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Ireland and Israel
(1912) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 950 feet
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: Tom Sharkey [the referee]
The Champion Film Company production; distributed by Motion Picture Distributing & Sales Company. / Produced by Mark M. Dintenfass. Technical advisor, Tom Sharkey. / Released 20 March 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Comedy-Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Abie Wedertzky arrives in America and is an object of ridicule by the hangers-on around the Battery New York. He is surrounded by a gang of toughs, who treat him roughly until Pat Riley, a champion pugilist, comes to his aid. Pat gives Abie his card and invites him to his home. Abie joins a gymnasium and becomes a boxer, visits the Battery and gets revenge on his tormentors. Later there is a boxing entertainment at the Manhattan Athletic Club, the wind-up to be a 5-round go between Riley and another for championship honors. Tom Sharkey is the referee and master of ceremonies and it is the first appearance of the celebrated pugilist in moving pictures. Abie goes on in a preliminary and is bested in a ludicrous scene. Pat is whipped at the end of four rounds and his friends all desert him, save Abie. The years go by and Pat is reduced to poverty, while Abie prospers as a real estate dealer, having slightly changed his name. Pat is ill in bed and his family in reduced circumstances, and to make matters worse the wife is served with a writ of ejectment, the rent being in arrears. She is desperate and takes the paper to the real estate dealer and is recognized by Abie as his friend's wife. Abie accompanies her home and proves to be a ministering angel. He awakens Pat and they clasp hands in a happy reunion.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 6 April 1912, page ?] A story of the pugilistic ring and of a Hebrew and an Irishman who were true friends. Ireland, the first of these, is a great fighter, but Abie’s tactics in the ring made a roar of laughter. The mill in which Riley, the Irish friend, lost to his opponent, is refereed by Tom Sharkey. These scenes are very well photographed, as indeed the whole film is, and are very interesting. The story is good and very well acted, and it was also watched enthusiastically. It is a good feature picture, good natured in its comedy and pleasing.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 9 September 2023.
References: Slide-Ireland p. ? : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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