According to news items and reviews, portions of Song o' My Heart were shot in Ireland, beginning in late Aug 1929. (However, the 4 Jan 1930 Exhibitors Herald-World announced that the production started on 1 Aug 1929, under the title I Hear You Calling Me. ) Exterior scenes were shot in the village of Lusk, near Dublin, as well as on the grounds of Moore Abbey, star John McCormack's estate, near Monasterevin in County Kildare. News items reported that McCormack, director Frank Borzage, writer Tom Barry, actor J. M. Kerrigan and a number of crew members went to Ireland for the production. News items also reported that Irish landscape painter Power O'Malley assisted in the selection of atmospheric locations and that, while on location, the dailies were sent to a laboratory in London to be developed. The film was then sent back to Dublin, where the film was reviewed by Borzage at the Metropole Theatre. After filming in Ireland was completed, the company returned in Nov 1929 to Hollywood, where the production resumed at the Fox Movietone Studios.
       Song o' My Heart marked the first feature film appearance of celebrated Irish-born tenor John McCormack (1884--1945), and the only time that he acted onscreen as a fictional character. McCormack later appeared as himself in Wings of the Morning (1937, see entry), and his voice has been heard on the soundtrack of a number of later films, including Miller's Crossing (1990). According to modern sources, McCormack received the then enormous salary of $500,000 for appearing in Song o' My Heart after more than six months of negotiations with Fox Vice-President Winfield Sheehan . Although McCormack's performance was well received by many critics, Fox did not produce a planned second film starring McCormack.
       Song o' My Heart also marked the motion picture debut of Irish child actor Tom Clifford (1918--1988), as well as Irish actress Maureen O'Sullivan (1911--1998), who were hired while the company was in Ireland, then finished their roles in the U.S. O'Sullivan remained in the U.S., going under contract to M-G-M from the early 1930s through 1942. After being absent from the screen for several years, she continued to act in films, on stage and on television into the 1990s. Perhaps her best-known role was that of "Jane Parker" in M-G-M's "Tarzan" series, in which she co-starred with Johnny Weissmuller from 1932--1942.
       The 15 Feb 1930 Exhibitors Herald-World announced that the picture had been made with the "Foxcolor" film process, and filmed in both 35mm and 70mm Grandeur formats.
       Song o' My Heart premiered at the 44th Street Theatre in New York City on 11 Mar 1930, according to the 15 Mar 1930 Exhibitors Herald-World. John McCormack was in attendance. More Less