In Old Chicago

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Movie
Original title In Old Chicago
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1938
length 95 minutes
Rod
Director Henry King
script Lamar Trotti
Sonya Levien
production Darryl F. Zanuck
for 20th Century Fox
music Cyril J. Mockridge (original music)
Louis Silvers
camera J. Peverell Marley
cut Barbara McLean
occupation

Old Chicago is a 1938 American drama directed by Henry King with a star cast . The main roles in the film about the events leading to the Great Fire of Chicago in October 1871 led to play Tyrone Power , Alice Faye and Don Ameche . Immediately afterwards, the director and leading actor shot Alexander's Ragtime Band .

action

Miss O'Leary's two eldest sons from Chicago couldn't be more different. Dion is a seedy criminal who runs a disreputable gambling den. Jack O'Leary, on the other hand, is a well-respected attorney dedicated to raising the profile of the community. One day Dion falls in love with the singer Belle Fawcett. Under her influence, he strives to live a better life and eventually sees his brother Jack win the mayoral election. When Jack also develops romantic feelings for Belle, the conflict between the brothers seems to openly erupt. But then one night Miss O'Leary's cow set fire to her stable, triggering the great Chicago fire in October 1871 . Jack is killed when he tries to stop the fire by blowing up a few streets. In the end, Dion and Belle confess their love for each other, and together they help rebuild the destroyed city.

background

The success of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayers San Francisco through the great earthquake there in 1906 triggered a number of follow-up productions that dealt with the dramatic forces of nature and put them in the limelight. Samuel Goldwyn brought with him ... then the hurricane came a spectacular disaster film about a huge hurricane in the cinemas. Darryl F. Zanuck , on the other hand, was planning a film about the great Chicago fire. He first tried to borrow Clark Gable and Jean Harlow from MGM , and was even ready to provide MGM's biggest star Shirley Temple for The Magical Land in return . The sudden death of Jean Harlow made the arrangement obsolete and Zanuck cast Alice Faye in the lead role. Production began in June 1937 under the working title Chicago . The total cost was around 1,800,000 US dollars in the end, with the twenty-minute fire scene alone supposedly costing around 500,000 US dollars. The total cost also included the fee for Miss O'Leary's cow, whose owner received a total of US $ 2,500 for their services. The cow even got a double. In Germany, the film ran from October 25, 1938 under the title Chicago .

Awards

At the 1938 Academy Awards , the film won two Academy Awards in the categories:

  • Best Supporting Actress (Alice Brady)
  • Best Assistant Director (Robert Webb)

He received further nominations in the categories:

  • Best movie
  • Best Original Story (Niven Busch)
  • Best note (Edmund H. Hansen)
  • Best Score (Louis Silver)

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