Juno and the Paycock (film)
| Juno and the Paycock | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster |
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| Directed by | Alfred Hitchcock |
| Produced by | John Maxwell |
| Written by | Play: Sean O'Casey Adaptation: Alfred Hitchcock Scenario: Alma Reville |
| Starring | Barry Fitzgerald Maire O'Neill Edward Chapman Sidney Morgan Sara Allgood |
| Cinematography | Jack E. Cox |
| Editing by | Emile de Ruelle |
| Distributed by |  Wardour Films Ltd. Harold Auten |
| Release date(s) | 1930 June 29, 1930 |
| Running time | 85 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb • Allmovie | |
Juno and the Paycock is a 1930 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It stars Barry Fitzgerald, Maire O'Neill, Edward Chapman and Sara Allgood.
Contents |
Plot
Barry Fitzgerald appears as an orator in the first scene of the film, but has no other role. In the slums of Dublin during the Irish Civil War, Captain Boyle (Edward Chapman) lives in a two room tenement flat with his wife Juno (Sara Allgood) and children Mary (Kathleen O'Regan) and Johnny (John Laurie). Juno has dubbed her husband "Captain Paycock" because she thinks him as useful and vain as a Peacock. Juno works while the Captain loafs around the flat when not drinking up the family's meager finances at the neighborhood pub.
Daughter Mary has a job but is presently on strike against the victimization of a co-worker. Son Johnny has become a semi invalid after losing an arm and severely injuring his hip in a fight with the Black and Tans during the Irish War of Independence. Although Johnny has taken the Anti-Treaty side during the continuing Irish Civil War, he has recently turned in a fellow IRA member to the Irish Free State police. As a result, Captain Paycock tells his friend Joxer (Sidney Morgan) of his disgust for his son.
Daughter Mary is courted by Jerry Devine (Dave Morris) but dumps him for Charlie Bentham (John Longden) who whisks her away after telling Mary's family the Captain is to receive an inheritance. The elated Captain borrows money against the (as yet un-received) inheritance and spends it freely on new furniture and a Victrola. Family friends are invited to an impromptu party at the once shabby tenement.
The Captain soon learns the inheritance a was a lie by Charles to gain Mary's favors. The Captain keeps the bad news a secret until creditors show up. Even Joxer turns on the Captain and gleefully spreads the news of the nonexistent inheritance. The furniture store repossess the furniture. The tailor demands money for new clothes. Pub owner Mrs. Madigan’ (Maire O'Neill) takes the Victrola to cover the Captain's bar tab.
The worst is yet to come, however. Mary reveals that she has shamed the family by becoming pregnant by Charles, who has long since disappeared. Her former fiancé Jerry proclaims his love for Mary and offers to marry her back until he learns of her pregnancy. As a parting shot, it is revealed that Johnny's body has been found riddled with bullets. Almost certainly through Joxer, the Anti-Treaty IRA has learned of his status as an informer for the Garda Siochana. Realizing that their family has been destroyed, Mary declares, "It's true. There is no God." Although completely shattered, Juno shushes her daughter, saying that they will need both Christ and the Blessed Virgin to deal with their grief. Alone, however, she laments her son's fate before the religious statues in the family's empty tenement.
Cast
- Barry Fitzgerald - The Orator
- Maire O'Neill - Mrs. Madigan (as Maire O'Neil)
- Edward Chapman - Captain Boyle
- Sidney Morgan - 'Joxer' Daly
- Sara Allgood - Mrs. Boyle ('Juno')
- John Laurie - Johnny Boyle
- Dave Morris - Jerry Devine
- Kathleen O'Regan - Mary Boyle
- John Longden - Charles Bentham
- Dennis Wyndham - The Mobiliser (as Denis Wyndham)
- Fred Schwartz - Mr. Kelly (as Fred Schwarz)
- Donald Calthrop - Needle Nugent (uncredited)
Production
The film was based on the successful play Juno and the Paycock by Sean O'Casey. Hitchcock filmed a faithful reproduction of the play using few of the directorial touches he had incorporated in his previous films. Instead he often held the camera for long single shots. He was eager to have a scene set outside the flat inserted into the film, and after permission from O'Casey, added a pub scene. O'Casey made quite an impression on Hitchcock, and was the inspiration for the prophet of doom in the diner in The Birds.
This was the second sound film by Alfred Hitchcock. The cast's strong Irish accents, along with the still primitive sound recording techniques, rendered the dialogue nearly incomprehensible to anyone outside of the region[citation needed].
Sara Allgood reprised her role as Juno from the play. Barry Fitzgerald made his film debut.
Copyright Status
The following two views are opposed to each other over the copyright of this work.
- Copyright is already expired in Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 because it's issued over 70 years.
- Copyright is available until 2050 (over 70 years from death of Hitchcock) on Directive harmonizing the term of copyright protection#Films and photographs.
In U.S., there is a contractor who releases public domain DVD based on the former view.
On the other hand, Canal+ which holds the present copyright asserts copyright continuation based on the latter view.
External links
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