This film about youngest sons of well-to-do Irishmen, by-passed in the inheritance
stakes, and forced to abduct young heiresses to charm them into marriage was
universally condemned by the critics so it is pleasing to report that the score
has its charms.
The opening title track, as might be expected, embraces much of the thematic
material of the score. Slightly menacing figures and sharp percussive bangs
quickly give way to a string melody redolent of Irish folk song. Then the tempo
quickens to a swaggering march followed by baroque- piano concerto-style music
reminiscent of John Field (Dublin born composer 1782-1837) and Mozart. These
are the basic building blocks of an agreeable score that also embraces a pastiche
of Irish hunting music for the chase sequences; and, in cues such as 'Strang's
Leap' (with Irish bagpipes prominent), 'Flight to Arklow' and 'Eve of Departure',
material that at times sounds like a pastoral Tubular Bells. Characterful, humorous
music underlines 'Repulse of Marriage Proposals': the ladies clearly petulant
and indignant 'Love Declared' has a gentle dreamy glow, 'Death Sentence' has
some novel touches with imaginative use of tubular bells and cello before more
hackneyed 'march to the scaffold' music. It's all resolved in joyful celebration
with the final 'Farewell to Glasscrossan'. An amiable score with some novelty
but with overuse of some of the more strongly rhythmic action material.
Ian Lace