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Film, Video [The Callahans and the Murphys--excerpt]

digital viewing copy

About this Item

Title

  • [The Callahans and the Murphys--excerpt]

Summary

  • Annie Callahan and Maggie Murphy are feuding Irish-American housewives trying to care for and manage their large families in cramped apartments. They live across the alley from each other and often quarrel. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the two mothers, Maggie's son, Dan falls in love with with Annie's daughter, Ellen. In this excerpt, the Callahans are sitting at the breakfast table. Son Jim notices that the sugar bowl is almost empty. Mrs. Callahan calls across the alley to ask Mrs. Murphy if she can borrow a cup of sugar. Mrs. Murphy cheerfully agrees. Mrs. Callahan sends another son, Timmy, to the Murphy's apartment. Mrs. Murphy fills the sugar bowl, but as soon as he is out in the hallway, Timmy starts to shovel the sugar into his mouth. By the time he gets home, it is almost all gone. Not noticing Timmy's guilty look and bulging cheeks, Mrs. Callahan gets angry at Mrs. Murphy for being stingy with the sugar. They exchange words across the alley. Mrs. Callahan throws a tomato, which Mrs. Murphy dodges. It hits her husband, who is sitting at the table with their son, Dan. Both women slam their windows and blinds shut. Mrs. Callhan is so angry that she pulls the blind completely off the window.

Names

  • Hill, George W. (George William), 1895-1934, film director
  • Marion, Frances, 1888-1973, scenarist
  • Spence, Ralph, 1890-1949, contributor
  • Morgan, Ira, 1889-1959, cinematography
  • Gibbons, Cedric, 1895-1960, set designer
  • Townsend, David, 1891-1935, set designer
  • Dressler, Marie, 1869-1934, actor
  • Moran, Polly, 1883-1952, actor
  • Savage, Turner, actor
  • O'Neil, Sally, 1908-1968, actor
  • Lewis, Tom, 1864-1927, actor
  • Gray, Lawrence, 1898-1970, actor
  • Currier, Frank, 1857-1928, actor
  • Gribbon, Edward, actor
  • Shirley, Anne, 1918-1993, actor
  • Norris, Kathleen Thompson, 1880-1966
  • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, production company

Created / Published

  • [1927]

Headings

  • -  Irish American families--Humor
  • -  Irish American women--Humor
  • -  Neighbors--Humor

Genre

  • Film excerpts
  • Comedy films
  • Fiction films

Notes

  • -  Excerpt from a feature film originally released theatrically in 1927 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Copyright for original: © Metro Goldwyn Mayer Dist. Corp.; 11Jul27; LP24254.
  • -  Jumps in continuity; some interior titles may be lacking. Original title and credits lacking.
  • -  Beginning title and some credits added by Library of Congress, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center.
  • -  A title card, "The End", appears briefly at the end of the excerpt, however the film does not appear to be a trailer, or a promotional film, nor does the excerpt appear to be from the last reel of the film.
  • -  Based on the book, The Callahans and the Murphys by Kathleen Norris.
  • -  Cinematography by Ira H. Morgan ; editing by Hugh Wynn ; costume design by René Hubert ; sets by Cedric Gibbons, David Townsend.
  • -  Marie Dressler (Annie Callahan), Polly Moran (Maggie Murphy), Turner Savage (Timmy Callahan), Sally O'Neil (Ellen Callahan), Tom Lewis (Mr. Murphy), Lawrence Gray (Dan Murphy), Frank Currier (Grandpa Callahan), Eddie Gribbon (Jim Callahan), Monty O'Grady (Michael Callahan), Jackie Combs (Terrance Callahan), Gertrude Olmstead (Monica Murphy), Anne Shirley/Dawn O'Day (Mary Callahan).
  • -  Sources used: Internet movie database, February 22, 2024; AFI catalog online viewed February 22, 2024; Wikipedia, viewed February 22, 2024; Variety, July 13, 1927, p. 22 viewed February 23, 2024 via the Media History Digital Library.

Medium

  • 1 video file (digital) (approximately 3 min.) : si., b&w.

Source Collection

  • Anthony N. Tarsia Collection (Library of Congress)

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2024600504

Online Format

  • image
  • video

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

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Credit Line: Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division.

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Hill, George W. , Film Director, Frances Marion, Ralph Spence, Ira Morgan, Cedric Gibbons, David Townsend, Marie Dressler, et al. The Callahans and the Murphys--excerpt. produceds by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayeruction Company [1927] Video. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2024600504/.

APA citation style:

Hill, G. W., Marion, F., Spence, R., Morgan, I., Gibbons, C., Townsend, D. [...] Norris, K. T. (1927) The Callahans and the Murphys--excerpt. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayeruction Company, prod [Video] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2024600504/.

MLA citation style:

Hill, George W. , Film Director, et al. The Callahans and the Murphys--excerpt. prod by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayeruction Company [1927] Video. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/2024600504/>.