My Wild Irish Rose

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.

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.

"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.

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 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.