SHAMROCK SPITFIRE, THE

(director/writer: Dominic Higgins, Ian Higgins; cinematographers: Dominic Higgins, Ian Higgins; editors: Dominic Higgins, Ian Higgins; cast: Shane O’ Regan (Brendan Finucane), Sophie Eleni (Nurse Grace Clark), Chris Wilson (RAF officer), Bethany Billy (Jean Woolford), Eoin Lynch (Andy Finucane), Emily Outred (Florence Finucane), Reggie McHale (Kaminski), Jamie B. Chambers (Butch Aikman); Runtime: 108; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Nigel Martun Davey, John A. Dawson; A Tubi release; 2024-UK)

“The wartime film is watchable for the right crowd.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

The siblings Dominic Higgins and Ian Higgins (“All That Remains”/”7 Day: The story of Blind David Heeley”) are Brit filmmakers who write and direct this old fashioned true nostalgic WW2 story about the heroic 1940s fighter pilot Brendan Finucane (Shane O’ Regan), AKA ‘Spitfire Paddy.’

The Irishman Brendan Finucane volunteered to fight for England despite Ireland remaining neutral during the war. The pic does a good job explaining Ireland’s neutrality.


Brendan’s the RAF’s youngest ever wing commander. He was promoted when only 21 after all his kills in the Battle of Britain.

It’s a safe and predictable film. Though some lightweight drama is introduced by the reluctance of Finucane’s father (Eoin Lynch) to have his son serve the crown, and by showing the Australians as always bitching.

Brendan does not escape the tragedies of war, as his plane in a 1942 mission over France was hit in an air battle by an enemy plane and went missing over the English Channel.

Its colorful dogfighting scenes show off the filmmakers’ knowledge of digital art.

The wartime film is watchable for the right crowd. 

REVIEWED ON 9/5/2024  GRADE: B-
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