Irene (1926)

Irene, a feisty Irish girl in Philadelphia, clashes with her family and walks out, heading to New York City to seek fame and fortune. She gets a job as a dressmaker's model and becomes ... See full summary »

Director:

Alfred E. Green

Writers:

George Marion Jr. (titles), June Mathis,

Stars:

Colleen Moore, Lloyd Hughes, George K. Arthur

Cast

Cast overview:
Colleen Moore	...	Irene O'Dare
Lloyd Hughes	...	Donald Marshall
George K. Arthur	...	Madame Lucy
Charles Murray	...	Pa O'Dare
Kate Price	...	Ma O'Dare
Ida Darling	...	Mrs. Warren Marshall
Eva Novak	...	Eleanor Hadley
Edward Earle	...	Larry Hadley
Larry Wheat	...	Bob Harrison (as Laurence Wheat)
Marion Aye	...	Helen Cheston (as Maryon Aye)
Bess Flowers	...	Jane Gilmour
Lydia Yeamans Titus	...	Mrs. Cheston
Cora Macey	...	Mrs. Gilmour

Storyline

Irene, a feisty Irish girl in Philadelphia, clashes with her family and walks out, heading to New York City to seek fame and fortune. She gets a job as a dressmaker's model and becomes involved with Donald, the scion of a wealthy family. Donald's mother doesn't approve of Irene and sets out to discredit her in Donald's eyes.

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Plot Keywords:

gay interest | gay slur | one word title | based on play | character name in title

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 February 1926 (USA)

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White Color (2-strip Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was adapted from a Broadway musical that originally opened at the Vanderbilt Theater on Nov. 18, 1919 and ran for 675 performances. Irene Dunne and Jeanette MacDonald were replacement cast members during its long run. The musical was later revived with Debbie Reynolds in the lead. This version opened at the Minskoff Theater in New York on March 13, 1973 and ran for 594 performances.

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Connections

Version of Irene (1940)

User Reviews

Funny Colleen Moore Film

Another top silent comedy by superstar Colleen Moore.... In this one she plays the daughter of a poor Irish family (with all the stereotypes) from Philadelphia. After losing her job in a department store and fighting with Ma (Kate Price) she ends up in New York City where she lands a job as a dressmaker's model. She meets a wealthy man (Lloyd Hughes) and you can guess the rest.

Moore sparkles as usual playing the spunky lass who fights the odds and makes good. The film is also notable for the openly gay character of Madame Lucy, played by George K. Arthur. Charlie Murray plays the dad, and Bess Flowers and Eva Novak play models.

This First National release also boasted a 2-strip Technicolor sequence (the model show) but my copy has what looks like a red tint for this section unless that's all that's left of the color.... no idea.

The best scene is perhaps the one where Moore is on a turntable so that Madame Lucy can drape fabric over her and create a dress.... and amazingly he does.... then the turntable goes haywire.... LOL