''His Family Tree'' is a 1935 comedy film directed by Charles Vidor.

Plot

Patrick Murphy, is a former Boatswain and fondly called Bosun. He is retired now, and owns a pub in Ireland. Down hearted because he hasn't heard from his son in America for years but happy because that night he leaves for America. In America his son has changed his name to Charles Murfee and is running for Mayor. Charles's wife is a snob who has created a fictional background where Charles' father is dead. She even has a portrait painted of Charles's father and had it hung over the fireplace in their elaborate living room. When Bosun arrives at Charles' house it is just after the family is informed Charles may lose the Irish vote if he did change his name from Murphy to Murfee. Up to this point we haven't met Charles. The butler, cook, everyone try to throw Bosun out, but his granddaughter intervenes. Once Charles and Bosun meet and the problem of the Irish vote is discovered, Bosun helps his son. Mainly with a fake pig in a car, in the middle of traffic pretending to be doing a radio interview for K-OINK. The pig looked amazingly like the current Mayor. This causes the Mayor to call out the big guns and during the debate, the granddaughter's spurned fiancé lures Bosun to an apartment building where he is beaten and tied up. Bosun however is able to get to the phone and, using his

bosun's whistle A boatswain's call, pipe or bosun's whistle is a pipe or a non-diaphragm type whistle used on naval ships by a boatswain. The pipe consists of a narrow tube (the gun) which directs air over a metal sphere (the buoy) with a hole in the top. The ...

, summon his friends to the rescue.

Cast

* James Barton as Patrick 'Bosun' Murphy * Margaret Callahan as Elinor Murfree aka Murphy * Jack Randall as Mike Donovan * Maureen Delaney as Nellie Quliken *

William Harrigan William Harrigan (March 27, 1894 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor who performed in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s and on stage. Early years Harrigan was born in New York City and attended New York Military Academy. Harrigan was ...

as Charlie Murfree aka Murphy *

Marjorie Gateson Marjorie Augusta Gateson (January 17, 1891 – April 17, 1977) was an American stage and film actress. Biography Gateson was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Augusta and Daniel Gateson. Her maternal grandfather and brother were clergymen; So ...

as Margaret 'Maggie' Murfree aka Murphy *

Phillip Trent Phillip Trent (October 16, 1907, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania – January 24, 2001, Englewood, New Jersey) was an American stage and film actor. He began his career on Broadway and starred in nine stage productions. He appeared in numerous films dur ...

as Dudley Weatherby * Ray Mayer as Bat Gilligan *

Herman Bing Herman Bing (March 30, 1889 – January 9, 1947) was a German-American character actor. He acted in more than 120 films and many of his parts were uncredited. Biography Bing was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. He was son of the opera ...

as Mr. 'Stony' Stonehill

Reception

RKO recorded a loss of $65,000 on the film.

References

External links

* * 1935 films 1935 comedy films Films produced by Cliff Reid Films directed by Charles Vidor RKO Pictures films American comedy films American black-and-white films 1930s American films {{1930s-comedy-film-stub