A Fighting Colleen Explained
A Fighting Colleen is a 1919 American silent comedy-drama film directed by David Smith and produced by Vitagraph Company of America. It stars Bessie Love and Charles Spere.
The film is presumed lost.[3]
Plot
Alannah Malone (Love), an Irish immigrant living in a tenement, who sells newspapers to make a living. When her mother dies, she engages in fistfights to defend her territory from newsboys. One particular newsboy (Spere) falls for her after she beats him up. The tenement in which Alannah lives is owned by the city's unjust mayor. When the District Attorney announces his candidacy for mayor, Alannah aids his campaign by gathering evidence to expose the mayor as a hypocrite.[4] [5]
Cast
- Bessie Love as Alannah Malone
- Anne Schaefer as Mother Malone
- Charles Spere as Jimmy Meehan
- Jay Morley as Stanton Colby
- George Kunkel as Mortimer Wall
- Beulah Clark as Maggie O'Higgins
Reception
Press for the film likened it to Mary Pickford's Daddy Long Legs and Mabel Normand's Mickey.[6] The film received positive reviews, and did well at the box office.[7]
Notes and References
- Book: Love, Bessie . 1977 . From Hollywood with Love: An Autobiography of Bessie Love . London . Elm Tree Books. 734075937. 150.
- Slight Entertainment in Story of Slum Life. New York. Wid's Films and Film Folks. Wid's Daily. November 16, 1919. 23.
- Web site: A Fighting Colleen / David Smith [motion picture]]. Library of Congress.
- A Fighting Colleen (Vitagraph). November 22, 1919. 3789. Motion Picture News. Hamlin. Tom. 20. 22.
- Picture-Play Magazine. The Fighting Colleen. 45–48,101. December 1919. 11. 4. Mary Denham. Monroe.
- News: Shortt's Theatre. Evening Post. 99. 109. May 8, 1920. 3. Melbourne.
- Various contemporaneous reviews:
- This is a winsome little play, and the star does herself credit. Good house.. Will C.. Perry. Vitagraph. Exhibitors Herald. May 22, 1920. 10. 21. 80.
- Exhibitors Herald. September 4, 1920. 116. Vitagraph. 11. 10. Pleased our patrons. Well worth considering. Love a very pleasing star..
- Motion Picture News. Vitagraph. 2986. An entertaining comedy drama.. March 27, 1920. 21. 14.
- Vitagraph. A likable little picture with a pleasing star whose work deserves bigger and better plays. Rain hurt business, but those who saw it like it.. A. N.. Miles. August 7, 1920. Exhibitors Herald. 81. 11. 6.
