Summary
Kitty from Killarney is a frantic, slapstick-driven exploration of the immigrant hustle in 1920s New York. The story follows Kitty, a spirited Irish girl who arrives at Ellis Island only to find herself on the wrong side of a rigid quota system. Refusing to be sent back, she slips past authorities by embedding herself with a Jewish family she befriended during the Atlantic crossing. Settling into the vibrant, crowded ecosystem of the Ghetto, Kitty finds herself caught between two worlds and two men. She falls for Danny, a local beat cop, but her past resurfaces in the form of Eddie, a former flame from Ireland now performing in amateur dance skits with his new partner, Marion. What begins as a tale of survival quickly devolves into a chaotic comedy of errors involving a stolen vase, a makeshift mustache disguise, and a climactic, vegetable-fueled riot at a local theater. The film serves as a kinetic snapshot of the 'melting pot' era, where identities are as fluid as the slapstick choreography.
Synopsis
Arriving at Ellis Island from Ireland, alone, Kitty finds upon arrival that she is just one more person than the quota system would allow to be admitted. However, when she sees a Jewish family with which she has become acquainted on the ship, admitted, she finds a way to get by the gateman and join her friends inside. Established in the home of the Jewish immigrants in the Ghetto, Kitty becomes enamored of Danny, a handsome young copper who patrols the nearest beat. One day she meets Eddie a childhood sweetheart in Ireland and finds that he is keeping company with Marion, a hard boiled rose of the Ghetto and Eddie's dancing partner in an amateur dancing skit. Kitty rushes into the second hand store and takes a vase which she proceeds to throw at Eddie. The vase narrowly misses a cop who rushes into the store. Kitty seeing her predicament takes some hair and makes herself a mustache, puts on a derby and makes it appear that she is a man. Later, she goes to the amateur show to see Eddie do his dance. Tomatoes, eggs, cabbages and then watermelon slices greets Eddie's efforts. Kitty throws a potato at Eddie so hard her mustache is knocked off and Eddie recognizes her. He hits her with a catsuppy tomato. A general riot starts and Kitty chases Eddie across the stage. As she reaches the far end of the stage, Danny the cop enters from the opposite side as Eddie is the target for another barrage of vegetables. The second hand dealer rushes to the aid of his borrowed suit and as Eddie is stripped of his finery, Kitty embraces Danny the cop and leaves the theater.
