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Old Mother Riley
Old Mother Riley is a fictional character portrayed from about 1934 to 1954 by Arthur Lucan and from 1954 to the 1980s by Roy Rolland as part of a British music hall act. Old Mother Riley (full comedy name: Daphne Bluebell Snowdrop Riley) is an Irish washerwoman and charwoman character, devised by Lucan (born Arthur Towle). His wife Kitty McShane played Old Mother Riley's daughter, Kitty. It was essentially a drag act but also a double act. The couple played music halls, theatres, and broadcast on radio and appeared in films. Lucan was voted sixth biggest British box-office star by the ''Motion Picture Herald'' in 1943. In 1939, Jimmy Clitheroe appeared in an Old Mother Riley pantomime called ''The Old Woman who Lives in a Shoe'', and then the following year had a part in the film, ''Old Mother Riley in Society''. The ''Film Fun'' comic included an “Old Mother Riley” strip cartoon in the 1940s. Old Mother Riley was the first and arguably the most influential drag act on stag ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Mother Riley's Jungle Treasure
''Old Mother Riley's Jungle Treasure'' is a low budget 1951 British comedy film, the penultimate in the long running Old Mother Riley series starring Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane. It features an early appearance by future ''Carry On'' regular Peter Butterworth. Husband and wife Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane had separated by the time of production, and were touring in different "Old Mother Riley" shows. This was Kitty's final Mother Riley film, and her scenes with Lucan were reputedly shot on separate days. During filming, there was a strike over pay, led by the dancer Josie Woods, who was an extra on the film. Plot summary Mother Riley, working in an antique shop with daughter Kitty, uncovers a secret treasure map hidden in the headboard of an antique bed. With the help of the ghost of the pirate Captain Morgan, mother and daughter head for a remote tropical island in the South Seas, and begin their hunt for buried treasure. Not only do they find the fortune, but Mother Ri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Mother Riley Headmistress
''Old Mother Riley, Headmistress'' is a low budget black and white 1950 British comedy film, starring Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane. The 13th film in the Old Mother Riley series, it features the Luton Girls Choir playing many of Mother Riley's pupils. Plot summary Daughter Kitty is sacked from her job as music teacher at an exclusive girls school, but Mother Riley unexpectedly comes into an inheritance, and decides to buy the girls finishing school and give Kitty her job back. Mother Riley soon establishes herself as headmistress at St. Mildred's School for Young Ladies, and throws herself into her new role with vigour, whether it's taking P.E. lessons, brazenly cheating on Sports Day, or confronting the haunted school piano. Cast * Arthur Lucan as Daphne Snowdrop Bluebell Riley * Kitty McShane as Kitty Riley * The Luton Girls Choir as School choir * Willer Neal as Bill Travers * Cyril Smith as Maltby * C. Denier Warren as Clifton Hill * Enid Hewitt as Miss Helen Carruthers * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Mother Riley's New Venture
''Old Mother Riley's New Venture'' is a low-budget black-and-white 1949 British comedy film, starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and Chili Bouchier. It is the twelfth in the long-running Old Mother Riley films, and was the first of the series to play in London's West End. In addition, it was the first to be released in the US, where it opened in 1952, as ''Old Mother Riley'', (and was re-released there as ''A Wild Irish Night''). Plot summary The owner of a five star London hotel leaves for a holiday, and to everyone's surprise promotes Old Mother Riley from kitchen dishwasher to manageress. Chaos ensues, and Mother Riley and Kitty are suddenly suspects in the theft of the Royal Hula Diamond, but somehow along the way also manage a trip to a beauty parlour, a banquet with Arab royalty, some Saint Patrick's Day celebrations, and a climactic custard pie fight. Cast * Arthur Lucan as Old Mother Riley * Kitty McShane as Kitty Riley * Chili Bouchier as Cora Gayne * Willer Neal as D ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Mother Riley At Home
