Tommy Steele as Og


Was this the most perfect marriage of an actor and a character in the history of musical cinema? Steele was perfection as the overgrown lepruchaun and easily stole the film.

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Yes, yes, yes! I loved Tommy Steele as Og. It was so believable that he was an overgrown leprechaun. In my eyes he's the only reason to watch the film but that's just me. He just has an amazing presence on the camera that makes me smile, it's delightful to watch again and again.

I loved the songs that he sang especially, "When I'm Not The Girl That I Love" that was really good and we don't make Og out to be a bad guy for loving Susan instead of Sharon.

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"When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love" is one of my favorite sopngs in the film as well.

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I think Tommy Steele as "Og" is very funny and although his "Irish" accent wobbles from time to time it is a lot better than the "Oirish" one attempted by Petula Clarke. I'd put on a par with Dick Van Dyke's "Cockney" accent in "Mary Poppins".

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Did anyone notice that when Og fell into the lake, while talking to McLonergan, for the first split second of the take his hair is wet, then it's day and so is the upper half of his costume?

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Tommy Steele is one of the reasons Rainbow is my fave!! He is sooo adorable that still after 30 years of first seeing the film I love him!! He definitly stole the show from both Astaire and Clark!

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I agree. I saw the film back in 1968, when I was seven. I had a ginormous crush on Tommy Steele. His big, blissed-out grin and song-and-dance talents set me heart a-flutter.

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It's one of those instances where there is nobody else that could've played him as well; I can't imagine anyone else in the role, and he truly made it his own. He was just so cute in the way he acted, sang, and always with that big fantastic smile on his face!

Walk like it's for sale and the rent is due tonight- Miss Jay

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He truly committed to the role and then some! Some may find him annoying, but I think that's the point. He's overbearing but still endearing. And he sings really well.

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I love Tommy as Og...I loved him as John Lawless in "The Happiest Millionaire" too :D.

How many movies has he been in, I wanna see them!

-Amanda

"She will remember your heart when men are fairy tales in storybooks written by rabbits"

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So true, he's the whole reason I watch that movie! Come to think of it, he's also the only reason I'd ever watch Finian's Rainbow again. He's definitely over the top but it fits who he's supposed to be.

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Tommy was great. His role made the film; he even surpassed Astaires' dancing. His distinctive voice and mannerisms made him a leprechaun. His "When I'm Not Near",and "Something Sort of Grandish" are my favorites. I wish he did a few more tunes as well.The film was also too long and several songs could have been cut. The photography was lovely; especially the aerial shots. Tommy and the great score made the film good but the story was too silly; especially the racist parts with Keenan Wynn. At least, it didn't offend Irishmen by showing them drinking, as many films do!

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I found him extremely annoying. Couldn't stand him.

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A rare case of so-called "over-acting" that suits the role/charactor perfectly.



Monday Tuesday Blankety Blanks, Wednesday Thursday Blankety Blanks....forget it

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Hate to be the one to say it, but Coppola himself thought that Steele was totally mis-cast. Listen to his commentary to get more details (am I the only one who thought a Coppola commentary on this film was too intriguing to pass up?). Steele was forced on Coppola.

Did I not love him, Cooch? MY OWN FLESH I DIDN'T LOVE BETTER!!! But he had to say 'Nooooooooo'

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