's kind but also to the dreck one is bombarded with on a daily basis in what's laughably called today's "popular culture." That aside, the film is beautifully cast, as has been stated elsewhere, and gives us a fairly good look at popular theater of the late 18th and early 20th centuries. No small coincidence is that many of the plays that Olcott played in involved a similar plot: Boy meets girl, someone objects, (usually the father or some authority figure) boy struggles, boy wins girl. The was actually known at the time as a "Chauncey Olcott Act." No coincidence, too, that John Ford directed one. He called it, "The Quiet Man." And, "My Wild Irish Rose," is, in itself, a "Chauncey Olcott act." Great stuff, no? Anyway, great songs, great stuff. Enjoy.

PS - After seeing the film I'd like to know more about Bill Scanlan. I found an obit that said he quit "Mauvorneen," as a result of insanity (replaced, as in the film, by Chauncey Olcott) and died in an asylum several years later. But he had been, apparenlty, a very big star in his own right, who wrote songs and plays and had plays written for him.

Anyone know more?

Misinformation Travels Badly

[joe-pearce-1 · 9/10 · 24 December 2017]

This is a wonderful film and I have loved it since I recorded the soundtrack off TV all the way back in the late 1950s and played it to death for several years. No review of mine is necessary here as just about every one already shown pretty much raves about the film. My sole reason for writing here is to strongly correct an assertion made in one of the more recently-dated reviews, this by John Ryan, who states that Dennis Morgan did not sing in the film, but was dubbed by Dennis Day. That is patently untrue. Mr. Morgan does all his own singing, and his voice could hardly be more different from Dennis Day's if he were Mario Lanza! The mix-up may be due to the fact that Dennis Day did record a three-disc set for RCA Victor with songs from the movie, but his voice is not heard in it at all. For the record, much as I like Dennis Morgan in the film, Dennis Day had three times his voice and much better high notes. Morgan may be listed as a tenor, but he mostly sings in high baritone keys throughout. But his singing is still quite enjoyable. For the record, I have several acoustical recordings of Chauncey Olcott, and whatever his stage attributes may have been, he did not sing even as well as Dennis Morgan, let alone Dennis Day.

My Mild Irish Rose

[GManfred · 24 March 2011]

Maybe since I'm Irish I was expecting too much. I thought that with the list of songs there would be lots of Irish music and singing - you know, a St. Patrick's Day type musical atmosphere. Instead, I got a great deal of fictitious storyline about a turn-of-the-last-century Irishman who made good. Many of the listed songs were background or incidental to the plot. It was only towards the end of the picture that they got around to singing a few of those gorgeous Irish songs I know.

No complaints with the cast, although with affable, uncharismatic Dennis Morgan as the lead it had the feel of a 'B' musical. Arlene Dahl is a nice ball of fluff but a barely passable actress, but the real surprise was William Frawley in what must be one of his best roles. Lots of other recognizable supporters were on hand - Sara Allgood, George Cleveland, George Tobias among others.

It was nicely mounted and the DVD I had was of good quality. I was just disappointed with the amount of dialogue as opposed to time spent on the music.

Delightful! And Fred Mertz sings!

[pronker · 8/10 · 25 August 2017]

What a treat to hear the songs composed so long ago and still familiar today - I particularly enjoyed the sweet story, too. The staging of 1890s Irish tribute plays seemed lush and I guess true to history - the backdrops and dancing really entertained. William Scanlan, portrayed by William Frawley, turned out to be the most unexpected bit of the story and his acting rang true. A comic bit of Scanlan's voice being provided by Morgan, as he drifted about backstage to 'project' through the scenery to the audience really made me LOL. Lots of fun to be had here and it's a fun show, even without Jack Carson! Extra nod to George O'Brien, a RL physical culture buff who portrayed Duke Muldoon, an historical physical culture buff.

Dennis a beautiful singer.

[gkeith_1 · 10/10 · 28 February 2017]

Spoilers. Observations. Opinions.

Dennis is a beautiful singer, but where is Jack?

Dennis sings the lovely ballad to his mother. She is in tears, and so appreciative of his devotion.

Ben Blue is a great dancer. I just thought he was a sidekick comedian. Here, he essays the Irish dances with the best of them.

In real life, Ben Blue was a dance instructor and owned a dance studio. He also owned a nightclub and played the drums. In the nineteen fifties, Ben Blue appeared on television shows.

Yet Another Bit Of The Old Blarney In Celluloid Form

[redryan64 · 8/10 · 22 March 2015]

WE WEREN'T FAMILIAR with the name of Irish-American tenor and song writer extraordinaire, Chancellor 'Chauncy' Olcott until a very short time ago. We had caught a portion of the film last year, but did not view the opening credits, nor did we see much more than the earliest of scenes. We certainly weren't aware that this Dennis Morgan starring vehicle was a biography.

Hollywood HAS ALWAYS liked to do biopics about various prominent figures in show biz history and no one did love it more so than Warner Brothers. Perhaps the head honchos at that studio were attempting to catch lightning in a bottle for a second time in doing his title of MY WILD IRISH ROSE. Being that Chauncy Olcott was a contemporary of George M. Cohan's, they figured that they might have another YANKEE DOODLE DANDY on their hands.

