Three Wise Fools

A wonderful, entertaining film with an all-star cast. Every scene seems to introduce another classic movie star. While the story centers around Margaret O'Brien, Lionel Barrymore, Lewis Stone, Edward Arnold and Thomas Mitchell, other familiar faces include Harry Davenport, Jane Darwell, Ray Collins, Cyd Charisse, Warner Anderson, Barbara Billingsley, Billy Barty and Jerry Maren. Humorous and fun, Margaret works her endearing charm on the three crusty old birds who have become the new men in her life.

I agree that films such as this deserve to be made available for DVD purchase, most likely in a best of Margaret O'Brien set. Unfortunately for us classic film buffs, the sales numbers would pale in comparison to those for the latest CGI fantasy-action product that can be cross-marketed to toys, video games, theme parks, TV series' and numerous movie sequels. Thus the expectation for a DVD release by the corporation owning the film rights is minimal. They are only interested in profit margins. Long live TCM. And may there some day be a TCM II!

Three Wise Fools

Deforestation is beneficial to the Fay because it means barista jobs aplenty.

And while the fairy-tree in this fantasy isn't becoming a Starbucks, it's about to be uprooted.

Determined to leave a legacy that'll allude to their generosity, three misers (Lionel Barrymore, Edward Arnold, Lewis Stone) donate land to the university.

But their vanity project is put on hold when they learn the property actually belongs to an Irish orphan (Margaret O'Brien) whose grandmother all three had courted.

But the waif is unwilling to sell on account a tree on the parcel is refuge to the wee-folk.

Despite its unfortunate casting of little people as the forest imps, this 1946 adaptation of the stage-play does capture the enchantment of Irish folklore, and the transformative effects it has on the disillusioned.

However, if we saved every tree based on fairy tales all we'd have to show for it would be stupid oxygen.

Green Light

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This is one of the best fantasy/comedies I can recall. I would love to see it released on VHS or DVD so that I can add it to my collection. Margaret O'Brien's acting and her interaction with the "wee folk" has never been equalled. The entire cast is great and this movie should not be forgotten.

A classic movie. Margaret O'Brien is wonderful as Sheila O'Monahan. Along with Lionel Barrymore, Lewis Stone, Thomas Mitchell and Edward Arnold, all great actors this movie is a winner. Hopefully one day this classic movie will be forever in everyone's home on VHS or DVD.

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.