Finian’s Rainbow

Part of the special series FROM THE HEART:

The quick-witted Irish immigrant Finian McLonergan (Fred Astaire) and his spirited daughter Sharon (Petula Clark) arrive in Rainbow Valley, located in the American South, with a stolen pot of leprechaun gold. Finian believes that the land near Fort Knox has the magical ability to multiply gold, so he buries it. In doing so, he sets off a chain of events that will forever change the lives of the valley's residents, who are under threat from the racist and greedy Senator Rawkins.

Originally, Dick Van Dyke (star of our Christmas classics Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) was cast for the role of Finian. However, due to financial issues, the filming was delayed, and Van Dyke was no longer available. Instead, Fred Astaire was persuaded to return to the big screen after an eleven-year hiatus. For his final starring role in a musical, Astaire received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. Incidentally, this film is one of the Coen Brothers' favorites.