Rooney (film)

Last updated

Rooney
Rooney (1958 film).jpg
Directed by George Pollock
Screenplay by Patrick Kirwan
Based onnovel Rooney by Catherine Cookson
Produced by George H. Brown
Starring John Gregson
Muriel Pavlow
Barry Fitzgerald
Cinematography Christopher Challis
Edited by Peter Bezencenet
Music by Philip Green
Production
company
George H. Brown Productions
Distributed by Rank Organisation
Release dates
  • 24 March 1958 (1958-03-24)(London, England)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Rooney is a 1958 British comedy film directed by George Pollock and starring John Gregson, Muriel Pavlow and Barry Fitzgerald. [1] [2] The screenplay was by Patrick Kirwan based on the 1957 novel of the same name by Catherine Cookson. [3]

Contents

Plot

The film depicts the life of James Ignatius Rooney, a Gaelic sportsman at the weekends, and a Dublin rubbish collector during the week. [4]

Cast

Production

Clive Donner said he was offered the job of directing the film after having made his feature debut with The Secret Place (1957) but he turned it down. [5]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Rooney begins quite promisingly: a jaunty theme-song is heard over the credits, the Dublin locations are well presented and the central situation has a gentle charm. With the entrance of the hero into the snobbish O'Flynn household, however, the film takes on an undesirably mawkish tone. A livly quartet of comic Irish dustmen (Eddie Byrne, Philip O'Flynn, Jack MacGowan, Noel Purcell) plus Barry Fitzgerald's crusty ancient provide the story's firmest assets." [6]

Picturegoer wrote: "Raise your hat to your dustman, he's a man in a million. This gentle, kindly comedy, as homely as stout and Irish stew, sets out to prove that where there's muck – there's a lot of laughs." [7]

Bosley Crowther in The New York Times 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." [8]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "good", writing: "Irish fable has realistic backgrounds, some charm." [9]

Tony Sloman in the Radio Times gave the piece three out of five stars, calling it "really quite charming." [10]

Allmovie 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." [11]

Box office

Kinematograph Weekly listed it as being "in the money" at the British box office in 1958. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Gregson</span> English actor (1919–1975)

Harold Thomas Gregson, 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.

<i>The Happiest Days of Your Life</i> (film) 1950 British comedy film by Frank Launder

The Happiest Days of Your Life is a 1950 British comedy film directed by Frank Launder, based on the 1947 play of the same name by John Dighton. The two men also wrote the screenplay. It is one of a stable of classic British film comedies produced by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat for British Lion Film Corporation. The film was made on location in Liss and at Riverside Studios, London. In several respects, including some common casting, it was a precursor of the St. Trinian's films of the 1950s and 1960s.

<i>Murder She Said</i> 1961 British film

Murder She said is a 1961 comedy/murder mystery film directed by George Pollock, based on the 1957 novel 4.50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie. The production stars Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple, along with Arthur Kennedy, Muriel Pavlow, James Robertson Justice, and Stringer Davis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muriel Pavlow</span> English actress (1921–2019)

Muriel Lilian Pavlow was an English actress. Her mother was French and her father Russian.

<i>Talk of a Million</i> 1951 British film

Talk of a Million is a 1951 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs, starring Jack Warner, with an early appearance from Sid James.

<i>Carry On Admiral</i> 1957 British comedy film by Val Guest

Carry on Admiral is a 1957 British comedy film directed by Val Guest and featuring David Tomlinson and Ronald Shiner. Joan Hickson also made an appearance in this film and a few films in the Carry On series. It was based on the 1947 stage play Off the Record, written by Ian Hay.

<i>Stranger in Town</i> (1957 film) 1957 British film by George Pollock

Stranger in Town is a 1957 British second feature ('B') crime film directed by George Pollock and starring Alex Nicol and Anne Paige. The screenplay was by Edward Dryhurst and Norman Hudis, based on the 1954 novel The Uninivited by Frank Chittenden.

<i>The Captains Table</i> 1959 British film by Jack Lee

The Captain's Table is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Jack Lee and starring John Gregson, Donald Sinden, Peggy Cummins and Nadia Gray. The film is based on the 1954 novel of the same title by Richard Gordon, later adapted into the 1971 German film The Captain starring Heinz Rühmann.

<i>Three Men in a Boat</i> (1956 film) 1956 British film by Ken Annakin

Three Men in a Boat is a 1956 British CinemaScope colour comedy film directed by Ken Annakin, starring Laurence Harvey, Jimmy Edwards, David Tomlinson and Shirley Eaton. It was written by Hubert Gregg and Vernon Harris based on the 1889 novel of the same name by Jerome K. Jerome.

