History and Review by Michael J. Ruhland
Year Released: 1966
Michael's Movie Grade: B+
History
Despite Disney having got its start in live action filmmaking with a series of adventure films, at this time the studio had not done a real adventure film since Kidnapped (1960). Most of the studios live action movies at this time we’re silly family friendly comedies. With this in mind The Fighting Prince of Donegal is a bit of a return back to the roots of Disney live action filmmaking. This film would also like the early live action Disney films like Treasure Island, The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, The Sword and the Rose and Rob Roy: The Highland Rouge, would be shot entirely in the U.K.
This film would be directed by Michael O’Herlihy, who like many Disney directors of this time period, had worked mostly in TV beforehand. He had directed episodes of such shows as Maverick, 77 Sunset Strip and The Man From Uncle. This was his first Disney movie. He would eventually direct two more films for the studio, The One and Only Genuine Original Family Band (1968) and Smith (1969). He would also direct some episodes of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color and The Wonderful World of Disney. This is the second and last Disney film for its two leads. Peter McEnery had previously been in The Moonspiners (1964) and Susan Hampshire had previously been in The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963). The film's writer, Robert Westerby had previously written the Disney films, Greyfriars Bobby (1963) and The Three Lives of Thomasina, as well as various episodes of the Disney TV series.
This film received mixed reviews from critics and lost money at the box office. Due to this being an expensive film and losing money, the Disney studio would not make another swashbuckler until The Three Musketeers (1993). The film would appear on TV's Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color in 1967, the year after it was released to movie theaters.
Review
An excellent Disney swashbuckler.
I am personally a big fan of the Disney swashbucklers, and this movie has everything I love about them. The action scenes here are simply fantastic. They are fast paced, exciting and a lot of fun. Not only that, but the music accompanying them is perfect and helps build them up perfectly. The look of this film is very lavish and simply lovely to look at. This is especially true of Peter Ellenshaw's matte paintings and the elaborate sets. All of this gives the film a grand scale, that you could have not seen in a Disney comedy of this era. This lavish look will certainly remind Disney fans of many of the best live action movies that came out of the studio in the 1950's. It is great to see that by 1966, the Disney filmmakers where still just as capable of providing a visually beautiful adventure film as they were when they made The Sword and the Rose (1953), The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952) or Treasure Island (1950). This is not to say this movie is all style and no substance though. Much of the dialogue here is very clever and intelligent, often on par with the Warner Brothers swashbucklers of the 1930's and 40's. The story, while simplistic is quite engaging. The characters (while not exactly deep), serve their roles in this film very well. I especially like how our main hero, has his flaws along with being brave and a good leader. He can lose his temper at times, and this makes him feel much more real and relatable to us. The romance (while not given much screen time) is very well done and completely believable.
I will admit that this film could have used a bit more editing, as some scenes feel unnecessary and even repetitive. This movie also tries to keep a lighthearted tone for much of it. Because of this it has a greater emphasis on humor than some of the previous Disney swashbucklers. Unfortunately, this humor often simply doesn't work and can even slow the story down.
All in all, this is an excellent return to swashbucklers for Disney and I wish the studio would have made more after this.
Film Credits
This film received mixed reviews from critics and lost money at the box office. Due to this being an expensive film and losing money, the Disney studio would not make another swashbuckler until The Three Musketeers (1993). The film would appear on TV's Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color in 1967, the year after it was released to movie theaters.
Review
An excellent Disney swashbuckler.
I am personally a big fan of the Disney swashbucklers, and this movie has everything I love about them. The action scenes here are simply fantastic. They are fast paced, exciting and a lot of fun. Not only that, but the music accompanying them is perfect and helps build them up perfectly. The look of this film is very lavish and simply lovely to look at. This is especially true of Peter Ellenshaw's matte paintings and the elaborate sets. All of this gives the film a grand scale, that you could have not seen in a Disney comedy of this era. This lavish look will certainly remind Disney fans of many of the best live action movies that came out of the studio in the 1950's. It is great to see that by 1966, the Disney filmmakers where still just as capable of providing a visually beautiful adventure film as they were when they made The Sword and the Rose (1953), The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952) or Treasure Island (1950). This is not to say this movie is all style and no substance though. Much of the dialogue here is very clever and intelligent, often on par with the Warner Brothers swashbucklers of the 1930's and 40's. The story, while simplistic is quite engaging. The characters (while not exactly deep), serve their roles in this film very well. I especially like how our main hero, has his flaws along with being brave and a good leader. He can lose his temper at times, and this makes him feel much more real and relatable to us. The romance (while not given much screen time) is very well done and completely believable.
I will admit that this film could have used a bit more editing, as some scenes feel unnecessary and even repetitive. This movie also tries to keep a lighthearted tone for much of it. Because of this it has a greater emphasis on humor than some of the previous Disney swashbucklers. Unfortunately, this humor often simply doesn't work and can even slow the story down.
All in all, this is an excellent return to swashbucklers for Disney and I wish the studio would have made more after this.
Film Credits
Director: Michael O'Herlihy.
Screenplay: Robert Westerby.
Based on a book by Robert T. Reilley.
Cast: Peter McEnery (Hugh O'Donnell), Susan Hampshire (Kathleen McSweeney), Tom Adams (Henry O'Neill), Gordon Jackson (Captain Leeds), Norman Wooland (Sir John Perrott), Richard Leech (Phelim O'Toole), Peter Jeffrey (Sergeant), Marie Kean (The Mother), Bill Owen (Officer Powell), Peggy Marshall (Princess Ineen), Maurice Roëves (Martin), Donal McCann (Sean O'Toole), Fidelma Murphy (Moire).
Producers: Walt Disney, Ron Miller, Bill Anderson.
Music: George Bruns, Eric Rogers, Walter Sheets.
Cinematographer: Arthur Ibbetson.
Camera Operator: Freddie Cooper.
Editor: Peter Boita.
Art Directors: Maurice Carter.
Set Decorator: David Ffolkes.
Costume Designer: Anthony Mendleson.
Makeup Artist: Harry Frampton.
Hair Stylist: Eileen Warwick.
Assistant Director: David Bracknell.
Sound Artists: Peter Keen, Gordon K. McCallum, Ken Rawkins.
Special Effects Artists: Peter Ellenshaw.
Matte Paintings: Peter Ellenshaw.
Resources Used
The Disney Films by Leonard Maltin
http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/search/label/Fighting%20Prince%20of%20Donegal%20%28The%29
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060408/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt
Matte Paintings: Peter Ellenshaw.
Resources Used
The Disney Films by Leonard Maltin
http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/search/label/Fighting%20Prince%20of%20Donegal%20%28The%29
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060408/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt
