Willy Reilly and His Colleen Bawn (Original title)
Date: 1918 (Release)Countries: Ireland, United KingdomDirector: John Macdonagh
Synopsis: An Irish Romeo and Juliet set in 18th century during the Penal Laws. Ends with the marriage of a Catholic aristocrat and the daughter of Protestant Squire.Shotlist: RL 1: Introduction to the Dramatis Personae. Willy Reilly, "an Irish Catholic gentleman of the 18th Century"; Helen Folliard, a beautiful young Protestant woman known across the country as the Colleen Bawn; Squire Folliard, father of Helen, a crusty old Protestant gentleman; and Sir Robert Whitecraft, a "Catholic Hunter in the Penal Laws", who wants to marry Helen against her will. Lord Folliard and his man are lost on an Irish moor and held up by the villainous Red Rapparee and his gang. Willy Reilly and his men intervene and rescue the Squire. Willy offers to lead the Squire home. Later, Red Rapparee and his men are overheard by Willy's friend, Tom the Fool, planning to go to the Squire's house that night and kidnap Helen. When Willy and her father arrive home, Folliard reminds Willy that "Protestantism is my strong point", and tells his daughter how Willy had rescued him earlier on. Meanwhile, Tom arrives and asks to see Willy with whom he shares the news. Willy goes back inside to Helen and the Squire (1226). RL 2: Willy assures Squire Folliard and Helen that if they leave it to him things will turn out alright. That evening, when the Red Rapparee enters Helen's room, Willy pounces from the shadows, but the Rapparee manages to escape. Next morning, watched secretly by a fortune teller, Willy and Helen proclaim their love for one another and decry the obstacles that their sectarian differences put in the way. The fortune teller informs Whitecraft of Helen's love for Willy. Whitecraft goes to see Folliard but only receives an invitation to a dinner to be held there in Willy's honour. Whitecraft and the Raparee come up with a plan to convince Folliard that the rescue of his daughter was a set-up to ensure his daughter's hand. At the dinner, Willy is offended by Whitecraft and the Squire's arrogance and withdraws, telling Helen that her love will maintain him through adversity. Meanwhile, Tom the Fool overhears the Raparee and Whitecraft convincing the Squire that Willy had tricked him by paying for the Rapparee's collusion. Tom tells Helen the next morning and she sends a letter to warn Willy. They meet but his honour will not allow him to abscond with her. Willy makes his way to his estate, removes the deeds of property, and departs. Whitecraft and the soldiers arrive too late. Willy, hunted and homeless, meets Mr Browne, a Protestant Minister, who offers him refuge and arranges that Willy provisionally hand over the deeds of the estate to a friend, Hastings. The soldiers burn the estate down on Whitecraft's instruction. As the deeds are now owned by Hastings, Whitecraft has unwittingly commited a crime (2613). RL 3: Squire Folliard informs Helen that she will marry Whitecraft in a month. Helen asks the maid to go to Willy and inform him. Meanwhile, Catholics are attending a secret mass in the countryside, and, when soldiers attempt to stop them the priest impresses them with his bravery. Helen's maid comes to see Willy at Peg Finnegans and tells him the news. Willy decides to dress as a gardener and seek a job at the Squire's estate. Meanwhile, Whitecraft captures and kills the priest. Willy gets a job as gardener, but, having been identified, the couple decide to elope. On the way, they are waylaid by Whitecraft's band and Willy is accused of stealing the jewels that Helen had taken with her. Willy is imprisoned in Dublin and Helen is taken back to the estate. Meanwhile, Mr Browne and Hastings decide that an end must be put to Whitecraft's mischief. The Squire, repentant, goes to see Willy in prison and offers his daughter's hand in return for Willy's turning to Protestantism. Willy refuses. On his return, the Squire agrees to Whitecraft's request for a speedy marriage to his daughter. Meanwhile Mr Browne and Mr Hastings have managed to get a warrant against Whitecraft. On the eve of the wedding, Willy sees a ghostly vision of Helen in his cell. Hastings races againt time to deliver the warrant before the wedding can take place. Hastings arrives, the warrant is served, and the trial begins...(1919). RL 4: At the trial, both Whitecraft and the Rapparee receive death sentences. When Willy goes on trial Helen states that she had given the jewels to him for safe-keeping. Willy is cleared of the charges of theft, but is sentenced to seven years exile for abduction. During the years of Willy's absence, the Squire despairs at his intolerance when Helen withdraws into a state of dumb melancholia. Only when Willy returns does she regain her sense. The film ends a few years later by the fireside with Willy playing with an infant on his knee while Helen looks on fondly from behind her father who sits smoking in his chair (5415ft).
