Broth of a Boy (1959) User Reviews

Oldest Man in the World

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 9 February 2012]

Barry Fitzgerald's screen career came to an end with the release of Broth Of A Boy, an independent film done by the Abbey Theater players. Fitzgerald's career came full circle with that one as he was a member of that honored theater group way before he did any film.

And the 77 year old Fitzgerald played a centenarian and then some as the oldest man in the world who BBC producer Tony Wright discovers while on holiday in Ireland. What a great story he's stumbled into and he wants a big television special.

But Fitzgerald is one crabby old cuss and he's got his own reasons for not making a big deal about the birthday. And he also assaults the owner of a trout stream where he and his somewhat mentally challenged son have been poaching for years. Will the big television special come off.

For that you have to watch Broth Of A Boy and while its not a great film it's a whimsical comedy that relies on the considerable scene stealing talents of Barry Fitzgerald and his colleagues from the Abbey Theater.

Irish stereotypes

[malcolmgsw · 5/10 · 15 February 2019]

It is ironic that a film produced in Irish studios by an eminent Irish producer should wallow in Irish stereotypes dispensing an over abundance of whimsy.Poor Barry Fitzgerald in his last film looks rather out of things.Tony Wright is a bump Titus English tv producer who finds happiness and a television programme. It is just bearable

Harmless, yet unconvincing light comedy...

[dwpollar · 4/10 · 23 August 2002]

1st watched 8/23/2002 - 4 out of 10(Dir-George Pollock): Harmless, yet unconvincing light comedy with the elderly Barry Fitzgerald playing the supposed oldest man in the world with a son that even seems older than him, but plays the part like a child. The story starts with a television rep that just happens to be hanging out around this small Irish town and stumbles upon a planning meeting for a birthday party for the old fart. He gets the brilliant idea to stage it for television despite the fact that most of the people in the town don't even like the guy. This movie seems to be okay being a simple movie, where the hollywood-type things happen( girl, Fitzgerald's granddaughter, dislikes boy, the television rep, then miraculously likes him later and everything is all peachy kin in the end, of course,) despite the oldest man being so unlikeable from the beginning to end. And besides it's not very funny for a comedy.

He's had 110 birthdays. The thrill is gone.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 26 November 2023]

I remember the character played by Meg Wyllie on "Designing Women" indicating that 80 birthdays weren't thrilling to her anymore, and could imagine someone 30 years older than that feeling the same way. No birthday celebration will be going Barry Fitzgerald's way, and the delightfully crotchety old man wants no celebration, especially when a TV producer shows up and wants to film his celebration.

With Fitzgerald in his penultimate film joined by the Abbey Theatre players, this was definitely an arthouse film that would appeal to a specialized audience so it's a very rare film, even if it stars the only actor in history to be nominated for leading and supporting Oscars for the same film. 40 years younger than his character, Fitzgerald is obviously older, but makes no effort to play someone his character's age, an issue with the script. Or perhaps he's just too mean for death to want to visit.

While I'd buy a 90 year old man romping around like he does, no way for 110. This doesn't seem very cinematic, making it clear that this probably would have worked better as a TV anthology special as it's rather studio bound and unlike the leading character pretty lifeless. June Thornton as his granddaughter and Tony Wright are pushed into a ridiculous romantic subplot that slows this down painfully.

Charming and delightful!

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 8 October 2017]

Director GEORGE POLLOCK. Screenplay: Patrick Kirwan, Blanaid Irvine. Based on the stage play "The Big Birthday" by Hugh Leonard. Photography: Walter J. Harvey. Camera operator Eric Besche. Film editor: Henry Richardson. Art director: Allan Harris. Assistant director: John "Pinky" Green. Music composed and conducted by Stanley Black. Production supervisor: Robert C. Liles. Sound recording: L. B. Bulkley. Producer: Alec C. Snowden. An Emmet Dalton Production, filmed at Ardmore Studios, Eire.

Released in the U.K. by British Lion/Britannia on 22 February 1959, in Australia by British Empire Films on 24 October 1959, in the U.S.A. by Union Films on 27 December 1959. New York opening at the 55th Street Playhouse: 26 December 1959. Registered: February 1959. "U" certificate. 6,941 feet. 77 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: Into the quiet Irish village of Ballymorrissey roars good- looking Tony Randall (Tony Wright), in his small car. Puzzled by the deserted appearance of the place, he learns from Tim (Dermot Kelly), the local waiter, that the villagers are all in the parish hall preparing for the big birthday of Patrick Farrell (Barry Fitzgerald), whom Tim describes as "an old devil of a man who's been up to no good all his life".

COMMENT: Despite Pollock's routine direction and the fact that the comedy material is stretched a little thin in the second half, this is a charming and delightful little Irish rural comedy.

Barry Fitzgerald is in fine fettle, Miss Thorburn is an attractive heroine, and the support cast, drawn from the famous Abbey Players, gives some rich and engaging impersonations of various rustic "types".

The photography is sharp, the scenery pleasant, and credits smooth.