Customer Reviews

In Old Chicago

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

SIDE 1
Theatrical Version (96 min.)

SIDE 2
Roadshow Version (109 min.)
Additional Release Material:
Bonus Shorts - MovieTone News (4 Segments)
Biography - Don Ameche

As much as I have always loved this Best Picture Oscar nominee, I have always been very disappointed never to have seen the original, longer "roadshow version", which includes almost fourteen minutes of additional footage. Finally, after years of waiting, it appears that my chance to see the entire movie in all its glory will be coming with the DVD release of this movie from Fox Home Video. As noted above, the disc will be two-sided, and will contain both versions of the film ... the familiar "Theatrical" version which has played on television all these years, and the rarely screened original "Roadshow" edition which was a box office smash ... and earned Alice Brady the Best Supporting Actress Oscar back in 1937. Thank you in advance, Fox Home Video ... this is exactly the type of consumer-friendly offering that will earn you the loyalty and financial support of classic movie connoiseurs!

By late 1937 Tyrone Power was rapidly climbing towards being the top Box Office King of Twentieth Century Fox Studios. After a string of romantic comedies with costars Sonja Henie and Loretta Young the studio showed their absolute faith in him by mounting the first of a series of very elaborate costumes dramas with this spectacular version of the (fictional),lead up to the great fire of Chicago in "In Old Chicago". Conceived by Darryl F. Zanuck as a spectacular effort to out class MGM's "San Francisco", he had earlier failed to borrow Clark Gable and Jean Harlow for the roles eventually taken by Tyrone Power and Alice Faye. That failure however really provided Tyrone Power with his "A" class breakthrough role, playing against his usual type here in a production that cost a staggering 2 million dollars which also included in its final 20 minutes some of the most spectacular effects depicting the fire raging through Chicago, that had yet been seen on screen.

Based on the story by Niven Busch, "In Old Chicago", centres it's story around the O'Leary family in particular brothers Dion (Tyrone Power), and Jack (Don Ameche). The two brothers are as different as night and day with Dion becoming a shady business man running a gambling saloon in Chicago's non respectable area called The Patch, while Jack becomes a respectable lawyer determined to improve the image of Chicago by removing it's unsavoury elements. Dion falls for singer Belle Fawcett (Alice Faye), who also has the eye of corrupt businessman Gil Warren (Brian Donlevy), and after sweepign her off her feet involves her in running a new business in direct opposition to Gil. Gil however wants to gain political power and engages Dion's support in his race to be mayor. Complications arise however when Jack is asked to put in a bid for mayor and Dion double crosses Gill to ensure that Jack wins the post. Jack is unaware of Dion's double dealings and when he moves to clean up the patch the brothers clash with Dion marrying Belle merely to safe guard himself against Jack using Belle's testimony about all his double delaings. Just at this time of family discord the O'Leary cow left unattended in their barn by Mrs O'Leary who goes to try and sort out her feuding sons kicks over a lantern which starts the fire that eventaully engulfs most of Chicago. Wrongly accused by Gill's hence men of starting the fire Jack meets his sad end when he tries to assist with the dynamiting of buildings to stop the fires spread and Dion who was trying to warn his brother of Gill's mens intentions is dragged to safety and is reunited with his mother and Belle on the rivers edge where all the townsfolk have gone for safety from the fire. Despite the tragedy and loss Mrs O'Leary vows that the O'Leary's are after all "strange creatures", and that nothing will stop them from rebuilding again just as Chicago will also rise again from it's own ashes.

