This week’s mystery movie was the 1938 Twentieth Century-Fox film “In Old Chicago,” with Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Alice Brady, Andy Devine, Brian Donlevy, Phyllis Brooks, Tom Brown, Sidney Blackmer, Berton Churchill, June Storey and Paul Hurst.
Directed by Henry King.
Associate Producer Kenneth Macgowan.
Screenplay by Lamar Troti and Sonya Levien, based on a story by Niven Busch.
Special effects scenes staged by Fred Sersen, Ralph Hammeras and Louis J. Witte. Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone. Photographed by Daniel B. Clark.
Photography by Peverell Marley, art direction by William Darling and Rudolph Sternad. Set Decorations by Thomas Little. Unit manager Booth McCracken. Assistant director Robert Webb. Edited by Barbara McLean. Costumes by Royer. Sound by Eugene Grossman and Roger Heman. Musical direction by Louis Silvers.
A wealth of historical information on the film (the studio’s most expensive production to that time) is available at the American Film Institute website.
“In Old Chicago” is available on DVD from Amazon.
I thought that after “The Old Dark House” last week, it would be fun to do a mystery musical. But which one? I went to the massive TCM database to look for a musical (entertaining, right?) that hadn’t aired on TCM recently. The result was “In Old Chicago,” which coincidentally fit the “Old” theme from “The Old Dark House.”
Although there is a screen credit thanking the Chicago Historical Society, the plot seems to have been dreamed up over drinks at a cocktail lounge after seeing MGM’s “San Francisco” (1936): What do we know about Chicago? The fire. OK. Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, so we’ll make it about an Irish family. A couple of brothers, one crooked and one honest and they fight all the time. What else? Everybody’s on the take. Now we need some love interest. Throw in some pretty ladies, scanty costumes, redeeming moral value from hard-working Mrs. O’Leary. End with everything burning up in the fire and the script writes itself.
Which is pretty much what happens.
Let’s see which New York Times critic hated it. I’ll put my money on quibbling from Bosley Crowther, although we may have a potential Frank S. Nugent semi-rave.
B.R.C. (presumably ol’ Bosley) said (Jan. 7, 1938):
Troy was a bonfire, Rome a false alarm, compared with Mr. Darryl Zanuck’s “In Old Chicago,” a four-alarm picture which brought all available apparatus last night to the screen of the Astor Theatre. By some production miracle, the film achieves the lusty, amoral quality of the original city, the city of prodigious growing pains, the infant Gargantua of the prairies, in spite of the Hays office – which is probably Art. Vulgar, ostentatious, squalid, exuberant, bawdy and delightful (to contemplate at least). Mr. Zanuck’s Chicago makes Carl Sandburg’s metropolis of bohunks seem as literary and anemic as the Hamptons.
…. The script by Lamar Trotti and Sonya Levien is to be commended as something better than merely an excuse for an excellent piece of antiquarian cinema; Mr. King’s direction, occasionally, is inspired, and the photography has unusual style and dramatic impact. Incidentally, the film is a paradise for bit players and extras, and for secondary people like Andy Devine, Mr. Donlevy, Phyllis Brooks, Tom Brown, Sidney Blackmer and June Storey, who acquit themselves admirably.
For Monday, we have a mystery cow.
Update: This is Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, Daisy.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery woman. She is astonished and perplexed by such goings-on.
Update: This is Madame Sul-Te-Wan and, I believe, Robert Murphy.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (mystery movie and mystery cow).
And just for fun (depending on your idea of fun), here’s a bonus mystery cow.
Update: This is the cow from “De Duva,” a marvelous takeoff on Ingmar Bergman films, hence the subtitle.
For “Aha Wednesday,” we have a dapper mystery gent. His less mysterious companions will be revealed Thursday and Friday.
Update: For “Aha Thursday,” our mysterious dapper gent has a mystery companion.
Update: For Friday, we add our leading man.
Update: This is Tyrone Power, left, Andy Devine and Brian Donlevy.
We also have this mysterious woman.
Update: This is Alice Brady.
And finally, we have these three mystery lads.
Update: This is Gene Reynolds, Bobs Watson and Billy Watson.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery cop and mystery woman), Anne Papineau (Tuesday’s mystery woman), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery woman), Megan and Thom (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery woman) and Alexa (mystery movie).
