The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold

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.

A young Irish sailor sees a fir tree growing on an island and goes ashore to retrieve it and use it as a Christmas tree. When he digs it up, he frees a banshee that was trapped under it. He meets some leprechauns who explain to him that banshees need to get gold before Christmas or they die. The leprechauns give him the gold to hide, but like a complete moron, he's tricked by the banshee into giving her the gold. The later, less well-known Rankin/Bass specials tend to be obscure for good reason. This one features a bunch of leprechauns hording piles of gold for themselves for no good reason. They need to keep it from a banshee who needs it to survive because ... because banshee? Factor in the fact that the hero is a complete moron, and it's hard to get on board with this uncomfortably weird blend of Irish folklore and Christmas.

One of the more unsung Rankin/Bass stop-motion features, the story revolves around an Irish sailor who meets a leprechaun named Blarney Kilakilarney one Christmas Eve. After unwittingly setting a banshee free, the sailor learns that the monster's object is Blarney's Christmas gold. Together they thwart the wicked banshee and save the gold for the leprechauns, not to mention Blarney's marriage.

Those who love Irish folklore and charm will enjoy this enchanting film. Though not as bright and cheery as its cousins, (it gets a litle dark, as most Irish tales do) it has the typical happy ending. And the highlight of the special is the performance of my personal favorite Christmas song, "Christmas in Kilarney."

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.

Review Date 7/11/2019

I have Reviewed OVER 500 "Christmas Films Christmas Television show episodes and Television Specials". Please BEWARE Of films and specials with just one review! For instance When "It's a POSITIVE" chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. "If its Negative" then they may have a grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare about these films. I am on a mission to watch every Christmas Movie ever made. Since 2014 I average 100 a year.

I never heard of this until it was included in a dvd set I bought that had "Year Without a Santa Claus" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".

In this film a sailor in search of a Christmas tree, lands on a mysterious, uncharted Irish island where he accidentally releases a bad-tempered banshee from her pinetree prison. Leprechaun Blarney Kilakilarney knows that in order to survive, the banshee will try to swipe his clan's pot of Christmas gold. With some magical assistance from Lord Patrick, the king of the wee folk, the sailor and Blarney make a plan to outwit the gold-hungry hag before Christmas morning dawns.

More plot than needed. This cartoon to me was most likely going to be an hour but for some reason the producers went to a 30 minute version. The story is okay but in reality there is not a since of awe and wonder that you come to expect from Rankin/Bass.