In Old Chicago (1938)

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Passed
1h 35min
Action, Drama
15 Apr 1938 (USA)
Movie

6.7 (2,630)

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The O'Leary brothers--honest Jack and roguish Dion--become powerful figures, and eventually rivals, in Chicago on the eve of its Great Fire.

Director:

Henry King

Writers:

Lamar Trotti, Sonya Levien, Niven Busch

Stars:

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 4 nominations.
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Reviews:

Photos and Videos

Home Video Trailer from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Still of Alice Faye (I) in In Old Chicago (1938)

Still of Tyrone Power and Alice Faye (I) in In Old Chicago (1938)

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134 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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	Tyrone Power	...	Dion O'Leary
	Alice Faye	...	Belle Fawcett
	Don Ameche	...	Jack O'Leary
	Alice Brady	...	Molly O'Leary
	Andy Devine	...	Pickle Bixby
	Brian Donlevy	...	Gil Warren
	Phyllis Brooks	...	Ann Colby
	Tom Brown	...	Bob O'Leary
	Sidney Blackmer	...	General Phil Sheridan
	Berton Churchill	...	Senator Colby
	June Storey	...	Gretchen
	Paul Hurst	...	Mitch
	Tyler Brooke	...	Specialty Singer
	J. Anthony Hughes	...	Patrick O'Leary
	Gene Reynolds	...	Dion O'Leary (as a boy)
	Bobs Watson	...	Bob O'Leary (as a boy)
	Billy Watson	...	Jack O'Leary (as a boy)
	Madame Sul-Te-Wan	...	Hattie (as Madame Sultewan)
	Spencer Charters	...	Beavers
	Rondo Hatton	...	Body Guard
	Thelma Manning	...	Carrie Donahue
	Ruth Gillette	...	Miss Lou
	Eddie Collins	...	Drunk
	Scotty Mattraw	...	Beef King
	Joe Twerp	...	Stuttering Clerk
	Charles Lane	...	Booking Agent (scenesDeleted)
	Clarence Wilson	...	Lawyer (as Clarence Hummel Wilson)
	Frank Dae	...	Judge
	Harry Stubbs	...	Fire Commissioner
	Joe King	...	Ship's Captain
	Francis Ford	...	Driver
	Bob Murphy	...	Police Officer (as Robert Murphy)
	Wade Boteler	...	Polilce Officer
	Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Man in Jack's Office
	Russell Hicks	...	Man in Jack's Office
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Carol Adams	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Jessie Arnold	...	Mrs. Donovan (uncredited)
	Kathryn Barnes	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Sue Barstead	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Jeanette Bates	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Colleen Bawn	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Doris Becker	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Patsy Bedell	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Brooks Benedict	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
	Barbara Booth	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Ed Brady	...	Wagon Driver (uncredited)
	Horace G. Brown	...	Fireman (uncredited)
	Julie Cabanne	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	George Chandler	...	Onlooker (uncredited)
	Jack Cheatham	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Davison Clark	...	Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
	Tom Coleman	...	Hub Patron (uncredited)
	James Conaty	...	Hub Patron (uncredited)
	Jeanne Criswell	...	Horsewoman (uncredited)
	Dale Dee	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Natalie Finley	...	Horsewoman (uncredited)
	Bess Flowers	...	Woman with Colby (uncredited)
	Norah Gale	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Kirby Grant	...	Moustached Quartette Member - 'Old Virginny' Number (uncredited)
	Harrison Greene	...	Man with Colby (uncredited)
	Harriette Haddon	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Sherry Hall	...	Court Clerk (uncredited)
	Harry Hayden	...	Johnson (uncredited)
	Harry Hollingsworth	...	1st Hub Bidder (uncredited)
	Sheldon Jett	...	Bartender (uncredited)
	Edna Mae Jones	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Jean Joyce	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Adelaide Kaye	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Edward Keane	...	Politician in Jack's Office (uncredited)
	Crystal Keate	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Fred Kelsey	...	Cop (uncredited)
	Jacqueline Kopp	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Mary Louise Kopp	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Billie Lee	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Patricia Lee	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Patsy Lee	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Vera Lewis	...	Wedding Witness (uncredited)
	Mary Lorraine	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Corine McAlister	...	Horsewoman (uncredited)
	J.P. McGowan	...	Saloon Manager (uncredited)
	Pat McKee	...	Man Getting Beer in Face (uncredited)
	Lydia McKim	...	Child (uncredited)
	Florence McPherson	...	Horsewoman (uncredited)
	Jackie Cagney Miller	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Bert Moorhouse	...	Opening Night Guest (uncredited)
	William H. O'Brien	...	Senate Waiter (uncredited)
	George Offerman Jr.	...	Youth in New Suit (uncredited)
	Pat Parrish	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Gil Perkins	...	Hub Patron (uncredited)
	Patsy Perrin	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Eleanore Prentiss	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Jane Ray	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Rice and Cady	...	Dutch Comedians (uncredited)
	Dorothy Rodgers	...	Horsewoman (uncredited)
	John Roy	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Muriel Scheck	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Audrey Scott	...	Horsewoman (uncredited)
	Louise Seidel	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Hugh Sheridan	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Lorraine Standish	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Larry Steers	...	Belle's Admirer (uncredited)
	Hope Taylor	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Harry Tenbrook	...	Hub Patron (uncredited)
	June Terry	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Valerie Traxler	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	John Wallace	...	Fire-Reporter (uncredited)
	Marion Weldon	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Dorothy White	...	Chorine (uncredited)
	Charles Williams	...	Secretary / Wedding Witness (uncredited)