Of course any discussion of "In Old Chicago", will always come back to the spectacular fire sequences filmed on Twentieth Century Fox's back lot that recreated in vivid detail the 1871 Chicago fire. Rarely have special effects up until that time been so superbly handled and here we see the real thing, no computer generated marvels as we have in present day cinematic efforts. The sight of entire housing blocks caving in and supposedly burying fleeing inhabitants is still quite disturbing to watch and the wide views of all of Chicago's centre in flames is the result of amazingingly detailed miniature reproductions of the cities skyscrape. The concluding scenes when all the citizens seek safety in the shallows of the river against the backdrop of a flaming inferno that was once Chicago are still some of the great vivid images from 1930's film making. Against such a spectacular finale the actors here have their work cut out for them. What of course must not be forgotten is that the majority of "In Old Chicago", contains a very human story that gives the actors plenty of time to build their characters. Tyrone Power really came into his own with this effort and excels playing against his usual casting until then of the nice handsome young man. His Dion is a likeable rogue but a rogue nevertheless who proves unrelenting in his pursuit of power and position in 1970's Chicago. Frequent Power costar Don Ameche does well in his part of the honest , upstanding brother Jack who pays the ultimate price for his pursuit of honesty and a fair deal for everyone. His death scene with Andy Devine's character at the climax of the fire sequence is a truly startling one that is quite unexpected. Alice Faye a very big long time star at Twentieth Century Fox does very well in the role originally intended for MGM's Jean Harlow. She has a chance to do some singing in her role as Belle Fawcett and proves her often underestimated dramatic ability in her dealings with Dion and his not always honest methods of getting things done. In a way her character is more suited to brother Jack than to Dion in that she is an inherently decent sort who always seems to be getting painted as a "loose woman", in particular by Alice Brady's character. In fact she is one of the nicer people in the story and makes Belle a highly likeable woman. Brian Donlevy is also a stand out in his role as shady business man and would be politician Gil Warren who comes into direct conflict with Dion over both control of the Patch and more personally over Belle's affection. He was a gifted character actor who over many years perfected this type of villianous character. Alice Brady of course went home with an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress for playing Mrs. O'leary and she is superb as the no nonsense, salt of the earth, type of Irish immigrant that came to America with nothing and through sheer hard work made a success of themselves. Her scenes with Alice Faye's character in particular are especially note worthy and her character doesn't go down the sentimental path one would expect in such a film but right up to the conclusion still views Faye's character as a "saloon singer", of doubtful morals even when Belle helps save her life. That element gives Mrs. O'Leary a more realistic feel which doesn't cave in to sentiment. Being one of Twentieth Century Fox's biggest productions for 1937, the films generous budget is on show in every frame from the lavish sets authentically recreating 1970's Chicago right through to the truly magnificent costumes for not only the principals but also for the supporting players and dancers in the musical numbers. Tyrone Power's favourite director the legendary Henry King keeps the proceedings moving at a fast pace and his handling of the difficult fire scenes which to his credit dont allow the characters to be swamped by the special effects, is first rate all the way.

A winner of two Academy Awards in 1938, the already mentioned Best Supporting Actress for Brady and one for Assistant Director Robert Webb, "In Old Chicago", is real old style moviemaking from Hollywood's golden years. Such a production as this would cost an incredible sum today and would undoubtedly overwhelm the actors and story with special effects. The real greatness of "In Old Chicago", is that while being a epic production it still manages to be involving as a good human story laced with great period flavour. For involving storyline and superb visuals you can't get better that Twentieth Century Fox's historical classic "In Old Chicago ".

"In Old Chicago" was a blockbuster movie made in 1937, a box office smash which contributed significantly to the emergence of 20th Century Fox as a major studio. The film mirrored MGM's 1936 smash hit "San Francisco" and while Tyrone Power, Alice Faye and Don Ameche do not have quite the weight of personalities of Clark Gable, Jeanette Macdonald and Spencer Tracy, they were 10 to 15 years younger in Faye and Power's case so this is understandable.

Seeing the roadshow version of the film makes one wonder why Fox bothered to put the shorter version on the DVD because you may never view it again. All of a sudden, the dramatic portions of the film make better sense, with the smooth continuity of a Henry King directed film and notably missing from the shorter version. All the principals' performances improve too because what seemed quite superficial now has more depth. For example, instead of being told Don Ameche is an honest lawyer, we SEE him in action; instead of being told Tyrone Power is a crook, we SEE him offering bribes. Power, in particular, is very convincing as the charming Irish rogue.

The story is a corny tale of the Irish O'Leary family and has that hokey quality which undermined a lot of Fox's big productions. By the time you have heard for the third time that "We O'Learys are a strange tribe", you can almost hope that they suffer some unspeakable death when the fire starts! Alice Faye plays Belle Fawcett, the dance hall attraction whom the crooked Power marries. This was Faye's bid for major stardom when she replaced Jean Harlow who died just before production began. Faye is diffident at first but Henry King coaxed her along and her confidence grows. The film was a great success for her. She sings 3 songs too and her version of "Carry Me Back to Ol' Virginny" is memorable and retains its original "southern" lyrics. Alice Brady won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Mrs O'Leary but there is nothing to warrant it except a good Irish brogue and the fact that she is playing a serious part for once instead of the screwball mothers for which she was typecast. The special effects which make up the last 20 minutes of the film are spectacular and really give the film the status it has retained.

The DVD prints of both versions of the film are good and the package contains a couple of short newsreels including the New York premiere of the film. There is a good Biography program of Don Ameche but this film was important enough to warrant a commentary.

This movie is worth seeing for the fire alone. But in a buildup of love and loss, we are given four very human souls to cherish throughout the calm and the chaos.

