What with it being the 4th of July, practically everything can be viewed through the American lens, including the American-Irish connection. It's just the right time to have a look at how the American's view us, the Irish, the 'Old Country'. Here's a quick list of the cheesiest faux Celtophile flicks that seriously take the micky too far (we are talking to you Swank, P.S. I Love You was 2007. Times have changed you know.)
1. The Quiet Man
The fiery haired woman with the fiery disposition...original Ford. In this '50s film, Irish-American Sean Thornton (John Wayne) returns to claim his old family farm and lord it over the simpleton little people that inhabit the land now that apparently all the tall, genetically strong people have for the most part emigrated.
2. Far and Away
If you can stand to watch it through, you will have a fairly low opinion of Cruise and Kidman for a good while after. It not only butchers the Irish accent, like most of the films in this list, but the complete disregard for historical accuracy is so blatant it's almost impressive in a bolshy way.
3. Darby O Gill and the Little People
Leprechauns, fake Irish dancing and drunk old men...sounds about right. The Disney film made sure generations to come would be brainwashed with the wonderful world of 'beggorah'.
4. Leap Year
Taking stereotypes to the modern era, Amy Adams, Adam Paul Scott and Michael Goode decide to create further laughable myths about Ireland for the sake of an incredible mediocre rom-com. Free for all proposals every Leap year is an Irish tradition, wha? Don't even start on the 'jokes'. Aha, fields of sheep, you got us Amy, you got us.
5. P.S. I Love You
See film above. Also, if you are going to go as far as hiring a Celtic actor, why not just actually hire an Irish one?
