In Old Chicago
- Tyrone Power: Dion O'Leary
- Alice Faye: Belle Fawcett
- Don Ameche: Jack O'Leary
- Alice Brady: Molly O'Leary
- Andy Devine: Pickle Bixby
- Tom Brown: Bob O'Leary
- Sidney Blackmer: General Philip Sheridan
In Old Chicago is an American action film directed by Henry King from 1937, with an All Star Cast. The main roles in the film about the events that led to the Great Fire of Chicago in October 1871, playing Tyrone Power, Alice Faye and Don Ameche. Director and leading actor turned immediately after Alexander 's Ragtime Band.
Action
The two eldest sons of Miss O'Leary of Chicago can not be more different. Dion is a shady criminal who operates a disreputable gambling den. Jack O'Leary, however, is a respected lawyer who strives to improve the image of the community. Dion falls in love one day in the singer Belle Fawcett. Under her influence, he strives to live a better life and ultimately ensures that his brother Jack wins the mayoral election. When Jack also develops romantic feelings for Belle, the conflict between the brothers seems open to erupt. But then ignited Miss O'Leary's cow one night their stable and thus solves the great fire of Chicago in October 1871. Jack finds death as he wants the fire by blowing up some road trains halt. In the end, Dion and Belle confess her love and together they help rebuild the destroyed city.
Background
The success of Metro -Goldwyn- Mayer's San Francisco via the local big earthquake of 1906 triggered several follow- productions that dealt with dramatic forces of nature and this translated in an elaborate way. Samuel Goldwyn brought ... then the hurricane came a spectacular disaster movie about a massive hurricane in the cinemas. Darryl F. Zanuck, however, was planning a film about the Great Fire of Chicago. He struggled at first, Clark Gable and Jean Harlow borrow from MGM and was even willing to provide in exchange MGM its biggest star Shirley Temple for the planned film adaptation of the classic children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz available. The sudden death of Jean Harlow made the arrangement lapsed and Zanuck occupied the main characters with their own stars. Production began in June 1937 still under the working title of Chicago. The total cost amounted to about 1.8 million at the end of the U.S. dollar, the twenty minute fire scene alone should have cost around 500,000 U.S. dollars. The total cost for the Gage Miss O'Leary's cow was included, received their support for their services a total of 2,500 U.S. dollars. The cow even got asked a double.
Awards
At the Academy Awards in 1938, the film won two Oscars in the categories:
- Best Supporting Actress ( Alice Brady )
- Best assistant director ( Robert Webb)
He received further nominations in the categories:
- Best Picture
- Best Original Story ( Niven Busch)
- Best Sound (E. H. Hanseen )
- Best Original Score (Louis Silver )