The Sigla Blog

Just got this from the folk at the IFI. It’s the 50th Cork Film Festival this year (Cork is also European City of Culture) and a rare 1936 MGM film based on Michael Collin’s life and his affair with Lady Lavery will screen at the festival.

Entitled ‘Beloved Enemy’, the film stars Merle Oberon, Brian Ahearne (both pictured right) and David Niven. The film has been restored by the Irish Film Archive (part of The Irish Film Institute) and set against the backdrop of The War of Independence.
From the press release:

The film outlines how far people will go to pursue true love despite the consequences their actions may bring. In ‘Beloved Enemy’ Helen Drummond, daughter of a senior British Diplomat falls in love with the IRA leader Denis Riordan who is fighting for Irish independence. As England is on the verge of a complete military crackdown, Helen persuades Denis that the signing of a peace treaty is preferable than the all-out war which will arise if the treaty is rejected.

However by agreeing to the treaty, Denis Riordan signs his own death warrant as Riordan�s former comrades believe he has betrayed them. The film ends tragically with Riordan dying in Helen�s arms after he is shot while passionately delivering a pro-treaty speech.

Interestinly, this print of the film is the only surviving one that features the unhappy ending where the hero is killed. When it was released in Hollywood, the happy ending was included as the original ending was thought to be too downbeat.

The film will premiere at the Cork Film Festival which takes place in Cork from the 9th to 16th of October and will then screen at the IFI in Dublin on November 16th.

Should definitely be worth a look.