The Shame of Mary Boyle (1929)
"Juno and the Paycock" (original title)

During the Irish revolution, a family earns a big inheritance. They start leading a rich life forgetting what the most important values are.

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Sean O'Casey (play), Alfred Hitchcock (adaptation),

Stars:

Barry Fitzgerald, Maire O'Neill, Edward Chapman

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barry Fitzgerald	...	The Orator
Maire O'Neill	...	Mrs. Maisie 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)

Storyline

During the Irish revolution, a family earns a big inheritance. They start leading a rich life forgetting what the most important values of are. At the end, they discover they will not receive that inheritance; the family is destroyed and penniless. They must sell their home and start living like vagabonds.

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Plot Keywords:

inheritance | theosophy | tenement | rags to riches | gun | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

December 1929 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Shame of Mary Boyle

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British International Pictures (BIP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min 96 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sean O'Casey and Alfred Hitchcock formed a friendship during the filming.

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Goofs

When Maisie Madigan is drunk at the Boyle's house, she strolls across the kitchen and Mrs. Boyel's arms are by her side, but in the next shot, Mrs. Boyle's arms are crossed.

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Quotes

[first lines]
The Orator: Fellow countrymen, continuously and courageously we have fought and struggled for the national salvation of Ireland!

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Connections

Version of Olsenbanden Junior på rocker'n (2004)

User Reviews

Incredibly Moving and Beautiful

This is a work of socialist realism, showing the lives of the working-class from the worker's point of view. It is shocking and raw, but contains a great deal wit and humor. It is certainly a surprise to see Hitchcock handling such overtly political material.

He does it with a great deal of sensitivity. He allows Sean O'Casey's wonderful dialogue to carry the film and does not allow any cinematic tricks to get in the way.

This is a must-see film. For those who think that Hitchcock is all technique and no ideological substance, it will be a surprise and a revelation.

Only "The Skin Game" matches it for overtly Marxist political drama.