Sweet Daddies is a 1926 American silent comedy crime film directed by Alfred Santell and starring George Sidney, Charles Murray, and Vera Gordon. The film foregrounds positive relationships between Jewish and Irish American characters, despite the presence of some stereotypes.
The plot revolves around comedic mishaps in the bootleg liquor business. The romance between the daughter of the Jewish Finkelstein family and the son of the Irish O’Brien family ends happily.
Cast George Sidney as Abie Finklebaum Charles Murray as Patrick O'Brien Vera Gordon as Rose Finklebaum Jobyna Ralston as Mariam Finklebaum Jack Mulhall as Jimmy O'Brien Gaston Glass as Sam Berkowitz Aggie Herring as Mrs. O'Brien
Reception The New York Times film critic described it thus:
Impact Sidney and Murray, who portrayed the fathers of the two families, would go on to work together in many films that, focusing on Jewish and Irish relations, were often described as “ethnic comedies.”
Jobyna Robson (Mariam Finkelstein) would go on to be regarded as a great silent film comedian. Arthur Edeson became a major cinematographer.
References
Bibliography Erens, Patricia. The Jew in American Cinema. Indiana University Press, 1984.
External links
Still at www.silentfilmstillarchive.com