The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold

Simple cabin boy Dinty Doyle is sent by his captain to retrieve a pine tree for Christmas on an uncharted island. He discovers that it's populated by leprechauns. He's the first human on Tralee in two centuries. When he digs up the tree, he unleashes a banshee named Old Mag the Hag. She needs the leprechauns' gold before Christmas. After a storm, Dinty follows a rainbow to a cave of gold guarded by Blarney Kilakilarney.

This is another Rankin/Bass stop-motion animated Christmas special. It goes too far trying to connect Christmas with leprechauns. Who knows if this is some kind of Irish folklore but it doesn't connect. The stop-motion still has its charms but the plot is bland. It's more exposition than thrilling adventure. I wonder if somebody pulled leprechauns out of a hat.

I agree with many of the other reviews, if you're looking for something up to the quality of other Rankin bass classics this is not the special for you. However, as a lover of bad media, this short TV special has become something I watch every year. Firstly, it's only 25 minutes so it doesn't overstay its welcome. For one thing, the Christmas aspect of this special is completely tacked on and unnecessary. Secondly, the main character is an absolute idiot and causes every problem in this special and doesn't solve any of them. Third, the villain banshee is a whiny hag, who none of her plans work. I won't spoil the ending but it's also weird and entertaining. If you're looking for a so-bad-it's-good Christmas special... this is the best I've found.

Blarney! Watch out for the harpies and banshees, and hold on to any gold you have. Here is a wonderful holiday story which takes place in the Emerald Isles. Even though the song, "Christmas in Killarney," was performed in this Rankin-Bass holiday special, too bad Bing Crosby wouldn't heard singing it. My favorite song, next to "Christmas in Killarney," would have to be the one about "The Golden Gold of Ireland." So put on your best pair of Killakillarney shoes and enjoy this Irish tale of Yule tide warmth. Don't to forget to watch more great holiday specials from Rankin-Bass. One of wich I also recommend is Pinocchio's Christmas.

This odd little special from Rankin/Bass mixes a little Christmas in with a bunch of Irish shenanigans! Though filmed in the same stop-motion puppet animation style of their classics "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus Is Comin To Town", this feels entirely different in tone from those snow-covered merry escapades. Gold and shamrock green colors burst from the screen in a cute little story on an Emerald Isle involving leprechauns, banshees and gold - the Christmas part really just seems like an afterthought. But it's still got that great R/B style with charming set designs, cute puppet characters and bouncy happy music. So, with the wealth of other holiday options from Rankin/Bass, why not save this one for March when it will bring out the merriment of that season, as the others do for Christmas.

I laughed, I cried. If you are looking for a heartfelt cinematic experience this is the film for you. The plot? Complex. The music? Exhilarating. Dinty? Extremely clever. Its a Christmas classic for a reason. Its subtle portrayal of the nuances of Irish culture are also excellent and not over done in the slightest. No spoilers of course, but let me just that I was completely fooled by the beautiful Colleen and feel utterly betrayed. The only downside to this movie is that the accents barely sounded Irish! Maybe tell your voice actors to step it up a little. I can overlook the bland accents though in light of all the excellent features.