Customer Reviews

The Fighting Prince Of Donegal

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

THE STORY: An adventure story with lots of humor thrown in. A fictional story based on a real person, this is the story of Red Hugh, the real Prince of Donegal, Hugh O'Donell. During the 16th century reign of Queen Elizabeth I, England is at war with Spain while also having a civil war with Ireland. Fearing that the Spanish will sneak through Ireland to attack, they station troops in the countryside. The Irish clans are not pleased with the occupation and plan to rally under young Prince Donegal (played very well by Peter McEnery) to fight the resistance. He suggests an offer of treaty first, then war if it is not accepted. A prophecy stated that when "When Hugh succeeds Hugh, Ireland shall be free". When the elder Hugh dies and Red Hugh becomes Prince, many see this as their opportunity. Spies learn of these developments and Donegal is thrown in the dungeon of a castle the English are using. He is captured and escapes not once but twice. He must fight his way back to his own castle to rescue his family and his sweetheart (Susan Hampshire, having been seen in "Three Lives on Thomasina" two years earlier)that are being held hostage by the British. He leads the big battle meant to turn the tables. The film is a bit confusing in the beginning but you quickly find out what the story is about.

BEHIND THE SCENES & TRIVIA: At the time production on this film began Walt Disney had not made a full-length British swashbuckler since "The Sword and the Rose" in 1953. Walt Disney decided to use an Irish-born theatrical director named Michael O'Herlihy, who had never made a movie up to this time. The screenplay was by Disney veteran Robert Westerby, (Three Lives of Thomasina, Zorro episodes, and The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh), and was based on a book "Red Hugh, Prince of Donegal" by Robert T. Reilly. The casting in the film is superb, with terrific supporting actors including Andrew Keir and Gordon Jackson. Great effort was made to be as authentic as possible for this costume period piece. Maurice Carter was the art director and Anthony Mendleson designed the costumes. Artists spent months creating a tapestry that hangs as a prop but is seen only briefly on film. Music by studio composer George Bruns who based the music on a 16th century Irish folksong "O'Donell Aboo". Peter Ellenshaw did his usual terrific job of special photographic effects, his stunning glass matte paintings made it possible to perceive different complete castles in the background of various scenes. The studio originally planned to shoot on location and scouted the real Donegal in Ireland, but the castle was a pile of rubble. They also considered Scotland, but settled on building huge sets at Pinewood studios in England. Their task was formidable with 2 castle interiors and the town of Dublin to build for starters. Specific scenes called for moats, battlements, castle gates, dungeons, long stairways, throne rooms, banquet halls, chambers, peasant cottages and more. The big banquet scene took 200 extras and 3 days to film.
The end result is similar to Disney's "Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue" in style but much better. Released in full screen as it was originally filmed that way. While originally created for television, the final edited version came in a bit long at 112 minutes. So instead it was released to theatres first on October 1, 1966 two months before Walt passed away. One year later it aired on NBC television as a 3 part episode show on Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, beginning October 1, 8, 16, 1967. Released to VHS in 1986, it finally made it to DVD in 2008. To my eyes, it does not appear to have been re-mastered, but still looks good.

this is a wonderful story from disney of the 1970s produced in england.it has plenty of swordfighting and intrigue in the story.

This movie originally came out about 1966--because that's when I saw it--so it's an oldie but goodie. I was just a wee one, but I never forgot the names of Peter McEnery and Susan Hampshire...even though I've never seen them in anything else since. It was fun to a little girl's fancies!

This is an enjoyable movie. There is an innocence to the old films- good morals, manners, dialogue; not the modern style where woman is better than man, where sex is overly important, where anyone kills.
This movie represents Hugh Red O'Donnell who today is unknown to the masses. From 1594-1603 he frustrated England in its attempt to exterminate the Irish.
The costumes are excellent as are the other effects.
One never sees this movie sold in stores.
Red Hugh was very religious and from old writings was never promiscuous and even a girlfriend is never mentioned.
Could it be that the modern mass media who controls television and movies doesn't want the public to know about Hugh Red O'Donnell. He was too nice, too decent, too brave. Why this DVD has not been sold in stores is a puzzle to me. I was happy to obtain this from Amazon because I could not find it elsewhere so Amazon remains the first place I go.
I can watch this movie over and over and that is because the sets, costumes, and acting are good, just like I could watch Song of Bernadette over and over.
This is a good movie to start you off in your quest to learn about Ireland in the 1500s, 1600s.

I can't believe Disney continues its policy of issuing these DVDs for such a short window of opportunity that before you know they are there, they are gone! This was one of my favorite movies as a teenager, and Peter McEnery the very embodiment of an exciting prince, fighting for his people. (I preferred my princes as action figures, not dancing at the ball.) Gordon Jackson is a hissable villain, and the supporting cast is solid. Susan Hampshire is adorable, though having a bit too much fun while the men brawl! This is really a great example of the classic Disney live action period - which I only wish had lasted longer. I wish, too, that we had more films like this today - uncynical, exciting, with romanticized leads still grounded in history. Learning more about the real Hugh O'Donnell lead naturally from falling in love with this one. Someday, I hope to visit his tomb in Rome (of all places for an Irish prince to be burired).

I remembered seeing this movie when I was a child and was glad that Amoazon had it. I love action adventure and was very satisfied for purchasing this movie.

Love the movie. Has been years since I saw it last. Recommend for family to watch together & enjoy as much as I did.

I saw this movie in the 60s as a young girl and was smitten by it. It's fun, it's funny and based on a real historical figure. If you like action and adventure amid a swashbuckling setting of heros and horses in the glens of Ireland, then this movie is for you and your family. Recreation was well-done. I wasn't disappointed a second time.

I am a fan of the excellent Disney movies such as "Kidnapped", "Davy Crockett", "Toby Tyler", "Swiss Family Robinson", and "That Darn Cat-1965"

The Irish vs. the English in the 1500's. This film begins by failing to show a single depredation by the English that would cause you to have any sympathy for the Irish. The film begins with an Irish prince with bad hair-dye saying he is going to attack the English. Lots of bad acting by the supporting cast. The writers of this film make no effort to grab your attention with anything of interst for the first hour. By the time anything that could be interesting happens; you so dislike the boring Irish that you hope the English make short work of them. There is a castle, but the interior sets are poor. Not a likeable character in the group. I remember Disney's "Rob Roy The Highland Rogue", "Light in the Forest", or "Johnny Tremain" being much better than this; though I remember those all being "B" movies.

The film is unbelievable, because you cannot believe that real conversations would be this boring. The director had never made a movie before and it shows. Walt Disney was not involved in this film. He was building Disney-World Florida, running his animation studio and Disneyland California, the Cal Arts School, planning a never to be ski-resort, spending more time with his family on vacation knowing he was dying in the final days of lung-cancer. This movie would have been over-priced at $7. The high price is part of the scam. I have been ripped-off by shill-reviews.