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Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Let’s take a ride on the history train for a while. Today’s topic is the Great Chicago Fire. Did you know Chicago straight-up burned to the ground during October 8–10, 1871? When the city was a young pup, legend has it that a cow kicked over a lantern in a barn and all hell broke loose. We know that in the Windy City, a fire could spread rapidly. After two days, it was reported that the disaster/fire killed around 300 people, destroyed roughly 3.3 square miles (9 km2) of the city, including over 17,000 structures, and left more than 100,000 residents homeless. The estimated price tag in damages was around $200 million. DAMN!!!!
In Old Chicago is a film directed by Henry King based on the Niven Busch story, “We the O’Learys.” The story is a fictionalized account of the Great Chicago Fire. Catherine “Cate” O’Leary and her children, an Irish immigrant living in Chi-Town, became infamous for what many believed her cow had started the disaster. In the grand year of 1854, Patrick O’Leary, his wife, and his young children decide to immigrate to the city of Chi-Town but dies on the way in a freak accident. Making it to Chi-Town, Molly O’Leary (Brady) raises her three sons into mighty men of the city while working alone as a laundress. Her son Jack (Ameche) is an idealist lawyer, Bob (Brown) helps his mom in the laundry business, and Dion (Power), what a freakin name, is a gambler. In the old area called The Patch, shady business goes down. Dion meets and falls in love with Belle Fawcett (Faye) in the cabaret owned by Gil Warren (Donlevy). The pair open a business to compete and rule The Patch. Gil, in turn, decides to turn his attention towards politics with the hope of becoming mayor. As the madness ensues, a great fire will soon change everything they love.
As far as the story goes, it was probably fun to watch back in the day because there was so much drama with the three brothers during like 90% of the film. First off, the dad dies in one of the weakest ways possible. The horse drags him a couple of feet, and then the dude is dead. Really? WTF was that.
The O’Leary’s are a hustle and bustle group, and I have one question?? How much washing did Molly do for all her boys to get through school and one for college? Them are a lot of sheets and draws she had to wash. Yet one of the dramas that unfold is when the boys find plans for a new railcar written on Warren’s tablecloth. If you going to have secret information, don’t put it on a white tablecloth. That is a rookie mistake.
Honestly, the whole movie revolves around Dion. The dude seemed to always be in some shit. First, Dion goes to Warren and sees Belle, and falls deeply in love with her. He bets 100 bills just to sweet-talk her, but that doesn’t go off too well. You know what homeboy does? He somewhat kidnaps her and tells her he loves her. Yet, Belle pushes him into a tub of water and runs off. Dion is like a wolf because he shows up at her freakin nice place. Her response? She tosses things at him. For example, homegirl throws a cake! How you going to throw a cake? He manages to get to her, and they kiss and fall in love. If only it was that easy. From there, Dion and Belle seem to rule the Patch by opening up and nightclub and getting Jack elected as mayor. Dion is always in some mess.
Now with all the family drama, the last 15-20 minutes were the parts that impressed me. When I first looked at the cover, I thought it would be some film about love in Chicago and two people grow a family in Chicago. Nope, it was about the Chicago Fire, and let me tell you, the film did wonders to show it happened. Now for how it happened, after Molly found out, Jack and Dion got into a fistfight. She rushes off to confront them, only to leave her cow and calf with a lit lantern next to a pile of hay. Where is your mind at? When that cow kicks the lantern, all hell breaks loose. The fire scene is insane as people run for their life. That fire spread like it was on a mission. This scene is crazy for the family. Jack is shot and killed, there are significant explosions, people getting trampled, Warren crying like a little punk, and in the end, people sitting in the river depressed.
As far as the cast goes, they are entertaining and really sell their roles. Tyrone Power as Dion O’Leary was the focal point and start. He was charming and a hustler, which he played very well. Alice Faye as Belle Fawcett was the beautiful woman who was a businesswoman. Yes, she fell in love with Dion, but homegirl had a plan and wanted to make sure she kept her funds. Don Ameche as Jack O’Leary really came on towards the end of the film when he became mayor of Chi-Town. When he fought Dion and took charge of the fire, he really showed his craft. Alice Brady as Mrs. Molly O’Leary was great. She played Molly as that loving mama who would do anything for her children. When you have to wash those clothes, you love your boys.
In Old Chicago is one of those films that surprised me. I wasn’t expecting the ending of the film with the fire. That completely surprised me and really made this film something to watch. That doesn’t take away from the other storylines. I liked the idea of using the O’Leary family as the background and having all their exploits unfolding through each other. I highly recommend watching this movie and then spending some time reading about the Great Chicago Fire.
