"The Irish in Film," a popular movie series sponsored by Fairfield University's Irish Studies Committee, continues its third series on April 14, with a 1940s comedy, "The Great McGinty" (1940), directed and written by Preston Sturges. The film stars Brian Donlevy as Daniel McGinty, a former bum who becomes the front man in a political machine that makes him mayor of a city resembling both Boston and Chicago in its voting shenanigans and finally soars to become governor of the unnamed state. Once in power, McGinty marries, becomes a devoted family man, and a politician who cares about the welfare of the people he governs. This "change of heart" does not sit well with the corrupt political boss (Akim Tamiroff), who rigged McGinty's elections. The film is funny and moving, especially in its final moments, but retains the Sturges bite for which he is so well known. Dr. Leo O'Connor, the director of American studies, introduces the film.
The films are shown in the Multimedia Room of the DiMenna-Nyselius Library on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Fairfield University students as well as the public are welcome to this free event. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, please contact Marion White, Irish Studies Committee, at (203) 254-4000, ext. 3021, or by e-mail at mwhite@fairfield.edu.
photo courtesy of PARAMOUNT/The Kobal Collection from Image Cinema Gallery database.