In Old Chicago is a historical drama that blends romance, politics, and disaster spectacle. The story follows the O’Leary family, Irish immigrants who settle in Chicago in the mid-19th century. The two grown sons take different paths: Dion becomes a cunning saloon owner while Jack pursues law and politics. Their rivalry escalates against the backdrop of ambition, corruption, and love, culminating in the infamous Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroys much of the city and forces the family to reconcile.
Genre: Historical Drama / Disaster Film
Director: Henry King
Henry King (1886–1982) was an American director whose career spanned from the silent era into the 1960s. Known for his versatility and craftsmanship, he worked across genres, directing dramas, westerns, romances, and epics. He was closely associated with 20th Century Fox and directed classics such as The Song of Bernadette (1943), Twelve O’Clock High (1949), and Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955). King’s films were marked by strong storytelling, emotional depth, and a balance between intimate character studies and large-scale spectacle.
Star Cast:
- Tyrone Power as Dion O’Leary
- Alice Faye as Belle Fawcett
- Don Ameche as Jack O’Leary
- Alice Brady as Mrs. Molly O’Leary
- Andy Devine as Pickle
- Brian Donlevy as Gil Warren
The film was a major box-office success and received critical acclaim for its performances, particularly Alice Brady’s role as Molly O’Leary, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The large-scale recreation of the Great Chicago Fire impressed audiences with its spectacle, setting a new standard for disaster sequences in Hollywood. Tyrone Power and Don Ameche’s contrasting portrayals of the O’Leary brothers helped solidify their careers as major stars.
Fun Facts:
- The climactic Great Chicago Fire sequence was one of the most elaborate disaster scenes filmed in the 1930s, using large sets and innovative special effects.
- Alice Brady won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance, but due to illness, her award was accepted by a stand-in who later disappeared with the statuette. The Academy eventually replaced it.
- The film was nominated for six Academy Awards in total, including Best Picture.
- In Old Chicago was one of Tyrone Power’s early starring roles, helping to establish him as one of 20th Century Fox’s leading men of the era.
- The story of Mrs. O’Leary and her cow starting the Great Chicago Fire was famously dramatized, though historians regard it as more folklore than fact.
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