Impoverished idealist John Cassidy (Rod Taylor), whose ambitions are limited by the demands of caring for his family, navigates the social injustices of Dublin life circa 1911.
A young labourer and budding writer, Cassidy involves himself with the rowdy tramway-men strike, dawdles with fiery prostitute Daisy Battles (Julie Christie in a brief but eye-catching turn), and seeks a better life.
He susequently falls in love with bookshop assistant Nora (Maggie Smith), who encourages him to pursue a life of writing.
Finding success at the Abbey Theatre, his unorthodox views estrange him from family, friends, and his own past.
A mostly non-Irish cast goes full ‘begorra’ in this film based on the autobiographical writings of Irish playwright Sean O’Casey.
Flora Robson makes a proud mother, stubborn in illness. Edith Evans, as Lady Gregory, has a memorable scene in which she invites Cassidy to carve his name on the tree at Coole.
Jack MacGowran gives a bravura performance as Cassidy’s actor brother, Archie, and Philip O’Flynn is Mick Mullen, the uncomprehending friend who believes Cassidy the writer has betrayed him.
The worst performance is Michael Regrave’s as a hopelessly theatrical Yeats. The best is Maggie Smith’s as Nora. Her scenes with Taylor have an idyllic sweetness about them, and when Nora and John part before he sails from the North Wall, she tells him, “I need a small, simple life. Not your terrible dreams and your anger.”
The lovely camerawork from Ted Scaife captures a Dublin of rose-red brick and cold strone, of tired tenements and smoky pubs, of sad countryside and russet dawns that make the city skyline seem like Canaletto’s Venice.
Jack Cardiff took over directing duties when John Ford fell ill in the early stages of shooting. The results are rambling, but the anti-British riot scenes are ace.
John Cassidy
Rod Taylor Mrs Cassidy
Flora Robson Archie Cassidy
Jack MacGowran Ella Cassidy
Siân Phillips Tom
TP McKenna Sara
Julie Ross Michael
Robin Sumner Mick Mullen
Philip O’Flynn Nora
Maggie Smith Daisy Battles
Julie Christie Bessie Ballynoy
Pauline Delaney Lady Gregory
Edith Evans W.B. Yeats
Michael Redgrave Foreman
Arthur O’Sullivan Murphy
Harry Brogan Captain White
Eddie Golden Charlie Ballynoy
James Fitzgerald Lady Gregory’s Maid
Shivaun O’Casey
Director
Jack Cardiff/John Ford
Video
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Finding success at the Abbey Theatre, his unorthodox views estrange him from family, friends, and his own past.
