''The Strangers Came'' (also known as ''You Can't Fool an Irishman'') is a 1949 British second feature ('B')

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Alfred Travers Alfred Travers (born Alfred Karl Ludwig Jungermann; 1906, date of death unknown) was a Turkish-born British screenwriter and film director. Career Travers came to England in the 1930s, and during World War II worked for the British Council an ...

and starring Tommy Duggan, Shirl Conway and

Shamus Locke Shamus may refer to: * ''Shamus'' (video game), a 1982 computer game from Synapse Software * ''Shamus'' (film), a 1973 film starring Burt Reynolds * Shamus Wong, a character from the children's book Tracey McBean * Colloquial term for a private ...

. It was written by Duggan, Alfred Healy and Travers and made by Vandyke Productions.

Plot

A self-important American filmmaker goes to a small Irish village with plans to make a movie about the life of

St Patrick Saint Patrick (; or ; ) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints being Brigid of Kildare and Columba ...

Cast

* Tommy Duggan as Stefan Wurlitz * Shirl Conway as Jane McDonald *

as Tom O'Flaherty * Tony Quinn as hotelier * Reed De Rouen as manager * Eve Eacott as Donna del Monte * Josephine Fitzgerald as widow McDermott * Sheila Martin as Mary Laffey * Geoffrey Goodheart as Joe Bantham

Production

Some of the film was shot on location in Ireland.

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "The theme has possibilities which are not fulfilled due to the script's feeble attempts at wit, and amateurish acting by minor members of the cast. A very poor relation of '' Whisky Galore.''" ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' wrote: "Imported from Eire, ''You Can't Fool An Irishman'' burlesques Hollywood in an amateurish way. The comedy is broad and the situations occasionally reminiscent of

Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American producer, director, actor, and studio head who was known as the "King of Comedy" during his career. Born in Danville, Quebec, he started acting i ...

. Picture offers little for general U. S. release, but may eke out a fair return if carefully marketed in Hibernian neighborhoods."

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Strangers Came 1949 films British comedy films 1949 comedy films Films shot in Ireland Films set in Ireland British black-and-white films 1940s English-language films 1940s British films