''Old Mother Riley at Home'' is a 1945 British comedy film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and Freddie Forbes. It is the 11th film in the long-running Old Mother Riley series. Plot summary Mother Riley's daughter Kitty has run off with her new and (so says Mother Riley), "no good" boyfriend. With the aid of Kitty's true love Dan, Mother Riley tracks the runaways and discovers them in a gambling den. Cast * Arthur Lucan - Mrs Riley * Kitty McShane - Kitty Riley * Freddie Forbes - Mr Bumpton * Richard George - Dan * Willer Neal - Bill * Wally Patch - Bouncer * Kenneth Warrington - Boss * Angela Barrie - Duchess * Janet Morriso - Mary * Elsie Wagstaff - Mrs. Ginochie * Henry B. Longhurst - Commissionaire Critical reception ''TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Gui ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Mother Riley Detective
''Old Mother Riley Detective'' is a 1943 British comedy film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and Hal Gordon. It was part of the long running Old Mother Riley series. Old Mother Riley investigates the disappearance of food during the war, a serious crime because of rationing. Plot The film opens with a night watchman being bludgeoned, as a safe is cracked open in the offices of the District Food Controller. A list of wartime foods to be rationed is stolen, and the police fear gangsters are planning to sell the foods on the black market. As the office charwoman, Old Mother Riley's fingerprints are all over the safe, and she becomes the police's number one suspect. To prove her innocence, Mother Riley turns detective, adopting various methods and disguises to track down the villains. Cast * Arthur Lucan as Mrs. Riley * Kitty McShane as Kitty Riley * Ivan Brandt as Inspector Victor Cole * Owen Reynolds as Kenworthy * George Street as Inspector More ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Mother Riley Overseas
''Old Mother Riley Overseas'' is a 1943 British comedy film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and Anthony Holles (actor), Anthony Holles. In the screenplay, Old Mother Riley relocates to Portugal. Plot summary Mother Riley is tricked out of her licence for a pub, and heads for Portugal to find her daughter who is working in the wine business. Along the way she is somehow mistaken for a famous pianist, but arrives in Portugal just in time to prevent her daughter from being kidnapped. She also manages to retrieve stolen port wine. Cast * Arthur Lucan ... Mrs. Riley * Kitty McShane ... Kitty Riley * Morris Harvey ... Barnacle Bill * Fred Kitchen ... Pedro Quentos * Sebastian Cabot (actor), Sebastian Cabot ... Bar Steward * Magda Kun * Anthony Holles (actor), Anthony Holles * Ferdy Mayne * Freddie William Breach * Bob Lloyd * Paul Erickson (screenwriter), Paul Erickson * Eda Bell * Ruth Meredith Critical reception ''TV Guide'' said, "following ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Mother Riley's Ghosts
''Old Mother Riley's Ghosts'' is a 1941 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and John Stuart. It was the 8th in the long-running Old Mother Riley series. Old Mother Riley inherits a castle in Scotland, but it appears to be haunted. Plot summary Old Mother Riley inherits a Scottish property, believing it, at first, to be a pub, and makes the journey up north with her daughter, Kitty. They are surprised to find themselves in possession of a haunted castle, though it turns out the ghouls and ghosties are not what they seem. They are in fact an ingenious front for an espionage ring anxious to get their hands on an inventor's plans, and trying to scare intruders away. After vigorous attempts to scare Mother Riley out of her wits, the Irish washerwoman ends up turning the tables on the spies, and terrifying them in return. Cast * Arthur Lucan ... Mrs. Riley * Kitty McShane ... Kitty Riley * John Stuart ... John Cartwright * A. Bro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Mother Riley In Business
''Old Mother Riley in Business'' is a 1941 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and Cyril Chamberlain. It was the sixth in the long-running Old Mother Riley series of films. Old Mother Riley's pub faces competition from a large chain store nearby, causing her to declare war on it. Plot summary Old Mother Riley comes to the rescue of local shopkeepers after a ruthless chain, "Golden Stores" makes its aggressive presence felt. The boisterous Irish washerwoman gives the chain stores boss a push into the river and soon finds herself a wanted woman, donning a nurse's outfit to escape from the hospital in which she is hiding. Cast * Arthur Lucan as Mrs. Riley * Kitty McShane as Kitty Riley * Cyril Chamberlain as John Halliwell * Ernest Butcher * O. B. Clarence * Edgar Driver * Morris Harvey * Roddy Hughes * Ruth Maitland * Edie Martin * Wally Patch * Ernest Sefton * Charles Victor Charles Victor (10 February 1896 – 23 Decembe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Mother Riley Joins Up
