Old Mother Riley in Society

Arthur Lucan had a long career as a female impersonator, playing Old Mother Riley, a stock Irish washerwoman on stage and screen until his death. He appeared in just shy of a score of films as the character, with his wife, Kitty MacShane, playing his daughter.

In this one, from an idea from Mrs. Lucan, Kitty marries into society and her mother masquerades as her nurse in order not to embarrass her. The mother-in-law is a snob and the servants are even worse snobs and the entire movie is as obvious in its execution as any Bowery Boys movie. It's not just stereotyped, it's petrified.

There is some good talent behind the camera, particularly in the opening sequence in which Mother Riley stops a bar fight. Credit cinematographer James Wilson and editor Michael Chorlton. But they really can't do much to save this one.

Kitty McShane actually gets story credit on this one; presumably inspired by the Lucans recently seeing 'Stella Dallas' and 'Pygmalion' (which provided the plot) and the adverts for 'Little Tough Guys in Society' (which provided the title).

Kitty first appears (heaven help us!) dressed as a principal boy singing in a production of 'Aladdin' (on a set that looks suspiciously as if it was left over from 'The Mikado'). After she's caught the eye of John Stuart (who's rather better looking than her beaus usually are) his mother improbably commends him on "his wise choice".

Mother meanwhile tags along in a maid's uniform and after the usual hilarious upsets at a society gathering the ending is actually rather sweet.

Little of note in this another episode in the OMR saga. The only nebulous point of interest is in the debut of diminutive Jimmy Clitheroe. An adult who spent his career playing schoolboys. He had a long running radio series on radio.