Mother Machree (1928)

Ellen McHugh, a poor Irish immigrant to America, finds work in a carnival and is thus able to send her son Brian to a fine school. But when her position is found out, the school expels ... See full summary »

Writers:

Rida Johnson Young (from the story by), Gertrude Orr (scenario),

Stars:

Belle Bennett, Philippe De Lacy, Victor McLaglen

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Belle Bennett	...	Mother Machree
Philippe De Lacy	...	Brian - Child
Victor McLaglen	...	The Giant of Kilkenny
Ted McNamara	...	The Harper of Wexford
Billy Platt	...	The Dwarf of Munster (as William Platt)
Eulalie Jensen	...	Miss Van Studdiford
Constance Howard	...	Mrs. Cutting
Pat Somerset	...	Bobby De Puyster
Neil Hamilton	...	Brian

Storyline

Ellen McHugh, a poor Irish immigrant to America, finds work in a carnival and is thus able to send her son Brian to a fine school. But when her position is found out, the school expels Brian. Mrs. McHugh feels compelled to allow the school principal and his wife to adopt Brian. The widow McHugh becomes a housekeeper and raises her employer's daughter Edith, who grows up to fall in love with Brian McHugh.

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Plot Keywords:

widow | carnival | irish | housekeeper | immigration | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

19 December 1928 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Minha Mãe

Box Office

Budget:

$750,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System) (sound effects and musical score) Silent

Color:

Black and White (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Library of Congress has reels 1, 2 and 5, while reels 2, 5 and 7 currently survive at the UCLA film and television archives.

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Connections

Referenced in Just Dennis: Mr. Wilson's Housekeeper (1962)

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Soundtracks

"Irish Washerwoman"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Played as background music often

User Reviews

The 21 Year Old John Wayne

This film was originally credited as John Wayne's debut film, but obviously he appeared in films two years before this as an uncredited extra. He showed early promise in these silent films with his height, his smile, and just the way how he embodied the American west.