"In Old Chicago" is an action and drama film with a tremendous cast from the golden era of Hollywood. It's a story set in the Chicago of 1870, that hardly resembled a modern metropolis then. In the 21st century, this film may be of most interest in its portrayal of the early American cities with muddy streets and wooden store fronts and homes. And, the spectacle of this film is its portrayal of the great Chicago fire of 1871 that took 300 lives and destroyed a huge section of the city - more than three square miles. Legend has it that it was a cow in Mrs. O'Leary's barn that kicked over a lantern as the causes of the fire.
The film is one of those that had much hoopla made for its opening. It had a movie newsreel featurette made for is premiere with actors and Hollywood moguls showing up for the film's opening. All of this was to the delight of the crowds of fans. And, it was a huge production with a then-astronomical budget of $2 million. When one sees the crowds in the various scenes, the fire scenes, and the rebuilt studio lot city, it's hard to imagine - in the 21st century, how such an extravaganza could be made at such a low cost. By the end of the 20th century, the top movie stars themselves could command salaries up to $5 million for just one picture.
Salaries for the top movie stars have inflated many times more than for the general populace. Still, Tyrone Power, Don Ameche, Alice Faye, Alice Brady, Brian Donlevy, and the host of well-known actors in the supporting cast of this film made a decent living - well above that of the general population during the Great Depression.
This movie was nominated for Best Picture and five others Academy Awards. Alice Brady won the Oscar for best supporting actress and Robert Webb won for best assistant director. While all of the cast are good, Brady's is the only role that was of award quality.
The film is one of those that had much hoopla made for its opening. It had a movie newsreel featurette made for is premiere with actors and Hollywood moguls showing up for the film's opening. All of this was to the delight of the crowds of fans. And, it was a huge production with a then-astronomical budget of $2 million. When one sees the crowds in the various scenes, the fire scenes, and the rebuilt studio lot city, it's hard to imagine - in the 21st century, how such an extravaganza could be made at such a low cost. By the end of the 20th century, the top movie stars themselves could command salaries up to $5 million for just one picture.
Salaries for the top movie stars have inflated many times more than for the general populace. Still, Tyrone Power, Don Ameche, Alice Faye, Alice Brady, Brian Donlevy, and the host of well-known actors in the supporting cast of this film made a decent living - well above that of the general population during the Great Depression.
This movie was nominated for Best Picture and five others Academy Awards. Alice Brady won the Oscar for best supporting actress and Robert Webb won for best assistant director. While all of the cast are good, Brady's is the only role that was of award quality.