In Old Chicago (1938)

67% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(1,117 ratings)

In Old Chicago was 20th Century-Fox's spin on MGM's San Francisco--a personal saga played out against the backdrop of a famous 19th Century disaster. Alice Brady plays Mrs. O'Leary, a widow who brings her two young boys to the sleepy village of Chicago. As the city grows in prominence and prestige,… More In Old Chicago was 20th Century-Fox's spin on MGM's San Francisco--a personal saga played out against the backdrop of a famous 19th Century disaster. Alice Brady plays Mrs. O'Leary, a widow who brings her two young boys to the sleepy village of Chicago. As the city grows in prominence and prestige, so do the boys: One son (Tyrone Power) becomes a rascal who dreams of creating his own entertainment empire, while the other son (Don Ameche) matures into an honest, straight-laced lawyer. Both boys woo a beautiful singer (Alice Faye), who favors the more reckless of the two. As the headstrong son gains control of the more disreputable forms of Chicago entertainment, the serious son becomes the city's Mayor. The requisite rivalry between the two reaches a fever pitch just before their mother's cow knocks over a lantern and sets off the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The O'Leary boys unite in trying to fight the conflagration and rescue the populace; the mayor dies, and the wastrel son vows to mend his ways and help build a "new" Chicago. In Old Chicago is climaxed spectacularly by the famous fire, a masterwork of special effects courtesy of 20th Century-Fox's Fred Sersen. The film, which originally ran 115 minutes, is currently available only in its shorter (and better paced) reissue version. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Henry King
Written By: Niven Busch & Sonya Levien
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1937 Wide
On DVD: Aug 9, 2005

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
As a film entertainment it is socko.
, New York Times
Mr. King's direction, occasionally, is inspired, and the photography has unusual style and dramatic impact.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Under Henry King's direction there is little of the old Fox pep.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Chicago makes up in atmosphere and color what it lacks in historical accuracy.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Zanuck's disaster film, part of cycle that includes Ford's superior Hurricane, is not as entertaining as MGM's San Francisco, but the set-pieces of crowds, riots, and cattle stampedes during the fire are impressive.
, Time Out
With a star-filled cast and a fitful sense of drama, it's pretty much the same old recipe as the equivalent cycle of megabudget '70s exploiters, but the climactic conflagration is certainly worth the wait.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
can't hold our interest for much more than five minutes
, Film4
Nothing extraordinary in retrospect, but it is genial enough.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Like San Francisco, events sort of just happen and allegiances just sort of shift around to stall time before the grand finale.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Spencer S

This film feels somewhat lost among the Hollywood gems of the thirties, though it was nominated for several Academy Awards, and lent to one of the biggest mysteries concerning Alice Brady's Oscar trophy. The story revolves around the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. There is a large… More
This film feels somewhat lost among the Hollywood gems of the thirties, though it was nominated for several Academy Awards, and lent to one of the biggest mysteries concerning Alice Brady's Oscar trophy. The story revolves around the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. There is a large myth that purports that a cow in Mrs. O'Leary's barn set it off a fire, destroying most of the town. In this story Mrs. O'Leary is a widow with three sons living in Chicago. She works night and day as a washer woman to support Jack, a lawyer, Dion, a gambler, and Bob, a newlywed. Most of the plot follows the story of Jack and Dion, played by the wildly popular Don Ameche and Tyrone Power. Before we even get to the tragedy aspect of the film, the first hour or so follows Dion's rise to power in The Patch, the crime riddled section of Chicago, filled with gambling, alcohol, and loose women. Dion falls for and manipulates Belle Fawcett, a performer who sets up a new club with him to the disdain of her former boss, Gil Warren. The romance between Dion and Belle is abusive at best, many scenes showing him pinning her down, catching her before she can run away, and ambushing her several times while she and her maid scream for the police. Of course, in thirties fashion, she sees his roguish charm and falls in love with him. Weaving through are the politics of the mayoral race, in which Jack is a candidate against Gil Warren. This leads to a bout of conflict between the two brothers, one trying to clean up the city, the other trying to make a quick buck. Then, after Dion tricks both Jack and Belle, the barn is set aflame, and we get to watch some really amazing special effects for the time period. There is so much illness, and depression as we watch people get stampeded, families split apart, and others dying young in the flames. This film doesn't hold back, or play out to any cliches when it comes to the ensuing action, making it both a character study of the disenfranchised O'Leary clan, and particularly Dion, the man without ethics who everyone keeps giving the benefit of the doubt. A strong film from a strong era of moviemaking.
AJ V

Sure it's an epic historical movie, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring! Good actors, but the movie could have been a lot better.

Cast

            Tyrone Power as Dion O'Leary

            Alice Faye as Belle Fawcett

            Don Ameche as Jack O'Leary

            Alice Brady as Molly O'Leary

            Andy Devine as Pickle Bixby

            Brian Donlevy as Gil Warren

            Phyllis Brooks as Ann Colby

            Tom Brown as Bob O'Leary

            Sidney Blackmer as Gen. Phil Sheridan

            Berton Churchill as Senator Colby

            June Storey as Gretchen O'Leary

            Paul Hurst as Mitch

            Tyler Brooke as Specialty Singer

            J. Anthony Hughes as Patrick O'Leary

            Gene Reynolds as Dion O'Leary (younger)

            Bobs Watson as Bob O'Leary (younger)

            Billy Watson as Jack as a Boy

            Spencer Charters as Beavers

            Rondo Hatton as Rondo Bodyguard

            Ruth Gillette as Miss Lou

            Eddie Collins as Drunk

            Scotty Mattraw as Beef King

            Charles Lane as Booking Agent

            Frank Dae as Judge

            Harry Stubbs as Fire Commissioner

            Joe King as Ship's Captain

            Francis Ford as Driver

            Robert Murphy as Police Officer

            Wade Boteler as Police Officer

            Gustav von Seyffertitz as Man in Jack's Office

            Russell Hicks as Man in Jack's Office

            Harry Hayden as Johnson Secretary

            Vera Lewis as Witness

            Mme. Sul Te Wan as Hattie

            Minerva Urecal as Frantic Mother

            Clarence H. Wilson as Lawyer

            Ed Brady as Wagon Driver
See full cast