Juno and the Paycock poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Sara Allgood, Edward Chapman, Maire O'Neill, Sydney Morgan, Kathleen O'Regan ... see more see more... , John Laurie , John Loder , Donald Calthrop , Barry Fitzgerald , John Longden , Fred Schwartz , Dennis Wyndham , Dave Morris

Alfred Hitchcock's second talkie was a surprisingly static adaptation of the Sean O'Casey stage drama Juno and the Paycock. Set during the Irish "troubles" of the early 1920s, the film focuses on the ... read more read more...trials and tribulations of a typical Dublin tenement family. Sara Allgood is brilliant as family matriarch Juno Boyle, who must contend with her bibulous, braggadocio husband, Captain Jack Boyle (Edward Chapman), known as the "paycock" because he always struts around like he owns the world. As Captain Jack carouses with his drinking buddy Joxer Daly (Sydney Morgan), Juno tries to keep her family together, a task that proves harder with each passing day, especially when daughter Mary (Kathleen O'Regan) is impregnated by her irresponsible boyfriend. Things take a tragic turn when Juno's weakling son Johnny (John Laurie), a member of the IRA, is shot as an informer by his own comrades. Sara Allgood's scenes after the death of her son are absolutely heart-wrenching, offering ample compensation for Hitchcock's plodding direction and the hopelessly hammy performance by Edward Chapman. Many of the supporting actors were drawn from the ranks of Dublin's Abbey Players, notably Barry Fitzgerald, making his film debut as The Orator. Juno and the Paycock was adapted for the screen by Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

23% liked it

1,350 ratings

Critics

40% liked it

10 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Release Date: December 24, 1949

Invite friends to see

Stats: 55 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

None yet... Got one?

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (55)

  • cosmo313
    December 19, 2011
    cosmo313
    This is one of Hitchcock's early efforts, and, I believe, his second "talkie". It's also a very atypical effort in that it is a human drama based on an acclaimed play concerning the trials and tribulations of an average Dublin tenemant family during Ireland's "troubles" in the ea... read morerly 1920s.

    That it covers material different from what Hitch would later become a master at makes it kinda interesting, if only to see how he would handle things. Well, apparently this film is a close adaptation, but that doesn't mean that it really works.

    In all honesty, this film is a real drag. It's boring, unengaging, and reminded me a lot (to an extent) of Angela's Ashes, only not as good and harder to sit through. It also feels far longer than it is. Sara Allgood gives a decent performance, and holds everything together, but everyone else falls short. On top of that, the sound quality is pretty bad (the kinks hadn't been worked out yet) and that, combined with the thick accents of some of the performers makes it really difficult to discern what is going on at times.

    Visually the film is at least sort of interesting, with a bulk of the film being a series of static medium shots, sometimes done in long takes. Aside from that though, the film isn't really innovative or captivating.

    I don't really recommend it unless you are a completist or have a big fascination with early "talkies".
  • bbcfloridabound
    October 14, 2009
    bbcfloridabound
    One of the real Early Works of Alfred Hitchcock, has it his first, I don't know, but it lacks any real sign of the master himself in this film. I would give it a 1/2 star but Being a Hitchcock film, I will give it a single star. Think its supposed to be a British Comedy, no wonde... read morer I never dated a British Girl, Dry as a Bone. Must have come out right after sound was put on film, It came in a 10 Movie Hitchcock Collection. Your time is better spent playing in the middle of the road of a busy highway. If Hitchcock makes and appearance in this one, will someone please tell me where. 1 star its TRASH

View All Juno and the Paycock Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

Three-quarters of the film is just photographed stage play -- excellently photographed, but slow in action. Full Review

March 25, 2006
New York Times

By its failure to blend the two poles of drama the film resolves itself into virtually two plays. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
January 1, 2000
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

A fairly deadly case of canned theater that's pretty close to what Hitchcock many years later would refer to as 'photographs of people talking.' Full Review

March 20, 2012
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Though well photographed, the action is incredibly slow for Hitchcock. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
March 16, 2010
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A faithful Casey adaptation, but one that's stagebound and lackluster. Full Review

Fernando F. Croce
February 13, 2010
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

Static medium shots keep the actors in full view, yet the film is as much of a visual experiment as Blackmail or Number Seventeen Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Hitch gets a chance to flex his cinematic muscle with a predictably dramatic ending. Alas, it is too late to save what is essentially a theatrical experience. Full Review

Cole Smithey
September 17, 2005
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
July 15, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Carol Cling
February 27, 2004
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

This list looks lonely.
Add a suggestion!

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Juno and the Payc... : Watch Free on TV

Juno and the Paycock Trivia

  • Juno is a long awaited sequel to Alfred Hitchcock's 1930 film Juno and the Paycock.  Answer »
More Juno and the Paycock Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Juno and the Paycock. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Juno and the Paycock to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?