Dawn Over Ireland

Original title: The Dawn

1936
1h 29m

IMDb RATING

5.5/10

YOUR RATING

Drama History

Set during the Fenian uprising of 1866, this Irish melodrama presents the saga of a family wrongfully accused of betraying their country. The film spans three generations to the end of the f... Read allSet during the Fenian uprising of 1866, this Irish melodrama presents the saga of a family wrongfully accused of betraying their country. The film spans three generations to the end of the first World War. The family is still ostracized by the Irish. The two grandsons are tired o... Read allSet during the Fenian uprising of 1866, this Irish melodrama presents the saga of a family wrongfully accused of betraying their country. The film spans three generations to the end of the first World War. The family is still ostracized by the Irish. The two grandsons are tired of the way they have been treated. One becomes a British cop. The other drops out of societ... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.5/10

YOUR RATING

7User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos1

User reviews7

5.556

Featured reviews

10clergue1

The dawn of a new era for Irish cinema!

An absolute triumph over adversity! The Dawn was made on a budget that would defy shoestring status! Many of the actors involved were totally amateur and although this is evident in some of the performances, they can hardly be faulted for trying. The movie deals with betrayal and forgiveness in a time of war, in this case, the Irish war of Independence. This movie was made at a time when social divisions still ran deep in the Irish psyche and so it was a brave move to make it in Ireland and not in America, like so many "oirish" theme movies before then. It is interesting to note that many of the "amateur" actors were actually involved in the War of Independence and this makes the battle scenes all the more exciting and poignant at the same time. A classic, a gem hidden under the shamrock!

10verobchbid

One of Ireland's First Sound Movies

The town of Killarney, Co Kerry, Ireland should be proud of a group of local actors who put this film together back in 1933 under the direction of Thomas Cooper. The story line touches the heart of this Irish American. It is a story of the "troubles" in Ireland in the early ninteen hundreds. I would imagine that the actors and actresses who made this film are all gone now but the struggle still continues. The theme of the film, ÉIREANN DON NA hÉIREANNACH (IRELAND FOR THE IRISH)

gipsybabe

Available to view online.

The first hour of this film is available on 'Daily Motion' online. If you Google 'Dawn Over Ireland' it is the 3rd link down. Amazing to watch. Wonderful to see Ireland how it was when my parents would have been aged under 10 years old. Yes the acting seems a bit wooden but having read the other reviews to think that it was made by locals with no budget then that seems why. The clothes, horse drawn buggy's and countryside are just what any one that has never visited Ireland imagines. I love the trilby's and long tea dresses. Also the big old houses where the more wealthy people involved in the cause. It would be great to be able see the rest of the film.

10jmcsween90

A Hidden Gem - And they all wear pants!

So it might not have big stars, or expensive production values, or even reliable film stock, but The Dawn is a magnificent labour of love. Made in County Kerry by a group of innovative amateurs, it was one of the first Irish films ever made. Telling a story of one family's involvement in the War of independence, the film explores some of the many themes that dominated the Irish psyche of the time - love of one's country, betrayal of one's heritage, and a relentless fight for freedom. Sure the script has its flaws, as does the acting and direction, but for an all amateur group working in unchartered territory this is a major accomplishment. Many gifted performers got a chance to shine, yet alas their time in the limelight was too short. Sadly it seems as if this film has also been consigned to the graveyard of anonymity.

klooney-2

Good memories

Wonderful to find this site with information about The Dawn. I was brought up in Killarney and watched this movie with pride in Thomas Coopers "picture hall" The Casino. My father Paddy Looney acted in it and had a speaking roll. I knew some of the other actors from around the town. I did not know until about 15 years ago that The Dawn was the first movie made in Ireland to have sound. The rights were sold to RTE (the national broadcasting station) and when "The Troubles" started in Northern Ireland in 1969 they stopped showing the movie. I have been told that one of the reasons for this is because the last line of the movie is "The fight must go on" Ironically I have a taped copy of The Dawn from the BBC.