Enigmatic is the most apt word to describe the subject of this blog. I am writing about Hollywood actor George Brent. For as long as I can remember, on all visits to Killeen’s public house in Shannonbridge one met the image of George Brent over the fireplace in the main bar.
He was a film star from Shannonbridge who went off and made good in Hollywood. Was he really from Shannonbridge? About twenty years back this question began to surface. Another story that percolated was that he was involved with Michael Collins during the War of Independence, and had to leg it to the U.S.A with a price on his head from the British authorities. Was this true? Was there really a whiff of dynamite off him when he headed to the States? These two questions I shall attempt to answer with this blog. The first question I am happy to say I have the answer however the second question has proved more elusive, but I hope you enjoy the journey, and sure if you know something better feel free to make contact through Offaly History.
When George Brent, who was born George Nolan applied for U.S. citizenship in 1935, the U.S Department of Labour wired information concerning his arrival in the U.S. on 22nd August 1921 at Rouses Point, New York State, which indicated that he was born in Ballinasloe, county Galway, and also that he emigrated from the port of Cherbourg, France and that his last foreign residence was Paris, France.
When the Evening Press of 28th May 1979 reported his death, it said he was born in Shannonbridge, county Offaly.
In the Hollywood Walk of Fame blurb we find George Brendan Nolan born in Raharabeg, county Roscommon to a family steeped in British Army Tradition.
In the Irish Independent 22nd December 2007 we find an American journalist Maureen Oliver under the heading `The Irish Rival To Clark Gable` goes `That`s how we got on the trail of the `secret` past life of 1930s and 1940s film star George Brent, who was born George Brendan Nolan in Shannonbridge in 1904……`
In the Mini Bio from IMDb we have `The favourite leading actor of the star Bette Davis was born George Brendan Nolan in Ballinasloe, County Galway (although his place of birth has been variously as Raharabeg, County Roscommon, and Shannonbridge, County Offaly………`
Edith Russel a stage actress with him from the early 1920`s said Dublin was his place of birth and he got invaluable stage experience with Lady Gregory and her Abbey players. The story of his Abbey Theatre connection is a thread that runs through his career. However Mairéad Delaney the archivist at the Abbey Theatre has confirmed that she could not find any record of him having performed in any of their productions. She did raise the possibility that he might have appeared there with some independent company that may have rented the Abbey Theatre. She said that there had been a school of acting but unfortunately no records survive. This challenges the much repeated suggestion that he received acting lessons from Lady Gregory.
The Westmeath Independent of the 1st June 1979, while reporting his death said he was from Shannonbridge, and he had been a friend of Michael Collins. It also said he was a school friend of James J. Killeen, of Shannonbridge. James J. Killeen was born in 1891 and we shall see this would make him Georges senior by thirteen years.
In a piece in the Leinster Express 22nd October 1949 Patrick Meahan writing a column entitles `Film Stars With Offaly Connections` gives us : `George Brent, whose real name was George Nolan was born in Shannonbridge, Offaly on 15th May 1904. His father died when he was about 8 years old, and his mother a few years later. He was brought to America by his aunt who resided in New York City. When he finished High School his aunt sent him to Dublin University. He joined the Abbey Players but later left to become a dispatch rider for Michael Collins during the War of Independence. When the British learned of his activities, they put a price on his head; he fled to Liverpool and thence to Canada. The article then goes on to deal with his film career.
In the Asheville Citizen-Times, North Carolina of Sunday 12th November 1933 we find `In 1926 George Nolan joined the Auditorium Players who played in Ashville for a season. One of the actresses was Edith Russel of Ashville. Miss Russell said `He was essentially a gentleman as well as a highly capable actor.` She further said Dublin was his place of birth and he received invaluable stage experience with Lady Gregory and her Abbey players, one of the earliest and most successful new art theatres. As we now know he was never a member of the Abbey Theatre.
Well the truth of it is he was born George Brendan Nolan in Main Street, Ballinasloe, county Galway to John Nolan, shop-keeper and Mary Nolan nee McGuinness, on 15th April 1904. The birth was registered by one Winifred Staunton, nurse. The premises where he was born is now occupied by Stronge Photography. His parents were married on the 11th February 1892 in the Roman Catholic Church of Moore. They are recorded as John Nolan aged 26, farmer of Shannonbridge, son of a John Nolan farmer, and Mary McGuinness, aged 16 years and six months, spinster daughter of Michael McGuinness, farmer.
Where did the Shannonbridge birth story come from? The genesis of this is straight forward enough, his parents John and Mary Nolan were living in Shannonbridge until 1900 when they moved to Ballinasloe. In the 1901 census they are all in house 21.1 Main Street, Ballinasloe. Including George they had five children, three of whom, Mary, John and Lucy, were born in Shannonbridge, and on moving to Ballinasloe two further children George and Kathleen were born. The Nolan family tree is well traced in the book Shannonbridge A History of Raghra c. 1600 to c. 1900 by Brendan Ryan and Laura Price, where we find they have a history of service with the British Army in India. In fact the last family member carrying the name Nolan to live in Shannonbridge, was Alice Louisa Nolan, who had been born in Benares, India being part of the British Army tradition. Alice died 1st March 1951.
Now to the more opaque question. Was he a gunman? Was he in the I.R.A.? Was he a stand in look alike for Michael Collins? Was he a dispatch runner for Collins? Did he flee to the U.S.A. with a price on his head? Was this all baloney to allow Hollywood spin doctors to create a narrative? We shall look at the evidence and see where it takes us.
