Young Cassidy

"He's a brawling, sprawling giant - on the make for fame and fortune and then some!"

1965 1h 50m EN

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 22

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In Dublin circa 1911, John Cassidy (Rod Taylor), an impoverished idealist, whose ambitions are restricted by the demands of looking after his family, journeys through the social injustices of Dublin life, involving himself with the rowdy tramway-men strike, dawdling with prostitute Daisy Battles (Julie Christie), and seeking a better life. He falls in love with bookshop assistant Nora (Dame Maggie Smith) who encourages him toward a life of writing. Finding success at the Abbey Theatre, his unorthodox views estrange him from family, friends, and his own past.

“He's a brawling, sprawling giant - on the make for fame and fortune and then some!”

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Cast

Rod Taylor
John Cassidy
Julie Christie
Daisy Battles
Maggie Smith
Nora
Michael Redgrave
W.B. Yeats
Edith Evans
Lady Gregory
Flora Robson
Mrs. Cassidy
Jack MacGowran
Archie
Siân Phillips
Ella

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jack Cardiff
Writers: John Whiting
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

61 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jack Cardiff, shot by Edward Scaife. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Sean O'Riada. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Anne V. Coates shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Rod Taylor and Julie Christie and Maggie Smith carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "He's a brawling, sprawling giant - on the make for fame and fortune and then some!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0059930 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 22 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jack Cardiff directs. Edward Scaife behind the camera. Sean O'Riada scores. Anne V. Coates cuts. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

161 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Jack Cardiff, shot by Edward Scaife. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Sean O'Riada. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Anne V. Coates shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Rod Taylor and Julie Christie and Maggie Smith carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "He's a brawling, sprawling giant - on the make for fame and fortune and then some!".
7IMDB entry: tt0059930 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 22 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
9Classified under 8 themes, including "dublin, ireland", "biography", "idealist", "playwright".