''Old Mother Riley Joins Up'' is a 1940 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane, Martita Hunt, Bruce Seton and Garry Marsh. It was part of the long-running Old Mother Riley series. Plot summary Old Mother Riley works as a nurse before volunteering for the Auxiliary Territorial Service. With the help of her daughter Kitty and Kitty's boyfriend Lieutenant Travers, she thwarts a plan by enemy agents to steal important secret documents. Cast * Arthur Lucan ... Mrs. Riley * Kitty McShane ... Kitty Riley * Glen Alyn ... Pauline * Dorothy Dewhurst ... Mrs. Rayful * Martita Hunt ... Commandant * H. F. Maltby ... Gen. Hogsley * Garry Marsh ... Dr. Leach * Bryan Powley ... Mr. Rayful * Bruce Seton ... Lt. Travers * Jeanne Stuart ... Nurse Wilson Critical reception ''TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Mother Riley In Society
''Old Mother Riley in Society'' is a low budget 1940 black and white British comedy film, directed by John Baxter, and starring Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane. It is the fifth in the long running Old Mother Riley series, and features the screen debut of Jimmy Clitheroe as the boot boy in a high society household. Plot Old Mother Riley does the laundry for the dancers in the pantomime "Aladdin", where her daughter Kitty works as a chorus girl. Sneaking a peek at the show one day, Mother Riley accidentally pops up through a trap door onto the stage. Accosted by the angry star, Mother Riley’s belligerent responses have the audience in stitches. Outraged, the star walks out, leaving Kitty to take over the leading role, to great success. Kitty is congratulated after the show by wealthy high society boy Tony Morgan, and the couple start to fall in love. Tony and Kitty eventually marry and move into the Morgan family mansion, taking Mother Riley with them, as Kitty’s personal maid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Mother Riley, MP
''Old Mother Riley, MP'' is a 1939 British comedy film starring Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane, which forms part of the Old Mother Riley series of films. The film's plot centres on Old Mother Riley standing for election to the House of Commons. Plot summary Concerning Old Mother Riley's fight against her landlord, and as a means of defeating a corrupt politician intent on demolishing her street and the local pub along with it, Mother Riley taking to the soapbox. Local crowds cheer her on, and she finds herself elected to Parliament, and eventually promoted to Cabinet Minister for Strange Affairs. Cast *Old Mother Riley - Arthur Lucan *Kitty Riley - Kitty McShane *Jack Nelson - Torin Thatcher *Henry Wicker - Henry Longhurst *Archie - Patrick Ludlow *Emperor of Rocavia - Dennis Wyndham *Littleman - Rex Alderman *The Supervisor - Cynthia Stock *Brownlow - Kenneth Henry Critical reception *Mary Haberstroh writes in Britmovie, "“Old Mother Riley, MP” synthesizes slapstick come ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Mother Riley In Paris
''Old Mother Riley in Paris'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane, Magda Kun and C. Denier Warren. It is the second in the Old Mother Riley series of films, and is also known by its re-release title, ''Old Mother Riley Catches a Quisling''. Synopsis Old Mother Riley is sacked from her job as a step cleaner at the office where her daughter Kitty works. She goes home to make steak and kidney pudding for their lodger, Joe, who is vaguely engaged to Kitty, but distractedly pours castor oil into the gravy, with amusing results. Jo is not sure he wants to be tied down to Kitty (or her impossible mother) and arranges for his travel agency employers to post him to Paris for six months, much to Kitty's discomfiture. While changing a light bulb, Old Mother Riley has a fall from a stepladder, resulting in her hospitalisation: keen to claim the maximum amount on her insurance she alters her medical records for the worse, only to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |