Rooney (film)

1958 British film

Rooney

Directed by| George Pollock
Screenplay by| Patrick Kirwan
Based on| novel 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
Country| United Kingdom
Language| English

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

## Plot[edit]

The film depicts the life of James Ignatius Rooney, a Gaelic sportsman at the weekends, and a Dublin rubbish collector during the week.[3]

## Cast[edit]

* John Gregson as James Ignatius Rooney
* Muriel Pavlow as Maire Hogan
* Barry Fitzgerald as Grandfather
* June Thorburn as Doreen O'Flynn
* Noel Purcell as Tim Hennessy
* Marie Kean as Mrs. O'Flynn
* Liam Redmond as Mr. Doolan
* Jack MacGowran as Joe O'Connor
* Eddie Byrne as Mickey Hart
* Philip O'Flynn as Paddy Ryan
* Harold Goldblatt as Police Inspector
* Pauline Delaney as Mrs. Wall
* Godfrey Quigley as Tom Reilly
* Irene Browne as Mrs. Manning ffrench
* Joan Phillips as Sheila O'Flynn

## Production[edit]

Clive Donner said he was offered the job of directing the film after having made his feature debut with The Secret Place but he turned it down.[4]

## Critical reception[edit]

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";[5] while Tony Sloman in the Radio Times gave the piece three out of five stars, calling it "really quite charming";[6] and 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."[7]

## Box office[edit]

Kinematograph Weekly listed it as being "in the money" at the British box office in 1958.[8]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Rooney (1958)". Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
2. ^ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943 - via Google Books.
3. ^ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943 - via Google Books.
4. ^ Fowler, Roy (8 March 2000). "Interview with Clive Donner - Side Ten". British Entertainment History Project. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
5. ^ "Movie Review -- Screen: Irish Comedy; John Gregson Starred in Sutton's 'Rooney' - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. 23 March 2023.
6. ^ "Rooney – review - cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times.
7. ^ "Rooney (1958) - George Pollock - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
8. ^ Billings, Josh (18 December 1958). "Others in the Money". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 7.

## External links[edit]

* Rooney at IMDb

* v
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* e

Films directed by George Pollock

* Stranger in Town (1957)
* Rooney (1958)
* Sally's Irish Rogue (1958)
* Don't Panic Chaps! (1959)
* Broth of a Boy (1959)
* And the Same to You (1960)
* Murder She Said (1961)
* Village of Daughters (1962)
* Kill or Cure (1962)
* Murder at the Gallop (1963)
* Murder Most Foul (1964)
* Murder Ahoy! (1964)
* Ten Little Indians (1965)

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