His Family Tree (1935)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Charles Vidor

Writers:

Patrick Kearney (play) and
Harry Wagstaff Gribble (play) ...

Release Date:

29 September 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

There's a kick in the name of Murphy...no matter how you spell it! (original poster)

Plot:

When his son doesn't respond to his many letters, Patrick Murphy decides to leave Ireland and visit his son in America...

Plot Keywords:

Irish | Mayor | Press Agent | Escape | Merchant

Cast

James Barton	...	Patrick 'Bosun' Murphy
Margaret Callahan	...	Elinor Murfree - aka Murphy
Addison Randall	...	Mike Donovan
Maureen Delaney	...	Nellie Oulihan (as Maureen Delany)
William Harrigan	...	Charles Murfree - aka Murphy
Marjorie Gateson	...	Margaret 'Maggie' Murfree - aka Murphy
Phillip Trent	...	Dudley Weatherby (as Clifford Jones)
Ray Mayer	...	Bat Gilligan
Herman Bing	...	Mr. 'Stony' Stonehill
Pat Moriarity	...	Terrence 'Terry' Gilligan (as Pat Moriarty)
Charles Coleman	...	Hopkins - the Butler
Ferdinand Munier	...	Mayor John J. Holtsapple
Orville Caldwell	...	Julius - Mayor's Henchman
William Lemuels	...	Brannigan
Mrs. James Barton	...	Irish Dancer

Runtime:

69 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1102) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

The play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 25 December 1940 and closed 11 July 1931 after 64 performances. The opening night cast included 'Henry O'Neill', Peggy Conklin and Roy Roberts. After the summer, it reopened on 14 September 1931 and ran for an additional 48 performances.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In an establishing shot, the legend is shown reading - POST OFFICE - CENTER CITY - IOWA and a date given in roman numerals - MXlXlll - which is impossible.

Soundtrack:

Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)

Classic Irish Tap Dancing

A strange little relic from the studio period where ethnicity, particularly of the Irish (or 'oirish') variety was considered box office gold. Not a good picture by any means, its plot includes the kidnapping and being held in a hotel room cliché beloved of early 30's pictures with a time constraint of either a political debate or The Big Game. In this case a election hangs in the balance but having the plot turn on whether or not a candidates real name is Murphy, rather than the assumed Murfree, considering the substantial Irish vote which the election seems to turn on, seems a bit counter-intuitive.

That being said, HIS FAMILY TREE is interesting now as a record of a classic Irish vaudeville performer, James Barton, as the story gives him three opportunities to strut his stuff with fine little tap routines. Maureen Delaney manages a part of one song and is in fine voice too. Barton went on to playing character parts in a series of classic films in the 1948-1952 period. Delaney returned back to England and became a character actress in some of the finest post-war English films. Essentially painless, HIS FAMILY TREE is not recommended for any other reasons than these two performances.