Rooney

Great movie. Two lonely people discover each other. I always liked this film. So many times I have tried to buy it in VHS or DVD but no luck so far. I liked the Irish setting. I enjoy British/Irish films and I like the genre of the 1940s to 1950s. This movie was based on a Catherine Cookson novel of the same name. Anyone who knows the writings of Catherine Cookson knows that she creates a wonderful story. Too bad movie producers today cannot see the potential of this story in today's market. John Gregson is a great actor. The story shows the rubbish-collection industry, and how one lowly rubbish collector finds love and romance right under his nose.

John Gregson is a dustman during the week. During the weekend, though, he plays field hockey. Local bigwig Liam Redmond spots him, and thinks he's just the man to captain his team for an important match, and lets him know about a new apartment, far from his old rooming house. There he sees the goings-on , with Barry Fitzgeralf, who's dying, owning the lease, his harridan daughter-in-law Marie Kean making everyone miserable, and his loving grand daughter, Muriel Pavlow, absolutely miserable.

It's based on a novel by Catherine Cookson, and there are hints of greatness about the movie, particularly the care with which the exteriors are shot around Dublin. Most of it, however, is a standard romantic comedy under the direction of George Pollock: always competent, well fitted out with plots and subplots and acting by Jack MacGowran, and other Abbey Players, but with nothing, alas, tointerfere with the obvious workings of the plot.

John Gregson turns in quite an amiable performance here as the eponymous Dublin bin man turned athlete. By day, he collects rubbish whilst at the weekends, he plays the lethal game of the "hurley" - and it's this that draws the attention of local bigwig "Doolan" (Liam Redmond) who helps him to find better lodgings. Safely ensconced, he meets "Maire" (Muriel Pavlov) who lives with her ailing, elderly, grandfather (Barry Fitzgerald) and his rather grumpy daughter "Mrs. O"Flynn" (Marie Kean). Can he make good on his sporting promise, survive all the familial discord and get the gal? It's very un-Catherine Cookson, this - but that just demonstrates a little of the versatility of an author who could update her stories as the need called for it. Despite being as English as the Thames, Gregson - maybe not so well when drunk - is engaging as the charming Irishman and I rather liked Kean's contributions as the stern "Miss Gulch"-esque woman who certainly never has an half full glass! Sure, it's all pretty predictable, but it serves as a nice reminder of late 1950s Dublin, and offers a watchable family drama that is characterful and well paced.

I fondly remember this one from seeing it on TV in the 1960s. Nice little Cinderella story of sorts, with a bit of the Blarney thrown in for some fun laughs. Nice characters. Good human interest plot, with the running subplot of amateur athlete (Rugby?) Rooney's attracting the mature landladies, which requires him to constantly find new lodgings. New lodgings involve him with the drama of the family of the house, and therein lies the story, and the romance. John Gregson makes a good strong lead, and Barry Fitzgerald adds his usual bit of Irish magic. Good solid performances from the supporting cast. This is a classic fun movie, and it is a shame it is not available on DVD or video.

This movie would be of great interest to historians and sociologists looking for a insight into Dublin in the 1950's, particularly the garbage collection business.

For the rest of us, it's a creaking story about a Dublin dustbin man who is blessed with a magnetic attraction for women and great hurling skills (the sport that is, not the bins).

There is probably something more interesting on....