<i>Doctor at Large</i> (film) 1957 British film by Ralph Thomas

Doctor at Large is a 1957 British comedy film directed by Ralph Thomas starring Dirk Bogarde, Muriel Pavlow, Donald Sinden, James Robertson Justice and Shirley Eaton. It is the third of the seven films in the Doctor series, and is based on the 1955 novel of the same title by Richard Gordon.

<i>Night Boat to Dublin</i> 1946 film

Night Boat to Dublin is a 1946 British thriller film directed by Lawrence Huntington and starring Robert Newton, Raymond Lovell, Guy Middleton, Muriel Pavlow and Herbert Lom. It was written by Huntington and Robert Hall.

<i>Up in the World</i> 1956 film by John Paddy Carstairs

Up in the World is a 1956 black and white comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom, Maureen Swanson and Jerry Desmonde. It was written by Jack Davies, Henty Blyth and Peter Blackmore, and produced by Rank.

<i>Sallys Irish Rogue</i> 1958 Irish film

Sally's Irish Rogue (U.S. title: The Poacher's Daughter) is a 1958 Irish comedy film directed by George Pollock and starring Julie Harris, Harry Brogan and Tim Seely. The screenplay was by Patrick Kirwan and Blanaid Irvine based on the 1930 play The New Gossoon by George Shiels.

<i>Broth of a Boy</i> 1959 Irish film

Broth of a Boy is a 1959 Irish comedy film directed by George Pollock and starring Barry Fitzgerald, Harry Brogan and June Thorburn. It was written by Blanaid Irvine and Patrick Kirwan adapted from the 1956 play The Big Birthday by Hugh Leonard.

<i>The Love Match</i> 1955 British film by David Paltenghi

The Love Match is a 1955 British black and white comedy film directed by David Paltenghi and starring Arthur Askey, Glenn Melvyn, Thora Hird and Shirley Eaton. A football-mad railway engine driver and his fireman are desperate to get back in time to see a match. It was based on the 1953 play of the same name by Glenn Melvyn, one of the stars of the film. A TV spin-off series, Love and Kisses, appeared later in 1955.

<i>Keep It Clean</i> 1956 British film by David Paltenghi

Keep It Clean is a 1956 British black-and-white comedy film directed by David Paltenghi and starring Ronald Shiner and Joan Sims. The screenplay was by Carl Nystrom and R. F. Delderfield.

<i>To Dorothy a Son</i> 1954 film

To Dorothy a Son is a black and white 1954 British comedy film in the form of a farce directed by Muriel Box and starring Shelley Winters, John Gregson and Peggy Cummins. It was written by Peter Rogers based on the 1950 play To Dorothy, a Son by Roger MacDougall. It was distributed in America by RKO Pictures in January 1956.

A Sister to Assist 'Er is a 1948 British second feature ('B') comedy film directed by George Dewhurst and starring Muriel Aked, Muriel George and Michael Howard. It was written by Dewhurst based on the play A Sister to Assist 'Er by John le Breton.

<i>Death Goes to School</i> 1953 British film by Stephen Clarkson

Death Goes to School is a 1953 British second feature ('B') mystery film directed by Stephen Clarkson and starring Barbara Murray, Gordon Jackson and Pamela Alan. It was written by Maisie Sharman and Clarkson based on the 1952 novel Death in Seven Hours by Stratford Davis, and was made at Merton Park Studios.

<i>Come Back Peter</i> (1952 film) 1952 British film by Charles Saunders

Come Back Peter is a 1952 second feature British comedy film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Patrick Holt, Peter Hammond and Humphrey Lestocq. It was written by Saunders based on the play Come Back Peter by A. P. Dearsley. It was an independent picture by Charles Reynolds Productions.

References

  1. ↑ "Rooney". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  2. ↑ "Rooney (1958)". Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
  3. ↑ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN   9783110951943 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN   9783110951943 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ Fowler, Roy (8 March 2000). "Interview with Clive Donner - Side Ten". British Entertainment History Project. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  6. ↑ "Rooney" . The Monthly Film Bulletin . 25 (288): 48. 1 January 1958 – via ProQuest.
  7. ↑ "Rooney" . Picturegoer . 35: 28. 5 March 1958 – via ProQuest.
  8. ↑ "Movie Review -- Screen: Irish Comedy; John Gregson Starred in Sutton's 'Rooney' - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. 23 March 2023.
  9. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 367. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
  10. ↑ "Rooney – review - cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times.
  11. ↑ "Rooney (1958) - George Pollock - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  12. ↑ Billings, Josh (18 December 1958). "Others in the Money". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 7.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.