The Moviegoer

"Dawn Over, Ireland," the first picture completely produced and acted in the Emerald Isle is chiefly interesting for its realistic portrayal of the dark days following the Easter Rebellion of 1916, when the small Irish Republican Army was doggedly twisting the British Lion's tail. A trifle Algeresque, the plot tells how a young Irish patriot (Brian O'Sullivan), suspected of being an "informer" by his mates, is ostracised and in revenge joins the British "Black and Tans." A threatened raid on his former fellows brings him to his senses in time to warn them of it, and lead a counter-attack. Romance winds its way unobtrusively through the story in the person of a lovely Irish colleen (Margaret O'Connor), also a fiery patriot.

The cast, many of whom were members of the Republican Army, play their roles with such feeling and restraint that the feeling of creaky propaganda, too apparent in many epics of social struggle, is absent. As a result the picture possesses a dignity and artistic sincerity not often met with. Mr. O'Sullivan as the young patriot and Miss O'Connor as his fiancee are outstanding. The quality of the photography and sound lag a little behind that of the acting, but these can be learned from Hollywood, while fine acting cannot.