THE IRISH IN US (Warner Brothers, 1935), directed by Lloyd Bacon, ranks one of the many Irish family related themes for its time, some notably directed by John Ford for Fox Studios. With Ford's Academy Award winning direction of 1935 for his dramatic and dark Irish Rebellion story of THE INFORMER (RKO) starring Victor McLaglen, THE IRISH IN US is quite the opposite, being a lighthearted comedy about a typical Irish family of Seventh Avenue in New York City featuring the cast of well known Irish actors.
As the underscoring of "When Irish Eyes are Smiling," fades, the story introduces Mrs. O'Hara (Mary Gordon), a widowed mother, preparing breakfast for her three grown sons: Pat O'Hara (Pat O'Brien), an officer of the law; Mike (Frank McHugh), a fireman; and Danny (James Cagney), a lazy loafer who looks for excuses not to work to earn a living. Aside from being spoiled by his mother for being the youngest of the family, Danny acquires a new profession for himself as a self-employed fight promoter for "Car Barn" Hammerschlos (Allen Jenkins), a flop prizefighter he brought home the night before, who happens to be a streetcar conductor who starts punching at the sound of a bell. Pat is in love with Lucille Jackson (Olivia De Havilland), daughter of his police captain (J. Farrell MacDonald), and invites her to meet his family for dinner that evening. Before the gathering, Danny had earlier met Lucille while jogging with Car Barn in Central Park, assisting her by changing the flat tire of her car. The dinner fails as Car Barn starts socking at the sound of he doorbell, putting Pat and Mike to the floor. As Pat recuperates in his bed, Danny drives Lucille home. At the fireman's ball, Danny and Lucille have fallen in love and are caught kissing by Pat. With Pat no longer on speaking terms with Danny, who has moved out of their home, further complications ensue for Danny as he ends up in the boxing ring opposite championship boxer, Joe Delaney (Harvey Perry), at the police benefit with the O'Hara clan and Lucille watching from their seats. Others in the cast include: Mabel Colcord (Mrs. Adams); with Edward Gargan and Edward Keane in smaller roles.
With THE IRISH IN US being the third collaboration of James Cagney and Pat O'Brien, this was the first time they appeared as brothers. Though the movie US is far from their iconic teaming to their classic masterpiece of ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES (1938), the Cagney and O'Brien luck of the Irish make this routine story more watchable. Mary Gordon, best known for playing Mrs. Hudson, the landlady, in the Basil Rathbone/"Sherlock Holmes" mysteries of the 1940s, gets a sizable role here as the outspoken mother with a heart of gold. Frank McHugh as the third brother with no female conflicts nor romance interest, gets his usual comedy relief as well as Allen Jenkins as a punch drunk boxer. For being a Cagney and O'Brien starrer, Olivia De Havilland, still a newcomer to the screen following her motion picture debut of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (1935) that also featured Cagney and McHugh, would soon elevate her star status with her final 1935 release pf CAPTAIN BLOOD starring another newcomer to the screen, Errol Flynn. De Havilland would team with Cagney one more time in the now comedy classic, THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE (1941).
With THE IRISH IN US commonly broadcast on commercial television on St. Patrick's Day (notably New York City's WNBC, Channel 4, from 1970-1973) during the after midnight hours, this 84 minute product with screenplay by Earl Baldwin, is available on both DVD and cable television's Turner Classic Movies. (**1/2 shamrocks)
As the underscoring of "When Irish Eyes are Smiling," fades, the story introduces Mrs. O'Hara (Mary Gordon), a widowed mother, preparing breakfast for her three grown sons: Pat O'Hara (Pat O'Brien), an officer of the law; Mike (Frank McHugh), a fireman; and Danny (James Cagney), a lazy loafer who looks for excuses not to work to earn a living. Aside from being spoiled by his mother for being the youngest of the family, Danny acquires a new profession for himself as a self-employed fight promoter for "Car Barn" Hammerschlos (Allen Jenkins), a flop prizefighter he brought home the night before, who happens to be a streetcar conductor who starts punching at the sound of a bell. Pat is in love with Lucille Jackson (Olivia De Havilland), daughter of his police captain (J. Farrell MacDonald), and invites her to meet his family for dinner that evening. Before the gathering, Danny had earlier met Lucille while jogging with Car Barn in Central Park, assisting her by changing the flat tire of her car. The dinner fails as Car Barn starts socking at the sound of he doorbell, putting Pat and Mike to the floor. As Pat recuperates in his bed, Danny drives Lucille home. At the fireman's ball, Danny and Lucille have fallen in love and are caught kissing by Pat. With Pat no longer on speaking terms with Danny, who has moved out of their home, further complications ensue for Danny as he ends up in the boxing ring opposite championship boxer, Joe Delaney (Harvey Perry), at the police benefit with the O'Hara clan and Lucille watching from their seats. Others in the cast include: Mabel Colcord (Mrs. Adams); with Edward Gargan and Edward Keane in smaller roles.
With THE IRISH IN US being the third collaboration of James Cagney and Pat O'Brien, this was the first time they appeared as brothers. Though the movie US is far from their iconic teaming to their classic masterpiece of ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES (1938), the Cagney and O'Brien luck of the Irish make this routine story more watchable. Mary Gordon, best known for playing Mrs. Hudson, the landlady, in the Basil Rathbone/"Sherlock Holmes" mysteries of the 1940s, gets a sizable role here as the outspoken mother with a heart of gold. Frank McHugh as the third brother with no female conflicts nor romance interest, gets his usual comedy relief as well as Allen Jenkins as a punch drunk boxer. For being a Cagney and O'Brien starrer, Olivia De Havilland, still a newcomer to the screen following her motion picture debut of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (1935) that also featured Cagney and McHugh, would soon elevate her star status with her final 1935 release pf CAPTAIN BLOOD starring another newcomer to the screen, Errol Flynn. De Havilland would team with Cagney one more time in the now comedy classic, THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE (1941).
With THE IRISH IN US commonly broadcast on commercial television on St. Patrick's Day (notably New York City's WNBC, Channel 4, from 1970-1973) during the after midnight hours, this 84 minute product with screenplay by Earl Baldwin, is available on both DVD and cable television's Turner Classic Movies. (**1/2 shamrocks)