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Billboard (1930) - Juno and the Paycock

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Juno and the Paycock

This Sean O'Casey play was presented as a stage attraction in New York by the Irish Players late in 1927. It has been made into a picture at the Elstree studios, London, Eng., with Sara Allgood, who appeared in the role of Juno during its New York run, as the only member of the original cast in the all-talking version on the screen. The fact that Miss Allgood appears in the same role is enough to lend interest to the picture. She gives the same virile, sympathetic portrayal that she did on the stage and makes the role one poignantly dramatic yet played with such a delightful understanding that it becomes one of the finest screen characterizations of the year.

Juno and the Paycock is excellent in its character drawing. Adapted for the screen by Alfred Hitchcock, who also directed, it seems to be a little confusing at times, due to the fact that several important features have failed to be accurately enough explained, leaving one guessing at times as to whys and wherefores The tempo of the production might have been speeded, tho the last half of the film does not lose one whit of interest.

The story deals with Juno Boyle and her paycock husband. "Paycock" is the Irish pronunciation of peacock, Juno's husband being a lazy, strutting Irishman who fears work to such an extent that whenever he feels it coming on he suddenly is affected with terrible pains in his legs. His incorrigible irresponsibility helps keep the family in trouble and when the daughter is jilted by her sweetheart, a scheming lawyer, who is after the money the family is supposed to inherit, Juno is left to bear all the troubles. On top of this Juno's son is killed by political foes, leaving her to feel that she had not offered the proper sympathy to another woman whose son had met a similar death.

Edward Chapman is excellently cast as the Paycock, while Marie O'Neill, Sidney Morgan, John Laurie and Kathleen O'Regan all bring neat portrayals to their individual characters.

Juno and the Paycock should have a vast appeal for Irish audiences and for audiences leaning to the arty in their screen fares. It is purely a picture for the discriminating.

EXPLOITATION SUGGESTION:

There is little to exploit in this production. Play up the play and the Irish Players who first presented it, laying stress upon the fact that Sara Allgood, the Mrs. Boyle of the original production, appears in the screen version. Center your advertising on the intelligentsia and your Irish clientele. This will appeal to those who like the better things in their movie fare.

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