In this intimate and often hilarious documentary, Niall’s daughters begin the task of documenting and archiving the huge collection of movie and theatrical memorabilia which Niall has collected over his long career. As they look back over these memories, the documentary will celebrate Niall’s life and career through a series of talking heads from fans and colleagues and a huge amount of wonderful archive. What emerges is a poignant and funny story of a man who has managed to excel in every field of Irish entertainment – uniquely successful on radio, stage, TV, film and stand up comedy – as well as an insight into what made him so popular and a look at his legacy as we speak with those comics who have been inspired by him.
With exclusive access to rare family archive and countless excerpts from his TV shows, movies and stand up performances, this documentary is a rare insight into one of Ireland’s greatest comical minds. Featuring interviews with all of Niall’s children as well as a who’s who of the Irish acting world who line up to pay tribute.
Interviewees include Pierce Brosnan (who made his screen debut alongside Niall in ‘Murphy’s Stroke’), Gabriel Byrne (who started off in ‘Bracken’ with Niall), Stephen Rea (apppeared on stage with Niall), Holt McCallany (star of ‘Mindhunter’ and long time friend of Niall) and Jim Sheridan (appeared in the Borstal Boy with Niall). Others include co-stars Fionnula Flanagan, Mary McEvoy, Des Keogh, Eamon Morrissey, Victoria Smurfitt and Don Wycherley, fans Deirdre O’Kane and Jon Kenny, and his friend Colm Wilkinson.
It is an amazing celebration of his career. A career that began in Cork, where he was born in 1929, and performed as a child in the cathedral choir and the Opera House. In his teens, Niall joined a drama society attached to the Gaelic League, which is where he caught the acting bug. Reared in an Irish-speaking household, all of his early roles were in Irish. In fact, he didn’t learn to speak English until he started school.
In 1953, Niall joined the Radio Eireann Repertory Company and quit his day job at the Civil Service. After 14 years in the Rep playing every part imaginable, he established a distinguished tenure at the Abbey Theatre and went on to become one of the most recognizable and celebrated actors on Irish stage and screen. His list of achievements is staggering. He acted in GODOT alongside Peter O’Toole; he drank pints with Ronald Reagan in the Flowing Tide when he visited the Abbey in the 1950’s. He worked regularly with Richard Burton and developed a lifelong friendship. He has starred in 9 different productions of the BORSTAL BOY and won the Drama Desk Award for his outstanding performance in the role of Behan on Broadway.
Niall also won a Best Actor award for his portrayal of the formidable parish priest, Father Frank MacAnally in the hit series BALLYKISSANGEL. Years before that, he was cast as a gentler version of a cleric in the television classic mini-series BRIDESHEAD REVISITED with Jeremy Irons and Laurence Olivier. His many other credits include THE IRISH RM, CAUGHT IN A FREE STATE, FAR & AWAY and THE NEPHEW.
Alongside all of these comedic and dramatic performances, Niall began touring his one man show in the 1970’s and became a leading stand up comic. Unique in the world of actors, he was a pioneer in the way he made the transition to comedy and was among a small group of performers bringing comedy to the stage. He performed his characters and told his stories in venues the length and breadth of Ireland and is as fondly remembered for his comedy and mastery of accents as his film roles. He inspired many comics who continue to be influenced by him today and who fondly remember his routines.
This documentary is a celebration of Tóibín’s brilliant career and a look at his lasting legacy. We lost this comic genuis just as he was about to turn 90, but what better way to pay tribute to a legend of Irish entertainment than to celebrate him in style. This is a unique and powerful portrait of an extraordinary man fitting of the title national treasure.