Rooney

I remember seeing most of John Gregson's 1950's films and enjoyed them all with "Genevieve" and "Rooney" proving to be my favourites.

''Rooney" may not have attracted the wider audience that the emerging Boulting Brothers and Carry On comedies succeeded in doing but those of us who caught it on it's initial release treasure the memory of a well-cast, very charming little British/Irish offering.

Gregson gently and assuredly wins the audience over from the outset and as we share his camaraderie with his rubbish collector mates, led by the always wonderful Noel Purcell, we quickly identify with poor Rooney's plight as he brushes up against a bevy of women of questionable motives and various charms or otherwise. When the right woman for Rooney appears, the delightful Muriel Pavlow, initially plain and down-trodden but sweet and sincere, we are urged to give Rooney a hurry-up. The final outcome brings the film to a quick but highly moving and memorable conclusion.

Special mention : everyone's favourite Irishman, Barry Fitzgerald is along for the ride too so you can't go wrong with this underrated gem.