Rooney (film)

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

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 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
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.

Critical reception
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"; while Tony Sloman in the Radio Times gave the piece three out of five stars, calling it "really quite charming"; 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."

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