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Tyrone Power and Alice Faye in rollicking historical adventure
-
May 13, 2009
- by Byron_Kolln
- posted in Movie Hype
Rating:
With more than a passing nod to M-G-M's blockbuster smash of 1936 "San Francisco", IN OLD CHICAGO details the events leading up to the famous fire of 1871. Twentieth Century-Fox assembled three of their most bankable stars of 1939 (following their roles in "Alexander's Ragtime Band" the previous year) for this historical romp, and the production values were lavish (highlighted by the climactic and harrowing 20-minute sequence of the fire itself, which required it's very own film and production unit).
+4
The O'Leary boys, Dion (Tyrone Power) and Jack (Don Ameche) make and break their fortunes in the bustling city of Chicago. Good boy Jack plays fair and settles for whatever he can get; while Dion fights, cajoles and charms his way to the top. Alice Faye plays Dion's beautiful wife, saloon singer Belle Fawcett. Alice Brady turns in an Oscar-winning performance as Mrs O'Leary, whose cow unwittingly sets the fire in motion.
Alice Faye dazzles in her sparkling costumes and gowns (designed by Royer), and sings a selection of period numbers. Tyrone Power is as handsome as always; and the supporting cast includes Phyllis Brooks, Brian Donlevy, Tom Brown, and Sidney Blackmer. Based on the novel "We the O'Learys'" by Niven Busch.
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With more than a passing nod to M-G-M's blockbuster smash of 1936 "San Francisco", IN OLD CHICAGO details the events leading up to the famous fire of 1871. Twentieth Century-Fox assembled three of their most bankable stars of 1939 (following their roles in "Alexander's Ragtime Band" the previous year) for this historical romp, and the production values were lavish (highlighted by the climactic and harrowing 20-minute sequence of the fire itself, which required it's very own film and production unit). &nb … more
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Byron Kolln (Byron_Kolln)
Byron has been actively involved in theatre since the age of 12. He has had a great variety of roles (both on-stage and off). In addition he has hosted the long-running "Show Business" programme … more
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About this movie
In Old Chicago was 20th Century Fox's grandest production of 1938, and it's still worthy of classic status. Along with MGM's 1936 earthquake drama San Francisco, it ranks among the finest of the early disaster films, and the climactic depiction of the great Chicago fire of 1871 is still impressive, with some shots that are just as amazing as the digitally rendered disaster effects of present-day Hollywood. It's a highly fictionalized account of the O'Leary family, whose legendary milk-cow kicked over the lamp that set Chicago ablaze, and the teaming of Tyrone Power, Don Ameche, and Alice Faye (as O'Leary brothers Dion and Jack, and Jack's showgirl wife Belle) proved so popular that they were reunited, along with director Henry King, in Darryl F. Zanuck's follow-up production of Alexander's Ragtime Band. They lead a lively cast (including Andy Devine and Brian Donlevy) that delivers all the entertainment value that Zanuck could muster, focusing on the rivalry between Jack and Dion as they clash over their political ambitions and future plans for "The Patch," the beloved Chicago slum district in which they were raised. Their mother (played by Alice Brady in an Oscar®-winning performance) struggles to hold her brood together, and the sibling rivalry reaches a fever pitch just as the city's about to go up in flames. Along the way we're treated to Faye's silky-smooth performances of vintage show tunes ...
Cast:
Paul Hurst,
Vera Lewis,
Charles Lane,
Wade Boteler,
Harry Stubbs,
Ed Brady,
Harry Hayden,
Andy Devine,
Francis Ford,
Brian Donlevy,
Mme. Sul Te Wan,
Minerva Urecal,
Frank Dae,
Bobs Watson,
Tyrone Power,
Gene Reynolds,
Alice Brady,
Ruth Gillette,
Sidney Blackmer,
Clarence H. Wilson,
Spencer Charters,
Berton Churchill,
Scotty Mattraw,
Russell Hicks,
Don Ameche,
Gustav von Seyffertitz,
Eddie Collins,
Robert Murphy,
Alice Faye,
Rondo Hatton,
June Storey,
J. Anthony Hughes,
Tyler Brooke,
Tom Brown,
Joe King,
Phyllis Brooks,
Billy Watson
Director:
Henry King
Genre:
Drama
Release Date:
January 1, 1937
MPAA Rating:
Unrated
DVD Release Date:
March 1, 2009
Runtime:
1hr 50min
Studio:
20th Century Fox
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