For “Aha Thursday,” Wednesday’s dapper gent has a mysterious companion. Our mysterious leading man has been cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness and will appear Friday.
Update: Adding our leading man for Friday.
Update: This is Brian Donlevy, Rondo Hatton and Tyrone Power. Interesting that director Henry King and Rondo Hatton go back to “Hell Harbor,” our mystery movie from last year.
Also we have these mystery gents. Their companion has been cropped out due to lack of mysteriousness and will appear Friday.
Update: Adding our second lead for Friday.
Update: This is Russell Hicks of Beefstake Mine fame, Gustav von Seyffertitz and Don Ameche.
Finally for “Aha Thursday,” we have this mystery couple.
Update: This is June Storey and Tom Brown.
And for fun, another mystery cow. Moo.
Update: This is Caroline the cow from the film version of “Gypsy” (1962)
Brain Trust roll call: Floyd Thursby (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mysterious dapper gent), Mary Mallory (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Tucson Barbara (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery woman and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sue Slutzky (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery woman and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Funky PhD (Wednesday’s mystery woman, but it’s another movie), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guests), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mysterious dapper gent), Richard Wegescheide (Wednesday’s mysterious dapper gent, but it’s another movie), Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Michael Ryerson (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mysterious dapper gent and mysterious lad No. 2), Chrisbo (Wednesday’s mysterious dapper gent), Gary (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery woman), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s blurry mystery policeman and Wednesday’s mystery guests), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast), Sheila (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery woman and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery guests) and Barb Erickson (mystery movie).
For Friday, we have this mysterious mayoral candidate.
Update: This is a drawing of Don Ameche.
We also have this mystery couple.
Update: This is Phyllis Brooks and Tyrone Power.
We also have this mystery woman.
Update: This is Alice Faye.
And a final mystery cow. Mooo.
Update: This is the muppet Gladys the Cow from “I’m Proud to Be a Cow.”
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s additional mystery gent and Thursday’s mystery guests), Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s mystery guests), Chrisbo (Wednesday’s additional mystery gent and Thursday’s mystery gent No. 1), Beachgal (mystery movie and all mystery guests, plus Monday’s and Thursday’s mystery cows, and predicting Friday’s mystery leads), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests, Thursday’s mystery cow and mystery cow’s lyrics), Michael Ryerson (Wednesday’s additional mystery gent, Thursday’s mystery gents Nos. 1 and 2), Funky PhD (mystery movie and Wednesday’s additional mystery gent), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s additional mystery gent and Thursday’s mystery guests), Pat in Michigan (Thursday’s mysterious cow and mystery cow’s lyrics), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s additional mystery gent and Thursday’s mystery guests), Dan Nather (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery gents and mystery lads, Thursday’s mystery gents Nos. 1, 4-5 and mystery couple, predicting Friday’s mystery leads), Benito (Wednesday’s mystery guests and Thursday’s mystery guest No. 1), Sylvia E. (Monday’s and Thursday’s mystery cows, Thursday’s mystery guests, unmysterious victim of cropping and predictions of Friday’s guests), Sue Slutzky (Thursday’s mystery guests) and Diane Ely (mystery lads).
ladailymirror.com 
THE MILKY WAY (1936).
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Alas, no, but you’ve got the right decade!
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Devin Nunes’ cow, and a good picture at that. Surprised this isn’t a Friday image. No mystery here.
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I’m a big fan of that cow. This movie bovine might be an ancestor.
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Either Day at the Races or in the realm thereof.
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You have the right decade!
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Mrs. O’Leary’s bovine, in “In Old Chicago”
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The Cow from “Mush and Milk”?
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Right decade, but Mrs. Emmons won’t be joining us this week.
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Damn! I know this cow!
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Robert Murphy, Madame Sul-Te-Wan IN OLD CHICAGO (1938)
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Madame Sul-Te-Wan
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Madame Sul-te-wan in IN OLD CHICAGO.
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The one and only Madame Sul-Te-Wan is our guest today; our movie is In Old Chicago.
