This week’s mystery movie was the 1940 Warner Bros. picture Three Cheers for the Irish, with Priscilla Lane, Thomas Mitchell, Dennis Morgan, Virginia Grey, Irene Hervey, Alan Hale, William Lundigan, Frank Jenks and Henry Armetta.
Screenplay by Richard Macaulay and Jerry Wald.
Dialogue director Hugh Cummings.
Photography by Charles Rosher.
Edited by William Holmes.
Art direction by Esdras Hartley.
Sound by Stanley Jones.
Wardrobe by Milo Anderson.
Makeup by Perc Westmore.
Special advisor Robert Watson.
Music by Adolph Deutsch.
Orchestral arrangements by Ray Heindorf.
Musical director Leo F. Forbstein.
Directed by Lloyd Bacon.
Executive producer Hal B. Wallis.
Associate producer Samuel Bischoff.
Further information on Three Cheers for the Irish is available from the AFI Catalog.
Three Cheers for the Irish is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
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Yes, I avoid “themed” mystery movies and yes, I just did La Cucaracha for the Academy Awards. And yes, St. Patrick’s Day was last Sunday. But I can explain! Three Cheers for the Irish has been on my “want” list for a long time because it’s one of the movies that screened at the Tremont Theatre when Elizabeth Short worked there. It’s a pleasant program filler and, to my surprise, Thomas Mitchell is pretty good in it.
I’m going to guess that Bosley Crowther did not approve of such goings-on. Let’s check with The New York Times….
Well, this is a curio: Bosley Crowther in the Frank S. Nugent era, when he was merely B.R.C., one of the lowly alphabet critics. (March 9, 1940):
Presumably out of deference to the three-leaved Shamrock and to the number of cheers called for in the title, the Warner Brothers, who usually include four daughters in their pictures, include only a charming trio in Three Cheers for the Irish, now resounding uproariously at the Strand. The Irish portion of the blend is just as typical in its way: the brogues are thick enough to cut with a knife and so is the plot, which at times approaches that state where even an uncaptious critic might be inclined to mutter “Too thick!” There is no doubt of its Irishness, though, and on the other score, perhaps one should feel encouraged that the Warners are getting away from the Four Daughters theme, even though, conservatively, one daughter at a time.
For Monday, we have a mysterious lad. He does not approve of such goings-on.
Sadly, our mystery lad remains unidentified, which is curious, because he seems quite familiar. Several of us checked the press book (on Lantern) and I checked the 1947-48 Academy Players Directory for juveniles without success.
For “Tricky Tuesday,” we have a mysterious fellow all lathered up!
Update: This is Thomas Mitchell.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have two enigmatic fellows.
Update: This is Alan Hale, left, and Frank Jenks.
Brain Trust roll call: Sylvia E. (Tuesday’s lathered-up fellow), Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s shaver), Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Sheila (Tuesday’s cleanshaven fellow), Megan and Thom (Tuesday’s mysterious guest) and Roget-L.A. (Tuesday’s soapy chap).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have this mysterious fellow in a newsboy cap!
Update: This is Henry Armetta.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery fellows), Greg (mystery movie and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Megan and Thom (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Lorenzo (Wednesday’s mystery fellow No. 2), Incredibleinman (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Jenny M. (mystery movie and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mysterious guest No. 1), Sheila (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), L.C. (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery cast), Anne Papineau (mystery movie, and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), and Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests). Via email: Sylvia E. (mystery movie and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mysterious guests).
For Friday, we have these mysterious guests.
Update: This is William Lundigan and Irene Hervey.
And this mysterious couple. Also Back of the Head Guy.
Update: This is Priscilla Lane, Dennis Morgan and Thomas Mitchell as Back of the Head Guy.
And this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Thomas Mitchell.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mysterious street vendor), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery street vendor), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mysterious street vendor), Benito (Wednesday’s mysterious fellow No. 1), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mysterious street vendor) and Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mysterious street vendor, and mother of Monday’s obnoxious boy who won’t eat his oatmeal and doesn’t show proper respect for a police officer).
ladailymirror.com 
Donald O’Connor in SING YOU SINNERS.
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An interesting guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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Delmar Watson
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An interesting guess, but, alas, I’m afraid not.
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I’m guessing Bobby Driscoll in THE WINDOW (1949).
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Excellent guess. Alas, Master Driscoll is the wrong age to have been our mysterious lad.
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Victor Moore today.
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Tuesday’s be-lathered guy looks like Thomas Mitchell to me. Will go searching based on that because, why not (until Wednesday of course.)
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Thomas Mitchell
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Thomas Mitchell.
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Percy Helton on Tuesday?
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Thomas Mitchell for Tuesday?
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I think today’s guest is Thomas Mitchell.
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Thomas Mitchell on Tuesday?
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awaiting Wed’s image (and whether I get a “confirm” about Mr Mitchell for Tues) a wild stab at the movie. Is it “Captain Eddie” 1944?
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3CHEERS FOR THE IRISH. I didn’t pick this last night because I couldn’t find a boy in it. Alan Hale and Frank Jenks today.
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Thomas Mitchell, Alan Hale, Sr., and Frank Jenks in 3 Cheers for the Irish.
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Our movie is Three Cheers for the Irish, with Alan Hale and Frank Jenks.
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Alan Hale and Frank Jenks in 3 CHEERS FOR THE IRISH.
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Tuesday’s guess could be long time actor Dick Elliot.
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Wednesday’s on the right side of the photo appears to be Frank Jenks.
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Frank Jenks and Alan Hale today, making this — appropriately — “Three Cheers for the Irish.”
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Thomas Mitchell, Alan Hale and Frank Jenks in Three Cheers for the Irish.
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Thomas Mitchell, Alan Hale and Frank Jenks in THREE CHEERS FOR THE IRISH.
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Alan Hale and Frank Jenks whooping it up for the Irish!
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Alan Hale in “Three Cheers For the Irish”!
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Alan Hale and Frank Jenks, ‘3 Cheers for the Irish’?
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3 Cheers for the Irish (1940) w/Priscilla Lane, Thomas MItchell, Dennis Morgan, Alan Hale, Frank Jenks, Irene Hervey, Virginia Grey, William Lundigan…
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A very clean Thomas Mitchell, and Alan Hale and Frank Jenks in “Three Cheers for the Irish”
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Alan Hale Sr. and Frank Jenks in 3 Cheers for the Irish (1940)
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Good old Henry Armetta.
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Henry Armetta.
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Henry Armetta.
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Alan Hale Sr, aka a Merry Man
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Aha! Henry Armetta.
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Thurs – Henry Armetta
Still trying to find out the name of the “oatmeal kid”. His character is “Oscar”. His mother (or she looks like Grandma to me) is played by Ferike Boros per IMDb. I’ll keep looking.
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William Lundigan and Irene Hervey, Priscilla Lane, Dennis Morgan, and BOTH Mitchell, and Mitchell.
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Friday
Looking forward to the Saturday breakdown.
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