Murphy’s Town Hall Athenry 50 12th May 1953 – Francis Goes to the Races, a 1951 comedy movie, starring Donald O’Connor and Francis the Talking Mule was screened in the Hall, (source: the Hall Journal). 26th May 1953 – Mr. Music, a 1950 film starring Bing Crosby, Nancy Olson, Charles Coburn, Tom Ewell and Groucho Marx was screened in the Hall, (source: the Hall Journal). 12th June 1953 – Double Indemnity, a 1944 Film Noir starring Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G Robinson, was screened in the Hall (source: the Hall Journal). The screenplay was based on James M. Cain's 1943 novel of the same title. This classic film was nominated for 7 Academy Awards, but unfortunately secured none. 16th June 1953 – The Lemon Drop Kid, a 1951 comedy starring Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell was screened in the Hall (source: the Hall Journal). NB: The 1934 version of this Damon Runyan story had been screened in the Hall almost 2 decades earlier, in November 1935, see above. William Frawley featured in both the 1935 and 1951 versions. The 1951 version featured the popular Christmas song Silver Bells, sung by Hope and Maxwell. 19th June 1953 – Father of the Bride, a 1950 Comedy starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor, Don Taylor, Billie Burke and Leo G. Carroll was screened in the Hall (source: the Hall Journal). 7th July 1953 – Stella, a 1950 Black Comedy starring Ann Sheridan, Victor Mature and Leif Erickson was screened in the Hall (source: the Hall Journal). 18th August 1953 – The Paleface, a 1948 Comedy Western starring Bob Hope and Jane Russell was screened in the Hall (source: the Hall Journal). Buttons and Bows by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, a song sung by Bob Hope in the movie, went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song. 22nd September 1953 – Fancy Pants, a 1950 Romantic Comedy starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball was screened in the Hall (source: the Hall Journal). 20th October 1953 – Casablanca, a 1942 Romantic Drama starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid was screened in the Hall (source: the Hall Journal). The film features the famous song As Time Goes By and supporting cast includes Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Dooley Wilson. Casablanca won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. 15th November 1953 – Under Capricorn, a 1949 Thriller, directed by Alfred Hitchcock starring Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotten was screened in the Hall (source: the Hall Journal). Hitchcock actually makes 2 of his legendary cameo appearances in this movie: He features early on in the film, at a parade in the town square, wearing a blue coat and brown hat, and is also one of a group of 3 men standing on steps 10 minutes later. 29th December 1953 – Father's Little Dividend, a 1951 Comedy starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor and Hayden Rorke 91 was screened in the Hall (source: the Hall Journal). This movie is a sequel to Father of the Bride (1950) which had been screened in the Hall earlier this same year (see 19th June 1953 entry above). 19th January 1954 – Captain Horatio Hornblower, a 1951 Maritime movie, set during the Napoleonic Wars, starring Gregory Peck, Virginia Mayo, Robert Beatty and Terence Morgan was screened in the Hall (source: the Hall Journal). The film is based on the 1930s Hornblower novels by CS Forester. 16th February 1954 – Singin' in the Rain, a 1952 Musical Comedy starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell and Cyd Charisse was screened in the Hall (source: the Hall Journal). 10th & 11th March 1954 – The Athenry Choral Society performed Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers in the Hall, (source: the Hall Journal. See also Tuam Herald 20th March 1954, page 3). It was first performed in 1889, at the Savoy Theatre London. 91 Hayden Rorke is probably best remembered for appearing as Colonel Alfred E. Bellows in the 1960s TV sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, alongside Barbara Eden as Jeannie and Larry Hagman as Major Anthony Nelson.
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