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In Old Chicago of course
(Santa Fe is a treat by the way)
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Brian Donlevy for Wednesday. The movie is “In Old Chicago.”
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On Monday, I thought it could be OLD CHICAGO, but it looked too humorous for that. Made Sul-Te-Wan and Wade Boteler Tueaday, and Bran Donleyy, Alice Joyce, Gene Reynolds, Bobs Watson, and Bily Watson today. Alice Brady won an Oscar for this but a man accepted in her behalf and walked off with the Oscar. I wish you had included Gustav von Seyffertitz or J. P. McGowan. Hawks and I have seen plenty of him in mid teens Niles Essanay films.
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I’ve been busting my brain, thinking “cow stories, cow stories… Larry always has a theme.”
Wednesday brought the dawn and Mr Donlevy.
“In Old Chicago” 1938 directed by Henry King.
Monday – the O’Leary cow I suppose
Tuesday – Madame Sul-Te-Wan. Guesses on the police officer, either Bob Murphy or Wade Boteler
Another O’Leary cow, or is this some other family’s creature?
Wednesday – Brian Donlevy and cropped for lack of mysteriousness Andy Devine I think. Alice Brady (Mrs O’Leary) and the ‘kid versions’ of our lead O’Leary sons: Gene Reynolds, Billy Watson and Bob Watson.
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“In Old Chicago”
Monday – Mrs. O’Leary’s cow
Tuesday – Madame Sul-Te-Wan, Fred Kelsey (?)
Wednesday – Brian Donlevy, Alice Brady, Gene Reynolds, Bobs Watson, Billy Watson
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In Old Chicago
For now, Tuesday: Madame Sul-Te-Wan is the maid, the policeman is ???
Wednesday: Brian Donlevy and Alice Brady, and I think Bobs and Billy Watson (not sure about the other boy).
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Alice Brady in The Harvester?
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Brian Donlevy; Alice Brady; Gene Reynolds, Bobs Watson, Billy Watson.
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Are Brian Donlevy and Mrs. O’leary’s cow In Old Chicago?
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Wednesday looks like Brian Donlevy, so I’ll guess ‘Barbary Coast’
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Alice Brady, Bobs and Billy Watson and Gene Reynolds in “In Old Chicago”. No credit for who plays The Cow.
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In Old Chicago (1938). Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, here looking back and taking aim at that lantern on the milking stool. Bobs Watson peeking out from between the two older boys and, of course, Brian Donlevy acting goofy about a year before Sergeant Markoff.
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Wednesdays gent looks like Brian Donlevy
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Larry! I am shocked. Shocked I tell you. Why ths is Alice Brady winning an oscar…on Wednesday? In Old Chicago. I thought I recognized that cow!
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Brian Donlevy, Alice Brady, Gene Reynolds, Billy and Bobs Watson. And from yesterday Wade Boteler.
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In Old Chicago (1938) w/Mrs. O’Leary’s cow!, Alice Brady, Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche Brian Donlevy, Bobs Watson, Billy, Watson, Gene Reynolds, Nellie Wan (Madame Sul-Te-Wan)…
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Madame Sul-Te-Wan for Tuesday, Brian Donlevy, Alice Brady, Bobs Watson for Wednesday, ‘In Old Chicago’?
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On Wednesday, Brian Donlevy, Alice Brady, Gene Reynolds, Bobs Watson and Billy Watson.
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I think that must be a very very very young Gilbert Gottfried on the left of Wednesday, considering that he won’t be born for 20 years.
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Is it the movie “In Old Chicago” ?
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Andy Devine added on Wednesday, Brian Donlevy and Rondo Hatton, Russell Hicks and Gustav von Seyffertitz (yay!),and Phyllis Brooks and Tom Brown.
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Thursday – Brian Donlevy, Rondo Hatten, Russell Hicks. Gustav von Seyffertitz, June Storey, Tom Brown
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There’s Andy Devine and Rondo Hatton. It’s In Old Chicago.
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Tues maid – Madame Sul Te Wan.