Directed by

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Henry King

Written by

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Lamar Trotti	...	(screen play) and
Sonya Levien	...	(screen play)

Niven Busch	...	(based on a story by)

Produced by

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Kenneth Macgowan	...	associate producer
Darryl F. Zanuck	...	producer

Music by

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Cyril J. Mockridge

...

(uncredited)

Cinematography by

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J. Peverell Marley

...

(photography) (as Peverell Marley)

Editing by

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Barbara McLean

Editorial Department

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Richard Billings	...	assistant cutter (uncredited)
Robert Fritch	...	assistant cutter (uncredited)

Casting By

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Walter Whaley

...

(uncredited)

Art Direction by

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William S. Darling	...	(as William Darling)
Rudolph Sternad

Set Decoration by

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Thomas Little

Costume Design by

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Royer

Makeup Department

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Gale McGarry	...	hair stylist (uncredited)
Ben Nye	...	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management

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Booth McCracken	...	unit manager
Ed Ebele	...	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Robert D. Webb	...	assistant director (as Robert Webb)
Bob Herndon	...	second assistant director (uncredited)
Edward O'Fearna	...	assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department

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N. Kashcheyev	...	poster artist: Soviet Union
Eric Rohman	...	poster artist: Sweden
M. Duke Abrahams	...	props (uncredited)
Charles Fremdling	...	assistant props (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Eugene Grossman	...	sound
Roger Heman Sr.	...	sound (as Roger Heman)
Bob Bertrand	...	boom operator (uncredited)
H. Richards	...	cable person (uncredited)
W.R. Snyder	...	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Daniel B. Clark	...	special effects photographer
Ralph Hammeras	...	special effects stager
H. Bruce Humberstone	...	special effects director
Fred Sersen	...	special effects stager
Louis J. Witte	...	special effects stager

Stunts

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Yakima Canutt	...	stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons	...	stunt rider (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	...	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Raye	...	stunts (uncredited)
Audrey Scott	...	riding double: Alice Brady (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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A.C. Bumpus	...	assistant grip (uncredited)
Clarence Collins	...	best boy (uncredited)
Kenneth Green	...	camera operator (uncredited)
N. Hanley	...	assistant grip (uncredited)
Jack Percy	...	grip (uncredited)
Edward Petzoldt	...	gaffer (uncredited)
John Van Wormer	...	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department

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Frank Tresselt

...

music casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Sam Benson	...	wardrobe (uncredited)
Albert Conti	...	wardrobe (uncredited)
Ollie Hughes	...	wardrober: women (uncredited)
Eugene Joseff	...	costume jeweller (uncredited)
Bob Lee	...	wardrober: men (uncredited)
Arthur M. Levy	...	costume supervisor (uncredited)

