The Callahans and the Murphys
| The Callahans and the Murphys | |
|---|---|
_-_1.jpg) Advertisement | |
| Directed by | George W. Hill |
| Written by | Frances Marion Ralph Spence |
| Based on | The Callahans and the Murphys by Kathleen Norris |
| Starring | Marie Dressler Polly Moran Sally O'Neil |
| Cinematography | Ira H. Morgan |
| Edited by | Hugh Wynn |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 70 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
The Callahans and the Murphys is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by George W. Hill. The film was based on a novel by Kathleen Norris, and was the first of several MGM films to star Marie Dressler and Polly Moran.[1] The film was released on June 18, 1927, but subsequently withdrawn from distribution by MGM after protests were lodged by Irish-American organizations.[citation needed]
Plot[edit]
Mrs. Callahan (Dressler) and Mrs. Murphy (Moran), are a couple of feuding tenement housewives working to keep control of their many children. Dan Murphy (Gray) falls in love with Ellen Callahan (O'Neill), and then later disappears after Ellen is pregnant. Mrs. Callahan (Dressler) decides to adopt the baby to save her daughters reputation, but later finds out that the baby is not illegitimate after all.
Cast[edit]
- Marie Dressler as Mrs. Callahan
- Polly Moran as Mrs. Murphy
- Sally O'Neil as Ellen Callahan
- Lawrence Gray as Dan Murphy
- Eddie Gribbon as Jim Callahan
- Frank Currier as Grandpa Callahan
- Gertrude Olmstead as Monica Murphy
- Turner Savage as Timmy Callahan
- Jackie Combs as Terrance Callahan
- Anne Shirley as Mary Callahan (credited as Dawn O'Day)
- Monty O'Grady as Michael Callahan
- Tom Lewis as Mr. Murphy
Preservation[edit]
There are no complete prints of The Callahans and the Murphys located in any film archives.[2] It was until recently considered a lost film.[3][4]
The Irish Film Archive at the Irish Film Institute rediscovered and restored a five-minute scene that had been stored under the title An Irish Picnic.[5][6]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Progressive Silent Film List: The Callahans and the Murphys". silentera.com. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
- ^ "The Callahans And The Murphys / George Hill [motion picture]". The Library of Congress / FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog. 1927. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ "The Callahans and the Murphys". TheGreatStars.com; Lost Films Wanted. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ^ Barry, Dan (March 15, 2024). "Down the Rabbit Hole in Search of a Few Frames of Irish American History". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ "Excerpt from 'The Callahans and the Murphys'". Irish Film Archive. Irish Film Institute. March 10, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "Excerpts of Lost 1920s Silent Film 'The Callahans and the Murphys' discovered by IFI Irish Film Archive" (Press release). March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
External links[edit]
- 1927 films
- 1927 comedy films
- 1927 lost films
- Silent American comedy films
- American silent feature films
- American black-and-white films
- 1920s English-language films
- Films directed by George Hill
- Lost American comedy films
- English-language comedy films
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
- Films based on American novels
- 1920s American films