With an intriguing subject and a talented cast (Don Ameche, Alice Faye, Alice Brady, Tyrone Power) and director (Henry King), 'In Old Chicago' immediately sparked my interest (regarding watching it) and had a lot going for it.
Having seen it, 'In Old Chicago' is a little disappointing and more left me relatively lukewarm rather than properly ignited. However, there is more than enough to make it worth a view, even if urges for re-watching are slim. It has often been compared to 'San Fracisco', and often unfavourably, there are similarities between the two and while it is understandable (and agreed) that 'In Old Chicago' is the inferior film of the two there is still enough to make it watchable at least once.
'In Old Chicago' looks great, with the cinematography being handsomely mounted but with enough grit to not make it over-glossy and also with elegant but atmospheric costume and set design. For the time and for now as well, the special effects in the final twenty minutes detailing the famous fire disaster are staggeringly good. The music score is energetic and vibrant enough, with luscious orchestration, while also with an atmosphere that stops it from sounding too melodramatic or too chirpy. The songs, while not classics as such, are pleasant enough, a few of them (such as the title song) sung beautifully by Alice Faye.
King directs with a meticulous eye for detail, great urgency and tension in the final twenty minutes and good direction of the actors, even if he doesn't quite succeed as well with the script and overall momentum of the story. The final twenty minutes are utterly riveting, and by far 'In Old Chicago's' dramatic highlight, with boundless tension, urgency and with visuals that give the full impact of the disaster rather than being too small scale due to budget hindrances or something.
The cast is a good one and perform well. Alice Brady shows a different side to her, and brings sincerity and authority to her mother figure role. Ameche is likable and charming, while Power shows that he was more than an actor with just good looks in a performance that has handsome suavity and reckless charisma. His fight with Ameche is well handled. Andy Devine and Brian Donlevy are strong in support. Faye sings beautifully and is lovely enough but doesn't have very much to do in a somewhat underwritten role.
On the other hand, 'In Old Chicago' does drag and meander quite badly in spots, with the main plot-line having its fair share of leaden melodrama and there is a lot of overlong scene-setting that could have been shortened or completely cut. There are also subplots that either don't go anywhere much, or are wrapped up too quickly or neatly.
The script has the odd heartfelt and thought-provoking moment, but much of it is laid on too thick with syrup and sugar in the melodramatic parts while the grittier subjects that it tries to tackle later on (which would have made for a more interesting film if handled a little better) were either handled too heavy-handedly or too safely, which did on each side diminish any conflict. Tonally, with trying to have more than one element, it does feel confused and unfocused at times.
All in all, crackles in the final twenty minutes but apart from enough to keep one watching was somewhat of a lukewarm experience on the whole. Not a bad film, a long way from, just was expecting more. 6/10 Bethany Cox.
Having seen it, 'In Old Chicago' is a little disappointing and more left me relatively lukewarm rather than properly ignited. However, there is more than enough to make it worth a view, even if urges for re-watching are slim. It has often been compared to 'San Fracisco', and often unfavourably, there are similarities between the two and while it is understandable (and agreed) that 'In Old Chicago' is the inferior film of the two there is still enough to make it watchable at least once.
'In Old Chicago' looks great, with the cinematography being handsomely mounted but with enough grit to not make it over-glossy and also with elegant but atmospheric costume and set design. For the time and for now as well, the special effects in the final twenty minutes detailing the famous fire disaster are staggeringly good. The music score is energetic and vibrant enough, with luscious orchestration, while also with an atmosphere that stops it from sounding too melodramatic or too chirpy. The songs, while not classics as such, are pleasant enough, a few of them (such as the title song) sung beautifully by Alice Faye.
King directs with a meticulous eye for detail, great urgency and tension in the final twenty minutes and good direction of the actors, even if he doesn't quite succeed as well with the script and overall momentum of the story. The final twenty minutes are utterly riveting, and by far 'In Old Chicago's' dramatic highlight, with boundless tension, urgency and with visuals that give the full impact of the disaster rather than being too small scale due to budget hindrances or something.
The cast is a good one and perform well. Alice Brady shows a different side to her, and brings sincerity and authority to her mother figure role. Ameche is likable and charming, while Power shows that he was more than an actor with just good looks in a performance that has handsome suavity and reckless charisma. His fight with Ameche is well handled. Andy Devine and Brian Donlevy are strong in support. Faye sings beautifully and is lovely enough but doesn't have very much to do in a somewhat underwritten role.
On the other hand, 'In Old Chicago' does drag and meander quite badly in spots, with the main plot-line having its fair share of leaden melodrama and there is a lot of overlong scene-setting that could have been shortened or completely cut. There are also subplots that either don't go anywhere much, or are wrapped up too quickly or neatly.
The script has the odd heartfelt and thought-provoking moment, but much of it is laid on too thick with syrup and sugar in the melodramatic parts while the grittier subjects that it tries to tackle later on (which would have made for a more interesting film if handled a little better) were either handled too heavy-handedly or too safely, which did on each side diminish any conflict. Tonally, with trying to have more than one element, it does feel confused and unfocused at times.
All in all, crackles in the final twenty minutes but apart from enough to keep one watching was somewhat of a lukewarm experience on the whole. Not a bad film, a long way from, just was expecting more. 6/10 Bethany Cox.