Music Department

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Louis Silvers	...	musical director
Herbert W. Spencer	...	orchestrator (uncredited)
Jule Styne	...	vocal supervisor (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Teresa Brachetto	...	script clerk (uncredited)
Max Larey	...	script clerk (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Harry Brand	...	publicity director (uncredited)
Nick Castle	...	dance director (uncredited)
Edwin H. Curtis	...	dialogue director (uncredited)
Gene Fowler	...	researcher (uncredited)
Jack Haskell	...	dance director (uncredited)
Sid Jordan	...	horse supervisor (uncredited)
Charles E. McCarthy	...	press representative (uncredited)
Geneva Sawyer	...	dance director (uncredited)
Rose Steinberg	...	script clerk: second unit (uncredited)

Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Twentieth Century Fox (presents)

Distributors

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Twentieth Century Fox (1937) (United States) (theatrical)
Deutsche Fox-Film (1938) (Germany) (theatrical)
Fox Film (1938) (Sweden) (theatrical)
Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1938) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
Twentieth Century Fox (1938) (Belgium) (theatrical)
Twentieth Century Fox (1938) (France) (theatrical) (as Les Productions Fox-Europa)
Twentieth Century Fox (1943) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release) (edited)
National Telefilm Associates (NTA) (1957) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
Fox Video (1994) (United States) (VHS)
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (United States) (DVD)
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
CBS/Fox Home Video (1991) (Australia) (video)
The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Chicago Historical Society (acknowledged assistance)
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association of America (approved certificate) (no: 3639)
United Costumers Inc. (costumes supplied by)
Western Costume Company (costumes supplied by)

Storyline

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Plot Summary	In 1854, Patrick O'Leary, patriarch of the O'Leary family, dies in an accident nearby Chicago while traveling the Midwestern prairie. His wife Molly O'Leary raises her three sons alone, working as laundress. Her son Jack becomes an idealistic lawyer, Dion is a gambler, and Bob helps his mother in the laundry business and marries local Gretchen (June Storey) in the old area known as The Patch. Dion meets singer Belle Fawcett in the cabaret owned by Gil Warren and they fall in love with each other. They also open their own business to compete with Gil, who becomes their enemy. However, Gil invites Dion to join politics with him but Dion plots a scheme with tragic consequences. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Plot Summary
Plot Keywords	blockbuster three-word-title brother-against-brother brother-brother-relationship faye-and-ameche See All (60) »
Taglines	A STORY WRITTEN IN FIRE! (print ad - Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Palace Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - April 19, 1938 - all caps) See more »
Genres	Action Drama Musical Romance
Parents Guide	Add content advisory for parents »
Certification	Argentina:Atp Finland:K-16 France:Tous publics Norway:16 Sweden:15 United Kingdom:U United Kingdom:A United States:Passed (National Board of Review) United States:Approved United States:TV-G (TV rating)

Additional Details

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Also Known As	L'incendie de Chicago (France) Chicago (Germany) Chicago (Spain) L'incendie de Chicago (Belgium, French title) Şikago Yanıyor (Turkey, Turkish title) See more »
Runtime	95 min
Country	United States
Language	English German
Color	Black and White
Aspect Ratio	1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix	Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Filming Locations	Oakdale, California, USA See more »

Box Office

Budget

$1,800,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia	The 20-minute climactic fire sequence cost $150,000 to stage and burned for three days on the Fox back lot. It helped make this one of the most expensive films made at the time. See more »
Goofs	Carrie Donohue's testimony is stricken because "the law says a wife cannot testify against her husband" and Dion O'Leary marries Belle Fawcett for the same reason. However, the law only says that a wife cannot be compelled to testify against her husband; she can still testify of her own free will. See more »
Movie Connections	Edited into The Opium War (1943). See more »
Soundtracks	I've Taken a Fancy to You See more »
Quotes	[repeated line] Dion O'Leary: We O'Learys are a strange tribe. See more »

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