My Irish Molly

My Irish Molly
Original film poster
Directed by Alex Bryce
Written by Alex Bryce
John Argyll
Ian Walker
W.G. Fay (additional diaglogue)
Produced by John Argyle
Starring Binkie Stuart
Maureen O'Hara
Phillip Reed
Tom Burke
Cinematography Ernest Palmer
Edited by F.H. Bickerton
Music by Guy Jones
Production
company
John Argyle Productions
Distributed by Associated British Film Distributors
Release date
  • 1938
Country United Kingdom
Language English

My Irish Molly is a 1938 British musical film, directed by Alex Bryce and starring Binkie Stuart, Tom Burke and Maureen O'Hara shot at Welwyn Studios with footage of Ireland. The screenplay concerns a young orphan who runs away from her mean-spirited guardian to live with her aunt. O'Hara appeared in the film under her real name of Maureen FitzSimmons. The film was released in the US in 1940 under the title My Little Molly with scenes of Binkie Stuart removed due to Maureen O'Hara being given top billing due to her American popularity.

Plot

In a rural village in Ireland, Molly Martin, an adorable young moppet has been ordered to live with her Aunt Hannah. Molly prefers to live with her other Aunt, the kind widow Mrs O'Shea, the sister of Hannah. Mrs O'Shea's daughter Eileen is in love with Sonny Gallagher who seeks his fortune in New York City as a taxi driver.

An American writer named Bob and his photographer Chuck are guests of the O'Sheas as they write travel stories on Ireland illustrated with Chuck's photographs. When Chuck sends a photograph of Molly to New York she is selected to be the poster girl of an American company named Shamrock. Accompanying Molly is Eileen who seeks to find Sonny who is hiding from her due to his losing his job and being unable to find another one. Sonny returns to Ireland to set things right with Molly, her two Aunts, and Eileen, who has fallen in love with Bob.

Cast

Soundtrack

  • Danny Boy (traditional)
    • Sung by Thomas Burke
  • Eileen Allanagh (traditional)
    • Sung by the cast
  • 'I'll Be Off to Tipperary in the Morning
    • written by Billy O’Brien and Raymond Wallace
    • Sung by Thomas Burke
  • Farmyard Frolics
    • written by Christine Makgill
    • Sung by Binkie Stuart
  • Kathleen Mavourneen
    • written by Frederick Crouch with lyrics by a Mrs. Crawford