Alice Brady won an Academy award for her portrayel of Mrs. O'Leary, the owner of the infamous cow and mother of the O'Leary clan. Her performance is sentimental and tough, and her award richly deserved.

The trio of Tyrone Power, Don Ameche and Alice Faye hit it off with memorable characters. Ameche is the honest, hard-working brother who means to make Chicago as good a place as he can. Power gives a splendid performance as the charming but rotten brother whose power in Chicago is both impressive and abused. Faye is the singer caught between them, alternately loving and hating Power along with the rest of us.

This is a wonderful example of the universal tale in which rascals can always be redeemed and cities are never burnt forever. A classic from the silver screen era, with lovely music and an unforgettable climax. Haunting in its tragedy, inspiring for the human story behind it.

A must-see, for any silver-screen fan.

Have friends who simply don't watch old black & white movies? Show them "In Old Chicago" and they'll see what some of those old films pulled off. The scenes depicting the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 are simply astounding, moment after moment making one wonder how they did it all with the technology of the late 30's.

Of course, initially one has to sit through the first hour of the movie, which I have to say is sort of quaint and old-fashioned with its fictionalized and slightly soapy version of the lives of the O'Leary family. But even these scenes are always at least mildly engaging and are often laced with sharp humor and knowing asides about big city politics.

In addition to getting two complete versions of the movie (the shorter regular theatrical release and a longer "roadshow" version), a nice batch of extras is also included on the DVD. I especially enjoyed the complete episode of "Biography" featuring Don Ameche, one of the film's stars.

As the legendary Mrs. O'Leary, Brady has a few miraculous scenes (her cow kicks over a kerosene lamp and thusly starts the big blaze of 1871). The remainder of the movie, however, which features Ameche as her perfect son and Power as her shrewd, black sheep scamp - is on a different level entirely. It's a mediocre - though jolly - quasi-historical melodrama involving brawls, riots, capricious temperaments, police squads, cafe ladies, gaudy saloons (with Alice Faye smiling that great open smile of hers). When one hears Faye's mellow velvety voice caress her musical numbers, you can almost forgive lack of acting ability; Ameche is so fatuous here that he's almost likeable...Fox made this film in order to capitalise on the success of MGM's SAN FRANCISCO - it was not completely in vain. Based upon the novel WE THE O'LEARYS by Niven Busch. The supporting cast includes Tom Brown, Sidney Blackmer, Brian Donlevy and Andy Devine.

This isn't so much a critique for "In Old Chicago" as it is for the missing information about what's contained on this DVD that is available at other retailers and websites. Included on this DVD is the 45-minute plus A&E Biography of Don Ameche, as well as some short newsreel footage. This biography makes this disc that much more appealing to any true film buff. The information should be readily available at Amazon for this disc, and the many other Fox Classics that have similar biographies. You're missing a real opportunity here, and your customers deserve, and should have all the information on included special features to make an informed buying decision.

Tyrone Power and Don Ameche co-star in this stagey, grandiose historical drama, in which the rivalry of two brothers culminates in the Great Chicago Fire of 1873. The plot leading up to the fire is kind of standard fare, but the special effects at the end are really dazzling and horrific. Power gets a bigger, juicier role than Ameche, but they're both pretty good here. A reasonably fun rental.

20th Century-Fox took its cue from MGM's 1936 hit "San Francisco" (with its spectacular earthquake scenes) and made its own disaster hit. Tyrone Power and Alice Faye were Fox's answer to MGM's Clark Gable and Jeanette MacDonald, and along with Don Ameche and the incomparable Alice Brady, their film just as fun and entertaining as MGM's hit.
Good Americana, with enough melodrama and music to satisfy any diehard movie fan. The highlight is the great Chicago fire, which is even more spectacular than the burning of Atlanta in another 30's classic, "GWTW". It is amazing they did all those great special effects without computers and animation. Just good old-fashioned sets on the back-lot. "In Old Chicago" is a golden chestnut from the early disaster movie genre of the 1930's.

that's a line of dialogue that gets pretty tired towards the end of this spectacular, since it is much too overused. However, be that as it may, this film used to be on TV a lot when I was a kid, and I always used to watch it for the marvelous fire footage. It's the sort of scene that appears to be a history book come to life, with horse-drawn fire engines racing down the street, and massive buildings caving in while blazing away. And wouldn't you know it? The whole thing started in the barn of Mrs. O'Leary--the same Mrs. O'Leary who is the mother to mayor Don Ameche and crooked guy Tyrone Power. The two brothers are always at odds, eventually even clashing, though not romantically, over Ty's treatment of chanteuse Alice Faye. Yet, because they are A Strange Tribe, they always are there for each other when the chips are down--and with an inferno raging away, the chips don't get downer than this!