“MOTHER MACHREE” FILMED IN IRELAND

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6616, 22 May 1928, Page 9

“MOTHER MACHREE” FILMED IN IRELAND

PRETTY COLLEENS AND NATIVE BOYS AMONG SPOTS OF RUSTIC BEAUTY. When Fox Films executives decided to make a screen version of ‘‘Mother Machrcc,” Rida Johnson Young’s heart gripping story of mother love, it was announced that no reasonable expense would be spared in efforts to supply the necessary Irish backgrounds. With this thought uppermost John Ford’s special camera crew was instructed to “dig into the heart of Ireland and come home with the goods.” In order to accomplish this it was necessary to follow the life history of Ellen M‘ Hugh, as typified by Belle Bennett. Ford’s camera crow proceeded to Dublin, made all incidental arrangements with the Irish. Free Btate officials, and (hen chartered special RollsEoyce raofur ears to take them to tho Atlantic const of Galway in the West of Ireland.

Here, starting with a tiny cottage—the home of Ellen M'Hugh—tho company worked many days laying the foundations for this gripping narrative. Scenes also were filmed at Dublin, tho port of embarkation on the east coast.

“Wc toured rural Ireland and picked out locations in some of tho most beautiful spots conceivable,” said Ford. “We used abbeys and ancient castles, quaint rustic nooks, rivers, the sea and waterfalls of entrancing beauty. “Storm were the greatest handicaps, and the Irish colleens our greatest joy. Charming native lassies and shy little lads—peasant boys driving donkeys—were available on all sides for extra bits. At first it was hard to photograph them, for they were totally ignorant of motion picture procedure, but Chief Cameraman Berquist and Assistant Director James Dunne of our Hollywood staff, won their friendship and accomplished great things. “The primitive conditions under which these Irish peasants live arc almost inconceivable. Their utter simplicity and constant frugality are simply unbelievable.

“Our men, entering humble thatched huts, wore shocked at tho crudity of their surroundings. In all their experience they had never seen anything like this among the white races.”

“Mother Machrcc” includes in its cast Victor M'Laglen, Tod M'Namara, Constance Howard, Neil Hamilton, Eulalic Jensen, Pat .Somerset, Rodney Hildebrand, William Platt, Philippe de Lacey, and others, and will have an early showing at the Do Luxe Theatre commencing to-morrow at the matinee. Patrons are advised to make early reservations at Berryman’s. Theatre telephone 5050.