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Summary

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.

Cast

Peter McEnery

Hugh O'Donnell

Susan Hampshire

Kathleen McSweeney

Gordon Jackson

Captain Leeds

Norman Wooland

Sir John Perrott

Richard Leech

Phelim O'Toole

Tom Adams

Henry O'Neill

Peter Jeffrey

Sergeant

Marie Kean

The Mother

Bill Owen

Officer Powell

Peggy Marshall

Princess Ineen

Maurice Roëves

Martin

Donal McCann

Sean O'Toole

Fidelma Murphy

Moire

John Forbes-Robertson

Patrick Holt

Robert Cawdron

Maire O'Neill

Moire's Sister

Maire Ni Ghrainne

Moire's Sister

Roger Croucher

Keith McConnell

Inigo Jackson

Peter Cranwell

Andrew Keir

Lord McSweeney

Peter Brooks

Sergeant at Arms

Crew

Director

Michael O'Herlihy

Screenplay

Robert Westerby

Reviews

r96sk

July 27, 2020

6

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*.