Mother Machree (1928)

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  • MOTHER MACHREE


    DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY JOHN FORD
    FOX FILM CORPORATION


    FORD30.jpg


    Information from IMDb


    Plot Summary
    Ellen McHugh, a poor Irish immigrant to America, finds work in a carnival
    and is thus able to send her son Brian to a fine school.
    But when her position is found out, the school expels Brian.
    Mrs. McHugh feels compelled to allow the school principal and his wife to adopt Brian.
    The widow McHugh becomes a housekeeper and raises her employer's daughter Edith,
    who grows up to fall in love with Brian McHugh.
    Written by Jim Beaver


    Full Cast
    Belle Bennett ... Mother Machree (Ellen McHugh)
    Neil Hamilton ... Brian McHugh / Brian van Studdiford
    Victor McLaglen ... The Giant of Kilkenny (Terence O'Dowd)
    Constance Howard ... Edith Cutting
    Philippe De Lacy ... Brian McHugh as a child
    Ted McNamara ... The Harper of Wexford
    Billy Platt ... The Dwarf of Munster (Pips) (as William Platt)
    Eulalie Jensen ... Rachel van Studdiford
    Pat Somerset ... Bobby de Puyster
    Ethel Clayton ... Undetermined role (uncredited)
    Aggie Herring ... Sideshow woman asking about legs
    Rodney Hildebrand ... Brian McHugh Sr. (uncredited)
    Wallace MacDonald ... Michael McHugh (uncredited)
    John MacSweeney ... Father McShane (Irish priest)
    Robert Parrish ... Child (uncredited)
    Jack Rollens ... Undetermined role (uncredited)
    Duke Morrison ... Extra (uncredited)
    Joyce Wirard ... Edith Cutting as a child (uncredited)


    Writing Credits
    Rida Johnson Young (novel "The Story of Mother Machree"
    Gertrude Orr (scenario)
    Katherine Hilliker (titles) (as Katharine Hilliker) and
    H.H. Caldwell titles


    Original Music
    Erno Rapee (uncredited)


    Cinematography
    Chester A. Lyons (as Chester Lyons)


    Assistant Director
    Edward O'Fearna


    Art Department
    Duke Morrison .... props (uncredited)


    Other crew
    William Fox presenter....copyright owner


    Trivia
    * Production begun in September 1926 for a silent film, with release announced for December. It did not appear, and was instead released in 1928 with a sound track, including a synchronized version of the title song being sung.


    * What most likely was a silent version of the film was shown at the Astoria Theater in London in September 1927.


    * Announced cost of film: $750,000.


    This film was originally credited as John Wayne's debut film,
    but obviously he appeared in films two years before this as an uncredited extra.
    He showed early promise in these silent films with his height,
    his smile, and just the way how he embodied the American west.


    Movie Status
    * The Library of Congress has reels 1, 2 and 5, while reels 2, 5 and 7 currently survive at the UCLA film and television archives.


    Filming Locations
    Unknown

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 6 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • Mother Machree is a 1928 silent film, directed by John Ford,
    based on a novel by Rida Johnson Young about a poor Irish immigrant in America.
    John Wayne had a minor role in the film.


    John Ford needed an extra prop man,
    when Duke was instructed to report to the assistant dircetor.
    The first day on the set Duke was put in charge
    of a gaggle of geese, that Ford planned for a scene.



    Young Morrison was told to release the geese
    on Ford's signal and herd them into camera range,
    using a large pole.
    On the first few attempts, it was chaos,
    with the geese wandering everywhere,
    much to Duke's frustration.


    The director lost his temper
    He was the most awkward prop man we ever had
    Ford said of Duke later

    Quote

    He'd drop lights,and knot up cables, and ruin takes,
    but he was a nice big kid, and tried hard to please


    User Review

    Quote

    The 21 Year Old John Wayne
    23 September 2003 | by The-Lonely-Londoner (London, England)


    This film was originally credited as John Wayne's debut film,
    but obviously he appeared in films two years before this as an uncredited extra.
    He showed early promise in these silent films with his height, his smile,
    and just the way how he embodied the American west.

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 5 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • Directed by John Ford (1971) Peter Bogdanovich


    Duke actually states on camera, that it was on the set
    of Mother Machree, (1928)
    when Ford got him herding the geese,
    that it was this movie where he was 'kicked'
    and that it was THIS movie that was his FIRST job with Mr Ford


    Duke states:

    Quote

    So when Mr. Ford needed a goose herder for his set,
    it just fit my pistol. They had a hill made up, a fake hill for this
    set of Mother Machree and the geese, were getting down under
    the two by fours there, and they needed a fella to herd them out.
    so that was my first job with Mr Ford


    Duke went on to say

    Quote

    So you're a footballer player said Mr Ford, get down
    on my forearms and feet, and just kicked my arms from under me,
    and stuck my nose in the mud that they'd made for Mother Machree,


    and the rest is history.


    As production started in September 1926
    this would fit with all the information from the books.


    I for one cannot dispute or argue with what Duke actually said!!

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England