Movie is In Old Chicago
Wed mysterious woman is Alice Brady
Wed children are Gene Reynolds, Bobs Watson, Billy Watson
Thurs embraced couple Tom Brown and June Storey
Wed dapper gent Brian Donlevy with Thurs reveal Andy Devine
Thurs character next to dapper gent Brian Donlevy is Rondo Hatton
Thurs politicians are Gustav von Seyffertitz and Russell Hicks
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Color cow on Thurs is from the ’62 Gypsy.
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B&W cow is Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, Daisy
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Fri we will see our stars Alice Faye, Don Ameche and Tyrone Power
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Brian Donley, Rondo Hatton; Russell Hicks, Gustav von Seyffertitz; June Storey, Tom Brown.
Quoting Stephen Sondheim’s GYPSY lyric:
“I have a moo cow, a new cow
A true cow named CAROLINE, moo moo, moo moo…”
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And on Thursday, Andy Devine makes a sudden appearance along with Rondo Hatton and an ultra smooth Russell Hicks likely still hawking shares in the Beefsteak Mine.
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Got it. Andy Devine as the companion of Tuesday’s mystery gent. The film is “In Old Chicago.”
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On Thursday, Rondo Hatton, Russell Hicks, Gustav on Seyffertitz, June Storey and Tom Brown. Forgot to mention Andy Devine the other day.
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Thursday’s mystery bovine is unmistakably a moo cow, a new cow, a true cow named Caroline.
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Andy Devine, Rondo Hatton, Gustav von Seyffertitz, June Storey, Tom Brown and Russell Hicks.
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IN OLD CHICAGO (1938)
Wed/Thurs: Andy Devine and Brian Donlevy (admiring Alice Faye); Alice Brady; Billy and Bobs Watson, plus Gene Reynolds; don’t know the first gent, but that’s Rondo Hatton on the right; Russell Hicks (I think) and Gustav von Seffertitz; and I believe the couple is Tom Brown and Phyllis Brooks.
Awaiting Tyrone Power, Don Ameche, and Alice Faye in the flesh tomorrow . . .
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Andy Devine, Brian Donlevy and…Rondo Hatton!
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Returning to Monday’s cow – if it’s the O’Leary cow (in this movie, but not historically) her name is Daisy.
Thursday – Mr. Donlevy again with Rondo Hatton and ‘cropped-for-lack-of-mysteriousness’ Tyrone Power / Russell Hicks and Gustave von Seyffertitz / Tom Brown and June Storey / Bonus cow is from “Gypsy” and Natalie Wood (I think is inside the cow suit)
This leaves Don Ameche and Alice Faye as well as fully seeing Tyrone Power.
A fun mystery movie
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Thursday: New mystery man – Rondo Hatton,
Russell Hicks and Gustav von Seyffertitz
June Story and Tom Brown
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Three mystery lads are probably three of the Watson boys.
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Tyrone Power and Don Ameche turning up Wednesday and Thursday then Ameche poster with Tyrone BOTH, Phyllis Brooks and Tyrone, and Alice Faye.
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Don Ameche, Phyllis Brooks, Tyrone Power, Alice Faye
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Fri – added Ty Power next to Andy Devine/Thurs. Ty Power added next to Rondo/Thurs. Don Ameche added to Thurs with politicians.
Fri Mayor poster of Don Ameche. Ty Power with Phyllis Brooks. Alice Faye in butterfly hat.
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Don Ameche; Phyllis Brooks, Tyrone Power; Alice Faye.
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I see Tyrone Power and Dom Amiche, and I believe Alice Faye, so my second guess is now ‘In Old Chicago’
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On Thursday, Caroline the dancing cow
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“In Old Chicago” with Tyrone Power, Don Ameche, Alice Brady…Gene Reynolds and Rondo Hatton.
The cow was a literally a tip-off or tip-over. Sorry for the pun and lateness in responding.
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Phyllis Brooks, Don Ameche, Alice Faye and Tyrone Power.
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Thursday’s Mystery cow could be one of any hundreds of so called movie vaudeville sequences. But I’m guessing Gypsy.
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Friday’s cow looks to me to be one of the Muppets. I worked with them several times on commercials. They are a howl off cmera!
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The movie that asks the question: who is prettier Alice Faye or Tyrone Power?
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Big week for cows! 🙂
Gladys the cow (Muppets)
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Thursday’s mystery cow is, of course, Caroline, from Gypsy.
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