Movie Cosmos - The Fighting Prince of Donegal

Description:

Ireland 1587. Hugh O'Donnell inherits the title of The O'Donnell, the prince of Donegal, and tries to unite Ireland to make war on England. But then Hugh is kidnapped and imprisoned by the Viceroy of Ireland and held ransom for the Clans' good behavior. Hugh must escape prison and the Viceroy's villainous henchman, Captain Leeds, before he can fight.

Top Cast >

Peter McEnery

As Hugh O'Donnell

Susan Hampshire

As Kathleen McSweeney

Gordon Jackson

As Captain Leeds

Norman Wooland

As Sir John Perrott

Richard Leech

As Phelim O'Toole

Tom Adams

As Henry O'Neill

Peter Jeffrey

As Sergeant

Marie Kean

As The Mother

Bill Owen

As Officer Powell

Peggy Marshall

As Princess Ineen

Maurice Roëves

As Martin

Donal McCann

As Sean O'Toole

Fidelma Murphy

As Moire

John Forbes-Robertson

Patrick Holt

Robert Cawdron

Maire O'Neill

As Moire's Sister

Maire Ni Ghrainne

As Moire's Sister

Roger Croucher

Keith McConnell

Inigo Jackson

Peter Cranwell

Andrew Keir

As Lord McSweeney

Peter Brooks

As Sergeant at Arms

Top Crew >

Michael O'Herlihy

Director

Robert Westerby

Screenplay

Reviews:

r96sk (6/10)

Almost good, but 'The Fighting Prince of Donegal' just falls short.

It goes through too many peaks and troughs to be classed as enjoyable, but I do like the vibe of the film and the idea of the premise; which begins slowly, hits a purple patch before frustratingly reverting back immediately; quite literally given how the plot 'progresses'.

The casting, meanwhile, is solid if not perfect. Peter McEnery (Hugh) and Susan Hampshire (Kathleen) both do impressive things in earlier 1960s productions 'The Moon-Spinners' and 'The Three Lives of Thomasina' respectively, but they don't work together here; I sense zero chemistry between them or their characters. Gordon Jackson (Capt. Leeds) is my pick of the rest.

Should've been better. 3*.

2020-07-27