This matter first on my radar when a Shannonbridge native now resident in the U.S.A. approached me with the idea of doing a biography of George Brent. I discovered there was already in existence a biography of George Brent entitled `George Brent Ireland`s gift to Hollywood and its Leading Ladies` by Scott O`Brien published by Bear Manor Media, Albany Georgia. My friend in the U.S.A. was aware of this publication but was more interested in Brent`s efforts during the War of independence and the necessity of him to take flight with a price on his head by the British authorities. Scott O`Brien`s book while dealing with this aspect of his life was really the story of his film career which was significant.
This idea of his fight for Irish freedom hovers over him all his career and while never absolutely confirmed by him but he leaves it in sufficient doubt. Was he even in Ireland during the War of Independence? In 1915 he and his sister Kathleen emigrated to the U.S.A. They arrived in Ellis Island on 20th September 1915 George being passenger number 100379020755. They declared they were going to live with their mother Mrs. M. Nolan at 303 West 90th Street, New York. Their mother Mary had emigrated some years earlier after the break of the Nolan-McGuinness marriage. George`s father John was dead by this time. One will see reports that the went to stay with an aunt, but this is untrue and by the 1920 census he is living with his mother Mary and is still a student.
Confusion or conflation? The story of George`s I.R.A. career is facilitated by a number of Georges, which made it easy for Hollywood spin doctors to create a heroic narrative that did not hinder his career in Hollywood. George was born in 1904 so at the time of the Easter Rising he was just twelve years old. This version of events is assisted by the existence of a George Nolan (24 PC Ref 24SP3502) was from Kimmage, Dublin and had joined the Marrowbone Lane Garrison as a Member of `A` company of 4th Battalion of Irish Volunteers during the 1916 Rising. This George was active until the Truce in 1921. Ballinasloe History refer to another George Nolan born in Shannonbridge in 1899, while I have been unable to trace this later George Nolan in the General Registrar`s Office, such a date of birth further helps the narrative, as our George would have been way to young to have taken an active part in 1916, allied to the fact that we know he was in New York with his mother then.
Back in the 1940`s the Evening Herald had a column entitled `OTHER PEOPLE`S VIEWS`. It was in effect a Letters to the Editor type of column. For 7th June 1940 and ensuing days I found the following correspondence:
Re: George Brent.
Sir- As we have George Brent showing at the Royal, I would like of any of your readers could let me know:- (1) Is George Brent a Dublin man? (2) Was he a dispatch rider to General Michael Collins?
George Brent Fan No 1.
Replying letter:
Dear Sir, In answer to the queries by George Brent Fan No. 1, I beg to state that George Brent, whose real name is George Nolan, is not a Dublin man; but hails from Ballinasloe, Co. Galway; but was an engineering student in National University for some time. As a mater of fact, I think he graduated in this course.
He fought with the Republican Army in 1916, and during the Black-and-Tan period he was sent over to London on a secret mission by the late Michael Collins. Scotland Yard, however go on his trail and he had to board a ship leaving for Canada in 1920. The Truce came in the next year, but I do not think George has paid a visit to Ireland since.
I knew him well, as he was in my company.
`Third Battalion`
Dublin,
Sir- George Brent was born in Dublin on March 15th 1904. And educated at the National University. He worked as a sailor, a sheep herder, and a blacksmith. He served under Michael Collins as a dispatch bearer during the Irish War of Independence.
Film Fan No. 2
Athlone.
From this correspondence one can see how conflated things have become, no doubt as a result of continuous Hollywood promotion work playing up the notion of his fight for Irish freedom. `Third Battalion` is clearly referring to the George Nolan who was a member of `A` Company of the 4th Battalion of the Irish Volunteers. Our George Nolan was only twelve years old in 1916 and was residing in New York with his mother.
In John Meredyth`s review of `Eighty Odd Years in Hollywood` McFarland. © 2004 pp 108-109 Film Director Michael Curtiz said of Brent `It was strange what a calm and easy going guy (Brent) was considering he had been in a very rough section of the I.R.A. as a teenager.`
The Evening Press dated 28th May 1979 reporting his death saying he was born in Shannonbridge, said he worked his passage to the U.S.A. The report further said he was remembered in Shannonbridge where he was reared by an aunt, after the family split up on the death of his father, some members went ahead to the U.S.A. Mrs Tommy Corbett whose husband was his second cousin said he rarely visited and that all the family were long gone.
The Westmeath Independent of 1st June 1979 while dealing with his death reported he was a friend of Michael Collins, and he had an aunt Mrs McGuinness in Clonfad.
The Irish Examiner of 27th March 1967 reporting on his arrival at Shannon Airport en route to Dublin, described him as a dispatch rider for Michael Collins, said he left Ireland during the Black and Tan war. At that time he was coming to Ireland to see some horses he owned.
The Los Angeles Evening Citizen News of 16th April 1940 carries a feature by Sidney Skolsky where he calls Brent `The male edition of Garbo`. Describes him ` born 15th March 1904, 6ft 1 inch tall, weighs 170 pounds, hazel eyes, and dark hair. Had a nervous habit of blinking. He was educated in Dublin and was graduated from the National University. He played baseball and football at college. After he was graduated he joined the Abbey Theatre. When the Irish Rebellion broke out, he joined it and became a dispatch bearer for Michael Collins. He was a rebel secret service man, and when things got too hot he went to America`. There are multiple errors in this report, he was not in Ireland in 1916, he never graduated from the National University, the Abbey Theatre have no record of him ever being a member or acting there, and I doubt if he played baseball in Cloonfad.
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