An Irish Talkie

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1070, 6 September 1930, Page 25

An Irish Talkie

JOHN McCORMACK FILM

Hollywood Comes to Dublin

WHEN the Fox Company sent an entire production unit to Ireland to film scenes “on the spot” for “Song o’ My Heart,” the John McCormack talkie coming to the St. James, a mild sensation was'ereated in Dublin. The following article consists of extracts from “The Irish Statesman,” reproduced as they appeared. They were written by Mary Manning, a well-known Dublin journalist, at the time filming began.

“Hollywood has come to Dublin.” Some time ago the Fox Films Company in Hollywood had an idea. They decided to ask the greatest tenor in the world if he would sing in three, or possibly four, sound pictures for them. The greatest tenor in the world said he would think about it. He was Irish, and a very practical man. He also thought big. Fox Films suggested that the first sound picture should be Irish. Very good and very suitable. They named a figure. The greatest tenor in the world said yes. It was a very big figure. Under his contract the greatest tenor in the world was to receive £IOO,OOO for singing in three or four sound pictures made by Fox Filins. Excellent. Now to business. The story and dialogue had to be written. Mr. Tom Barry, a well-known playwright, whose name looked big on Broadway, and had already been responsible for two successful talkies, “In Old Arizona” and “The Valiant,” was asked to write the story for the Irish talkie. Mr. Barry said yes. DIRECTOR AND CAST The director was the next problem. Frank Borzage, one of the few subtle and intellectual minds among the 110 -

lywood directors, was asked to undertake the production. He accepted. Now comes a stroke of genius. J. M. Kerrigan, then filming in Hollywood, and late of the Abbey Theatre, and the Irish Players, was asked to cast it. Now what about Ireland? Science, unfortunately, was not far enough advanced as yet, for the Fox Film Company to transport Ireland to Holly wood, so Hollywood needs must go tc Ireland.

The coming of the production unit to the Irish Free State is of great significance.

in the first place, it means a certain amount of the Hollywood gold will be spent in this country.

Secondly, the film, when made, will be exhibited all over the world, which will mean free international publicity, and furthermore, as there is to be a background of mountains and sea, the tourist propaganda ought to be considerable.

Thirdly, it is to be a picture of modern Ireland. An accurate picture. There are to be no colleens, shillelaghs, squireens or begorras. Mr. Kerragan would not suffer a begorra, I feel convinced of that. Lastly, the success of any sound film, in which John McCormack is to sing, is a foregone conclusion. An Irish super-talkie of modern Irish life, for the first time accurately and intelligently portrayed on the screen, is a chance for the Free State to show the world.