''Rooney'' is a 1958 British
comedy film
A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...
directed by
George Pollock
Field marshal (United Kingdom), Field Marshal Sir George Pollock, 1st Baronet (4 June 1786 – 6 October 1872) was a British Indian Army officer. He first saw action at the Battle of Deeg and at the Siege of Bhurtpore (1805), Siege of Bhurtpor ...
and starring
John Gregson
Harold Thomas Gregson (15 March 1919 – 8 January 1975), known professionally as John Gregson, was an English actor of stage, television and film, with 40 credited film roles. He was best known for his crime drama and comedy roles.
He was cr ...
,
Muriel Pavlow
Muriel Lilian Pavlow (27 June 1921 – 19 January 2019) was an English actress. Her mother was French and her father Russian.
Film and television career
Muriel was born in Lewisham, south-east London, to Boris Pavlov, a Russian émigré and ...
and
Barry Fitzgerald
William Joseph Shields (10 March 1888 – 14 January 1961), known professionally as Barry Fitzgerald, was an Irish stage, film and television actor. In a career spanning almost forty years, he appeared in such notable films as ''Bringing Up Ba ...
. It was based on the 1957 novel of the same name by
Catherine Cookson
Dame Catherine Ann Cookson, DBE (''née'' McMullen; 20 June 1906 – 11 June 1998) was a British writer. She is in the top 20 of the most widely read British novelists, with sales topping 100 million, while retaining a relatively low profile i ...
.
Plot
The film depicts the life of James Ignatius Rooney, a
Gaelic sportsman at the weekends, and a Dublin rubbish collector during the week.
Cast
*
John Gregson
Harold Thomas Gregson (15 March 1919 – 8 January 1975), known professionally as John Gregson, was an English actor of stage, television and film, with 40 credited film roles. He was best known for his crime drama and comedy roles.
He was cr ...
as James Ignatius Rooney
*
Muriel Pavlow
Muriel Lilian Pavlow (27 June 1921 – 19 January 2019) was an English actress. Her mother was French and her father Russian.
Film and television career
Muriel was born in Lewisham, south-east London, to Boris Pavlov, a Russian émigré and ...
as Maire Hogan
*
Barry Fitzgerald
William Joseph Shields (10 March 1888 – 14 January 1961), known professionally as Barry Fitzgerald, was an Irish stage, film and television actor. In a career spanning almost forty years, he appeared in such notable films as ''Bringing Up Ba ...
as Grandfather
*
June Thorburn
Patricia June Thorburn Smith (8 June 1931 – 4 November 1967) was a popular English actress whose career was cut short by her death in an air crash.
Early life
Thorburn was born in Karachi, then part of British India. She was the eldest ...
as Doreen O'Flynn
*
Noel Purcell as Tim Hennessy
*
Marie Kean
Marie Kean (27 June 1918 – 29 December 1993) was an Irish actress of stage and screen whose career spanned over 40 years. ''The Stage'' called her one of Ireland's most impressive actresses, and "an artist of considerable emotional depth and ...
as Mrs. O'Flynn
*
Liam Redmond
Liam Redmond (27 July 1913 – 28 October 1989) was an Irish character actor known for his stage, film and television roles.
Early life
Redmond was one of four children born to cabinet-maker Thomas and Eileen Redmond. Educated at the Christi ...
as Mr. Doolan
*
Jack MacGowran
John Joseph MacGowran (13 October 1918 – 30 January 1973) was an Irish actor, probably best known for his work with Samuel Beckett.
Stage career
MacGowran was born on 13 October 1918 in Dublin, and educated at Synge Street CBS. He establis ...
as Joe O'Connor
*
Eddie Byrne
Eddie Byrne (31 January 1911 – 21 August 1981) was an Irish actor.
Career
His stage work included many appearances with Dublin's Abbey Theatre, and also work with the National Theatre in London.
Outside Ireland he is probably best known ...
as Mickey Hart
* Philip O'Flynn as Paddy Ryan
*
Harold Goldblatt
Harold Goldblatt (born Israel Goldblatt, 5 July 1899 – 22 March 1982) was an actor, theatre director and theatre producer from Northern Ireland.
He was born in Manchester, England, to Russian Jewish parents, and subsequently moved with his fam ...
as Police Inspector
* Pauline Delaney as Mrs. Wall
*
Godfrey Quigley
Godfrey Quigley (4 May 1923 – 7 September 1994) was an Irish film, television and stage actor. He appeared in Stanley Kubrick's films ''A Clockwork Orange'' and ''Barry Lyndon''.
Biography
Quigley was born in Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine, ...
as Tom Reilly
*
Irene Browne
Irene Browne (29 June 1896 – 24 July 1965) was an English stage and film actress and singer who appeared in plays and musicals including ''No, No, Nanette''. Later in her career, she became particularly associated with the works of Noël Coward ...
as Mrs. Manning ffrench
* Joan Phillips as Sheila O'Flynn
Critical reception
Bosley Crowther
Francis Bosley Crowther Jr. (July 13, 1905 – March 7, 1981) was an American journalist, writer, and film critic for ''The New York Times'' for 27 years. His work helped shape the careers of many actors, directors and screenwriters, though his ...
in ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' gave the film a mixed review though he added that, "we must say, John Gregson goes at the title role of the happy young bachelor dustman with a lively good nature and comic will"; while
Tony Sloman
Anthony B. Sloman (born 6 May 1945 in Waltham Abbey, Essex) is an English film producer and screenwriter.
Tony Sloman is a cinema critic and historian, whose long career has encompassed many facets of film making. He has worked intermittently ...
in the ''
Radio Times
''Radio Times'' (currently styled as ''RadioTimes'') is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in May 1923 by J ...
'' gave the piece three out of five stars, calling it "really quite charming"; and
Allmovie
AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne.
History
AllMovie was founded by popular-cult ...
found the film "Stronger on characterisation than plot," noting that "The film is at its best when the camera roams around the misty streets of Dublin, and at its worst when it pauses for sentiment."
Box office
''Kinematograph Weekly'' listed it as being "in the money" at the British box office in 1958.
References
External links
*
1958 films
1958 comedy films
British comedy films
Films shot at Pinewood Studios
Films directed by George Pollock
Gaelic games films
Films with screenplays by Patrick Kirwan
Films based on British novels
1950s English-language films
1950s British films
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