ALTHOUGH THE MOVIE was well received and did get some Oscar nominations, it dell just a little short of any such expectations.

IN ADDITION TO the expected scenes of recreations of theatrical shows of the 1890's, the obligatory montages of train travels to various hamlets and the inclusion of the popular music of the period, the movie does score on some other levels.

LOOKING AT ITS historical references, it does manage to include some real characters of the times. Both Lillian Russell (Andrea King) and William Scanlon (William Frawley) were well know singers of the era. The character of "Duke" Muldoon (George O'Brien) was also right out of the history books; as wrestling champion William Muldoon was an outstanding and accomplished grappler and American Heavyweight Champion.

HE WAS A CONTEMPORARY and friend of "the Boston Strong Boy", Heavyweight Boxing Champion, John L. Sullivan; as well as being a physical culture trainer and exponent, who treated his body as a temple. Muldoon was the President of the New York State Athletic Commission for many years.

IN CLOSING WE must mention that Dennis Morgan did bear a striking resemblance to some photos we've seen of a young Chauncy Olcott. Ironically, even though that Mr. Morgan was a singer, his voice was dubbed by one other; that being Dennis Day, who was both a tenor and of Irish descent.

Chauncey Olcott sings again!

[JohnHowardReid · 9/10 · 16 September 2017]

Copyright 27 December 1947 by Warner Bros Pictures, Inc. A First National picture. New York opening at the Strand: 24 December 1947. U.S. release: 27 December 1947. U.K. release: 27 December 1948 (sic). Australian release: 27 January 1949 (sic). 9,115 feet. 101 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: When William Scanlan's voice fails on tour, Chauncey Olcott agrees to dub his singing from hidden positions on the stage. Eventually, Scanlan's voice cracks to such an extent that he can no longer deliver his lines. One St Patrick's night in Boston, Olcott substitutes for Scanlan on stage. After a near-riot, Olcott is accepted by the crowd after he sings "A Little Bit of Heaven". At this point, Scanlan himself walks on stage to give Olcott his blessing. Olcott continues with the tour, triumphing in such shows as Mavourneen, Sweet Inniscarra and The Carey Fair.

NOTES: Heindorf and Steiner were both nominated for an Academy Award for Scoring of a Musical Picture, losing to Alfred Newman's "Mother Wore Tights".

Although it didn't make the top ten, "My Wild Irish Rose" was a huge box-office success, despite unenthusiastic, even condemnatory reviews.

COMMENT: A feast of green for lovers of old Erin and old-time minstrel shows. Visually, the screen is so flooded with various shades of green, by film's end all other colors have virtually been extinguished.

Aurally, the producer supplies such a fulsome musical program, he scarce has room for his story. Not that I'm complaining. No, sirree! There's more than enough humor left to float a dozen rounds of Irish laughter, enough tears to move all but the flintiest Anglo hearts. Especially moving is the scene in which Scanlan, played by William Frawley — his finest performance ever! — gives young Olcott his watch.

The only area in which film-lovers will feel short-changed lies in the direction of Miss Arlene Dahl. Now I am not a fan of the blandly doll-like Dahl, so it doesn't worry me that her part has been cut to ribbons and that she is outclassed and out-acted almost right off the screen. With fine players like Alan Hale, Andrea King, George O'Brien, Ben Blue and the aforesaid William Frawley on hand, who needs a spiritless Kewpie doll?

OTHER VIEWS: Superlative sound recording really does justice to this account of Irish tenor Chauncey Olcott, superbly enacted by Dennis Morgan who was never in better voice than in this feast of Irish song and dance. Musical number succeeds musical number with each one more lavish than the one before, until finally mind and heart can bear the strain no longer. True the story is pretty facile, but who cares when it serves so admirably as a peg on which such a musical feast is imposed? Beautifully photographed and costumed, lavishly produced, with a wonderful array of character actors including Emmett Vogan (doctor), Grady Sutton ("sick" minstrel), Andrew Tombes (bogus bartender) and Hale, Tobias, Ben Blue, etc. Perhaps to say the script is facile is to dismiss it too easily. It does have some wonderful moments — Morgan's killing the bass drum is a wonderful joke and Allgood's regretting her lost opportunity to say it first is a very nice piece of drama. The director makes sure everything is easy on the eye, the dances, music and above all the songs and sound are marvelous. - JHR writing as George Addison.

Very entertaining musical, but those sensitive to blackface minstrel shows should avoid!