Genre: Period drama
Subjects: Ireland (geographical whole), 18th century, Sectarianism, Prejudice, Religion, Marriage, Love, Relationships
Releases
Date: 1918Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SilentRuntime: 59 mins Length: 5372 FeetLanguage: English
Date: January 2018Country: United KingdomRelease type: InternetFormat: not specified - Black and White - SilentRuntime: 59 mins Distributor: BFIPlayer
Date: 1918 (Release)Countries: Ireland, United KingdomDirector: John Macdonagh
Synopsis: An Irish Romeo and Juliet set in 18th century during the Penal Laws. Ends with the marriage of a Catholic aristocrat and the daughter of Protestant Squire.Shotlist: RL 1: Introduction to the Dramatis Personae. Willy Reilly, "an Irish Catholic gentleman of the 18th Century"; Helen Folliard, a beautiful young Protestant woman known across the country as the Colleen Bawn; Squire Folliard, father of Helen, a crusty old Protestant gentleman; and Sir Robert Whitecraft, a "Catholic Hunter in the Penal Laws", who wants to marry Helen against her will. Lord Folliard and his man are lost on an Irish moor and held up by the villainous Red Rapparee and his gang. Willy Reilly and his men intervene and rescue the Squire. Willy offers to lead the Squire home. Later, Red Rapparee and his men are overheard by Willy's friend, Tom the Fool, planning to go to the Squire's house that night and kidnap Helen. When Willy and her father arrive home, Folliard reminds Willy that "Protestantism is my strong point", and tells his daughter how Willy had rescued him earlier on. Meanwhile, Tom arrives and asks to see Willy with whom he shares the news. Willy goes back inside to Helen and the Squire (1226). RL 2: Willy assures Squire Folliard and Helen that if they leave it to him things will turn out alright. That evening, when the Red Rapparee enters Helen's room, Willy pounces from the shadows, but the Rapparee manages to escape. Next morning, watched secretly by a fortune teller, Willy and Helen proclaim their love for one another and decry the obstacles that their sectarian differences put in the way. The fortune teller informs Whitecraft of Helen's love for Willy. Whitecraft goes to see Folliard but only receives an invitation to a dinner to be held there in Willy's honour. Whitecraft and the Raparee come up with a plan to convince Folliard that the rescue of his daughter was a set-up to ensure his daughter's hand. At the dinner, Willy is offended by Whitecraft and the Squire's arrogance and withdraws, telling Helen that her love will maintain him through adversity. Meanwhile, Tom the Fool overhears the Raparee and Whitecraft convincing the Squire that Willy had tricked him by paying for the Rapparee's collusion. Tom tells Helen the next morning and she sends a letter to warn Willy. They meet but his honour will not allow him to abscond with her. Willy makes his way to his estate, removes the deeds of property, and departs. Whitecraft and the soldiers arrive too late. Willy, hunted and homeless, meets Mr Browne, a Protestant Minister, who offers him refuge and arranges that Willy provisionally hand over the deeds of the estate to a friend, Hastings. The soldiers burn the estate down on Whitecraft's instruction. As the deeds are now owned by Hastings, Whitecraft has unwittingly commited a crime (2613). RL 3: Squire Folliard informs Helen that she will marry Whitecraft in a month. Helen asks the maid to go to Willy and inform him. Meanwhile, Catholics are attending a secret mass in the countryside, and, when soldiers attempt to stop them the priest impresses them with his bravery. Helen's maid comes to see Willy at Peg Finnegans and tells him the news. Willy decides to dress as a gardener and seek a job at the Squire's estate. Meanwhile, Whitecraft captures and kills the priest. Willy gets a job as gardener, but, having been identified, the couple decide to elope. On the way, they are waylaid by Whitecraft's band and Willy is accused of stealing the jewels that Helen had taken with her. Willy is imprisoned in Dublin and Helen is taken back to the estate. Meanwhile, Mr Browne and Hastings decide that an end must be put to Whitecraft's mischief. The Squire, repentant, goes to see Willy in prison and offers his daughter's hand in return for Willy's turning to Protestantism. Willy refuses. On his return, the Squire agrees to Whitecraft's request for a speedy marriage to his daughter. Meanwhile Mr Browne and Mr Hastings have managed to get a warrant against Whitecraft. On the eve of the wedding, Willy sees a ghostly vision of Helen in his cell. Hastings races againt time to deliver the warrant before the wedding can take place. Hastings arrives, the warrant is served, and the trial begins...(1919). RL 4: At the trial, both Whitecraft and the Rapparee receive death sentences. When Willy goes on trial Helen states that she had given the jewels to him for safe-keeping. Willy is cleared of the charges of theft, but is sentenced to seven years exile for abduction. During the years of Willy's absence, the Squire despairs at his intolerance when Helen withdraws into a state of dumb melancholia. Only when Willy returns does she regain her sense. The film ends a few years later by the fireside with Willy playing with an infant on his knee while Helen looks on fondly from behind her father who sits smoking in his chair (5415ft).
Genre: Period drama
Subjects: Ireland (geographical whole), 18th century, Sectarianism, Prejudice, Religion, Marriage, Love, Relationships
Releases
Date: 1918Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SilentRuntime: 59 mins Length: 5372 FeetLanguage: English
Date: January 2018Country: United KingdomRelease type: InternetFormat: not specified - Black and White - SilentRuntime: 59 mins Distributor: BFIPlayer
Credits
(5)
Production Company: Film Company of Ireland, Producer: John Macdonagh, Assistant Director: D.A. Moriarty, Original novel: William P. Carleton
Cast
(6)
Brian Magowan (Willy Reilly), Frances Macnamara (Helen Folliard/The Colleen Bawn), Seamus Macblante (Sir Robert Whitecraft), Dermot O'Dowd (Squire Folliard), Barrett Macdonnell (The Red Raparee), John O'Donohue (Tom the Fool)