Irene (1926 film)
Irene is a 1926 American silent romantic comedy film starring Colleen Moore, and partially shot in Technicolor. The film was directed by Alfred E. Green, produced by Moore's husband John McCormick, and based on the musical Irene written by James Montgomery with music and lyrics by Harry Tierney and Joseph McCarthy.
| Irene | |
|---|---|
Trade advertisement | |
| Directed by | Alfred E. Green |
| Written by | June Mathis Rex Taylor George Marion, Jr. (titles) |
| Based on | Irene by James Montgomery |
| Produced by | John McCormick |
| Starring | Colleen Moore Lloyd Hughes George K. Arthur |
| Cinematography | Ted D. McCord |
| Edited by | Edwin Robbins |
| Music by | Harry Tierney Joseph McCarthy |
| Distributed by | First National Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
| Budget | $1,500,000[1] |
Plot edit
As described in a film magazine review,[2] Donald Marshall becomes a partner in a modiste shop and insists that Madame Lucy be made its operator. Young Irish woman Irene O'Dare graduates from being a demonstrator in the store window to being a successful model. On the night of a big fashion show for society, Irene arouses Lucy's anger and is told to stay and watch the shop. Donald arrives and assures her that she will lead the show. Irene is a sensation, but her mother arrives and stops her promenade by taking her home. Donald follows and Irene is forgiven by her mother. Overhearing Irene confess to her mother of her love for him, Donald folds her into her arms.
Cast edit
- Colleen Moore as Irene O'Dare
- Lloyd Hughes as Donald Marshall
- George K. Arthur as Madame Lucy
- Maryon Aye as Helen Cheston
- Ida Darling as Mrs. Warren Marshall
- Edward Earle as Larry Hadley
- Bess Flowers as Jane Gilmour
- Betty Francisco as Cordelia Smith (uncredited)
- Cora Macey as Mrs. Gilmour
- Charles Murray as Pa O'Dare
- Eva Novak as Eleanor Hadley
- Kate Price as Ma O'Dare
- Laurence Wheat as Bob Harrison
- Lydia Yeamans Titus as Mrs. Cheston
Production edit
The scenes which were shot in Technicolor cost a total amount of $100,000. The total budget of the film was $1,500,000.[1]
This was the fourth of five films, in three years, with Moore and Hughes starring in the lead roles. They also appeared together in The Huntress (1923), Sally (1925), The Desert Flower (1925) and Ella Cinders (1926).[3]
This was the final film of actress Marion Aye, who started appearing on film in 1919 as one of the uncredited Sennett Bathing Beauties. She continued to work in vaudeville and committed suicide in 1951.[4]
George K. Arthur plays a flamboyant gay man who works as a dressmaker named "Madame Lucy" and does not threaten the status quo despite making extravagant gestures.[5] This characterization was also reviewed in the 1995 documentary film The Celluloid Closet.[6]
Preservation edit
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Dutch film magazine Het Weekblad: Cinema & Theater No. 145
- ^ Elliott, Frank (February 27, 1926), "Pre-Release Review of Features: Irene", Motion Picture News, 33 (9), New York City, New York: Motion Picture News, Inc.: 1014, retrieved March 26, 2023 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "All Visual Works with both Colleen Moore and Lloyd Hughes". IMDb. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ Marion Aye November 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine at marionaye.blogspot.com
- ^ Russo, Vito (1987). The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies (Revised ed.). New York City: Harper Collins. pp. 36–37. ISBN 0-06-096132-5.
- ^ IMDb entry
- ^ Progressive Silent Film List: Irene at silentera.com
- ^ Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress, p. 90, c.1978 by the American Film Institute)
Bibliography edit
- Jeff Codori (2012), Colleen Moore; A Biography of the Silent Film Star, , (Print ISBN 978-0-7864-4969-9, EBook ISBN 978-0-7864-8899-5).
External links edit
- Irene at IMDb
- Synopsis at AllMovie
- Color lobby poster
- Stills of Colleen Moore (1900 - 1988) at virtual-history.com
- Irene Technicolor Sequence (fashion show) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive (from a Russian print)