Friday, 15 August 2014

A visit to a north Kerry cinema in 1938 to watch an historic Irish movie




Thank you to Michael Keane who has contacted us with some wonderful short descriptive articles written by his father and his aunt in the 1930s. Michael wrote:

“I am a Coventry-born man of Irish heritage and have an interest in some of the things you have been writing about. I would like to send you over a couple of things written by my dad and aunt, from the 1930s, covering some aspects of rural life in north Kerry. They came to light a little a while ago in old school books and they may be something your readership might enjoy.
“I personally think the cinema one is very interesting due to the film it mentions which I have looked up. I think they are interesting ‘period pieces’ of their time, which could even kick-start some other similar pieces from your readers.

Here is the first of the three articles Michael has sent in, this one written by his father, also named Michael Keane, in the 1930s. The piece is in fact a review of a film called The Dawn:

Visit to a Cinema
Hearing that the Killarney made film “The Dawn” was to be shown at the Picturedrome, Tralee, I decided not to miss the opportunity of seeing the world famed picture.  Accompanied by a few friends, I journeyed from Causeway in the bus to Tralee.  Knowing that there would be a rush for seats we made our way to the Picturedrome half an hour before the picture commenced. Even then the crowds were streaming in from all directions. 

A jostling crowd was gathered round the paying office, but after some time we managed to get our tickets. Then we proceeded to the balcony which was already half full.  The crowd, especially those in the pit, made a deafening din as they argued, sang and whistled.  A terrific cheer heralded the dimming of the lights and in a moment they went out.
Then, to the accompaniment of another cheer, the screens were drawn aside and advertisements shown.  Items of interest preceded a very enjoyable comic.  Next the cast of the ‘Dawn’ was shown and the picture began.  The fight for Irish independence against odds of British military by some local patriots was the main theme of the film.  The stark realism of war was intermingled with the best of comedy to make the film most presentable.

The actors were as good as Hollywood’s best and acted their parts with the greatest taste and intelligence. The picture finished amid wild applause and the spectators crowded out of their seats discussing the merits of the picture.

By Michael Keane 

Incredibly, a Google search for The Dawn provides a link to the first part of the film on a website called Dailymotion at this link:
The film was made by Hibernia Films in 1938 and was a Thomas G Cooper production, assisted by Dr D.A. Moriarty with actors Brian O’Sullivan, Eileen Davis, Tom Cooper, Donal O’Cahil, Jerry O’Mahony, Bill Murphy, Marian O’Connell and James Sleese. It is described as the first talking movie ever made in Ireland and is set in the Irish War of Independence in 1919. The longer title of the film was Dawn Over Ireland.

Elsewhere on the internet there is a fascinating discussion of the film by Tadgh O’Sullivan, who is credited on the opening credits of the film for its sound recording.  This can be viewed on You Tube at this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5We8LM2yP6M      

The You Tube review includes a closer look at an action scene in which men from the IRA ambush a unit of Black and Tans. At the end of this review, which itself looks quite dated and may have been from a television documentary, Tadgh O’Sullivan says that he is the only surviving member of the production team.   
The other two articles that Michael Keane sent to us are titled The Farmer and Summer which together paint both an evocative and informative picture of Irish rural life in the 1930s. So please read the next edition of The Harp as we continue our trip down memory lane in the north of county Kerry.    

Thank you once again to Michael Keane for sharing the three articles.
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