Three Wise Fools

A young American woman whose courtship with the three men sets the story in motion. Her heritage and the land she leaves behind become the focal point of later conflict and the inheritance that drives the plot. She embodies charm and belief, whose choices ripple through decades and shape Sheila’s destiny.

An Irishman who captivates Rena and leads her to Ireland. His blessing on the three men foreshadows the material success they achieve, even as their actions threaten the land and the truth of their intentions. He embodies a pivotal role in initiating the central misunderstandings and eventual reckoning.

A successful lawyer whose ambition helps shape the trio’s public image. He participates in the land-deed controversy and the attempt to alter Sheila’s fate. Trumbell’s skepticism clashes with Sheila’s faith, highlighting tensions between pragmatism and idealism.

A physician whose respectable career masks a deeper sense of loyalty to the land and its history. He bravely defies the plan to cut down the tree by chaining himself to it, at least initially, becoming a key figure in the preservation of the grove. His actions anchor the trio’s eventual path toward repentance.

A banker whose material dreams drive the early scheme to consolidate wealth and influence. He joins the other two men in a venture to secure land, but his opportunism contributes to the moral peril surrounding the inheritance. Findley’s arc tests the cost of wealth without conscience.

The loyal family servant who accompanies Sheila and becomes a bridge between the old world and the modern adults. His presence helps guide Sheila through confusion and fear, aiding in the revelation of the hoax and the eventual reconciliation. He embodies steadfast service and quiet wisdom.

The orphaned granddaughter of Rena who arrives to claim her inheritance. She believes in Irish magic and uses her faith to navigate a world of deception and ambition. Sheila’s openness to wonder ultimately helps mend the men’s broken trust and preserves the tree.

A fairy-like narrator who sits at the base of the ancient tree. He recounts the story of belief and uses myth to illuminate truth, guiding viewers through the moral arc of the film. His presence frames the events as a legend about faith and community.