[estherwalker-34710 · 9/10 · 21 April 2021]

That's right, there is quite a lengthy minstrel production, with many faces heavily smeared with blackface grease. But, I for one, see nothing offensive about the production, for African Americans. Please, put away your knee -jerk reaction to blackface, and give it a chance!. This is supposed to be a biopic about notable Irish American actor, singer, and song writer Chauncey Olcott, and he went through his minstrel period. ............... Dennis Morgan(Not to be confused with Irish tenor and actor Dennis Day) was the perfect actor and singer to play Olcott, with his easy going, optimistic, manner, sparkling blue eyes gracing a handsome smiley face, and great singing voice that gave the impression that he was a true classic Irish tenor, although he was actually of Swedish ancestry. Incidentally, Dennis was supposedly the soloist in the lavish "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" production, in the award-winning "The Great Ziegfeld": his first Hollywood singing role. But, inexplicably, he was dubbed!...........This was the first Hollywood feature film role for Dennis's leading lady: Arlene Dahl, who sported a carrot top, in keeping with her characterization as an Irish American debutante. However, again, she was not actually of Irish ancestry, but Norwegian! She would become one of the leading 'red'heads of late '40s and early '50s Hollywood. After quitting acting, she took up writing books and columns on astrology and beauty. With the recent deaths of Doris Day, Marge Champion, Olivia de Havilland, and fellow redhead Rhonda Fleming(with whom she is often confused), at age 96, she is certainly one of the very few, and one of the oldest living Hollywood star of the '40s and early '50s! ................. Little -remembered Andrea King played the famous actress and singer Lillian Russell: Olcott's apparent girlfriend for a while, while she sponsored his introduction to Broadway, as her partner. Arlene, as Rose Donovan, became jealous of what she read in the newspaper about the two, and visited Lillian to stress her claim on Olcott. Lillian told her not to be too concerned, as her boss was moving her to another assignment, and Olcott wouldn't be following her. Like Lillian, Andrea had a great singing voice(assuming that was actually her voice!), although I could find no indication that she was ever billed as a singer. .............Pint-sized Ben Blue was included in the occasional musical, mostly for his supposed comedy value. However, he seldom impressed me with his attempts at physical comedy. However, he's more effective than usual here, serving as Dennis's often clumsy, dim-witted, sidekick, most of the time. Dennis was also capable of generating humor. ........... William Frawley(of later fame on the "I Love Lucy" TV series), played notable Irish American singer William Scanlon, who was now in trouble with his faltering voice and alcoholism. Olcott joined his troupe as his heir apparent. Scanlon was unable to perform a show, so Olcott took his place. Initially, booed, the crowd soon warmed up to Dennis's singing voice, and Scanlon gave him a plug as his replacement upon his imminent retirement............Don McGuire plays the handsome, presumably cultured, Terry O'Rourke: Olcott's rival for the affections of Rose. He seems a stuffed shirt, for lack of further characterization, and is quite jealous of Rose's attention to Olcott. Rose appears to favor Olcott, but her father, played by the charismatic Alan Hale, won't consider a minstrel player a viable suitor. O'Rourke arranges for a squad of toughs to rough up Olcott and warn him to keep away from Rose. But, Olcott, along with his roommates: Ben Blue, and the big, strong, George O'Brien, as 'Duke', eventually prevail and literally kick the thugs into the street! ........... Finally, Rose's father sees Olcott perform on the stage, for an Irish audience, and is impressed. After the show, he and Olcott retire to adjacent steam bath units. Olcott begins talking about what if the father of his current girlfriend won't let them marry. Hale recommends that they elope, not realizing that Olcott's girlfriend is his daughter. Olcott takes his advice, and the 2 soon elope. Hale demands that they have a conventional church wedding and Olcott agrees. Olcott and company put on a final musical show, with Olcott singing "My Wild Irish Rose", which he composed, although I detected nothing 'wild' about the prim and proper Rose, aside from her sudden elopement. ........... Olcott's widow wrote his biography after his death. Published in 1939, it's long been out of print, and the rare copies fetch a handsome premium. This was a historical source for some of the screenplay. Unfortunately, her name wasn't Rose.

A Grand Old Irish Musical

[holidayhill-32968 · 10/10 · 11 March 2024]

This was a wonderful story and the music was like a trip back in time to the grand old Irish music of yesteryear. Dennis Morgan was perfect for the role and his charismatic personality and handsome smiling face made me want the story to never end. It was touching and heart felt and all the supporting actors were wonderful. The sets were beautiful as were the costumes and the story was strong and well paced. I loved all the songs that Dennis sang with his beautiful voice. I knew he was a good actor but I never knew how great a singer he was. He was at the top of his talent. At the end he sang to a sweet little girl who in real life was his daughter. That was very special. It was a grand old Irish musical!

a period musical biography from the era of minstrel and ballad

[Dunham16 · 9/10 · 12 September 2014]

This rare 1947 Warner technicolor musical is a nosegay of nostalgia about the career of Irish tenor Chauncey Olcott who reigned in the olden days of Minstrel Shows and Ballad Songs and learned about life from two women played by Arlene Dahl and Andrea King. George Tobias, Alan Hale and William Frawley are their co-stars whose names remain more familiar today. The plot moves along with rollicking laughter and plenty of conniving by Morgan as Olcott. The songs and acts are somewhat old fashioned, from the Minstrel shows and Ballad song days, but all charming and well done. There are some truths about starting out on one's own, learning from life's mistakes, conniving when luck is running out and other pieces of nostalgia which make the movie fun and light.