Tue 8 Sep 2009
A Movie Review by Walter Albert: THE FIRE BRIGADE (1926).
Posted by Steve under Films: Drama/Romance , Reviews , Silent films[3] Comments
THE FIRE BRIGADE. MGM, 1926. May McAvoy, Charles Ray, Holmes Herbert, Tom O”Brien, Eugenie Besserer, Warner P. Richmond, Bert Woodruff. Director: William Nigh. Shown at Cinevent 41, Columbus OH, May 2009.
I don’t know what the cast of FX’s Rescue Me would think of this fire-fighter drama, but I liked it just fine.
Terry O’Neill (Charles Ray) is the youngest of three brothers in a family whose profession as firefighters goes back several generations. When one of Tom’s older brothers is killed in a fire that got out of control because of shoddy construction, the stage is set for a drama in which corrupt politicians and builders think nothing of constructing an orphanage that’s a potential firetrap.
Mix in Terry’s developing relationship with Helen Corwin (Mac McAvoy), daughter of James Corwin, the crooked builder (Holmes Herbert), and you have all the ingredients for an edge-of-your-seat, burning building conclusion.
And I want to add that the scene in which the young hero races the horse-drawn firewagon to the burning building caught my imagination in a way that the high powered technical marvels available to the contemporary firefighter never quite do.
September 8th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
TCM shows a nice film by the same director,
“Across to Singapore” (William Nigh, 1928). It has the same pleasant mix of adventure and likable characters that Walter Albert discusses in his article.
The only Charles Ray film seen here is “The Busher” (Jerome Stern, 1919), with Ray playing in baseball’s bush leagues. Ray does a good job.
A modern mystery-comedy film about firefighters is “Firehouse Dog” (2007). Its a well-made tale for kids that this grownup thoroughly enjoyed.
September 11th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Here’s another grownup who enjoyed “Firehouse Dog.” Actually, I can speak for two of us, since my wife liked it, too.
September 11th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
“Firehouse Dog” has got good storytelling, nice characters, comedy, and a solid mystery subplot. Plus beautiful color design: the sets, props and costumes are in eye-popping bright colors. I just stumbled across it by accident on cable TV, and then got involved.
I’ve never seen THE FIRE BRIGADE. It sounds terrific. Will be looking for it. Thank you for a very good review!