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Arthur Lucan/Old Mother Riley | |||
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THE HULL CONNECTION The Tivoli Theatre/Skeltons Tivoli House Cafe OTHER |
THE FILMS Introduction
The act of Old Mother Riley and her daughter Kitty was first brought to the screen in
Stars On Parade (1936), alongside George Formby
(pictured below) and Gracie Fields (pictured below).
George Formby Lucan & McShane also had minor roles in the film Kathleen
Mavoureen (1937), a musical tale set in Ireland.
However, the 'Old Mother Riley' series
proper began with Old Mother Riley (1937) and continued until 1952 with a total of 15 films. Cheaply
made and highly profitable, these films were immensely popular,
especially with young children. The Old Mother Riley character The gangly Old Mother (Mrs) Riley (pictured opposite) was usually a charwoman or
laundress, but some films found her running a shop or pub with the aid
of her headstrong daughter, Kitty. Arthur Lucan's comedy came from Mother Riley's absurd
predicaments, eccentric ways, facial and bodily contortions, and
malapropism-filled tirades against all who displeased her, seasoned with
"knockabout" slapstick.
Quotes and images not my own remain in the copyright of the originator or else in the public domain. The information contained in this web site is intended for entertainment, educational, historical, and informational purposes only. All rights Reserved Worldwide © 2001-2008 |
The 'Old Mother Riley' films Cheaply made and highly profitable, fifteen films were made in the Old Mother Riley series between 1937 and 1952. A further film - Old Mother Riley's Trip To Mars (1954) - was in contract negotiations shortly before Arthur Lucan died in May 1954. Click on each film title below for further information. The films in chronological order were :
Old Mother Riley chews the cud in the House of Commons, in Old Mother Riley, MP (1938). [Click picture for larger image]
Kitty McShane and Arthur Lucan in his familiar Old Mother Riley garb Other film appearances There is archive footage of Arthur as Old Mother Riley in the 1977 film To See Such Fun This Comedy/Documentary film consists of excerpts from 80 years of the greatest British comedies, comedians and comic actors from Chesney Allen to Norman Wisdom. The earliest film footage of Arthur Lucan : 'The Lost World of Mitchell and Kenyon' 'The Lost World of Mitchell and Kenyon' is a three part documentary produced by the BBC in conjunction with the British Film Institute. It contains the earliest known images of the young Arthur Lucan ever captured on film. The second in the series, it features brief footage from the turn of the last century (before WWI) of him performing in Blackpool with The Musical Cliftons.
Blackpool Pier circa 1903 It also features a short interview with Slim Ingram, who was his show manager in the early 1950s. The documentary is available to buy on DVD and provides a fanscinating insight to life in Britain over 100 years ago.
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