Young Cassidy Review
While it's far from perfect, Young Cassidy is a very decent biopic about the acclaimed Irish playwright Sean O'Casey (renamed "Cassidy" here). Cassidy's strengths lie not in the story it tells, but in the characters it introduces us to and the actors who embody them. Truth to tell, Cassidy's story is far too weak. A lot happens, but it isn't focused; we sense the dramatic structure but miss the details that would turn the structure into emotion and involvement. For example, what is it that drives the main character/? He tells us of things that are important to him, but we don't really get the sense that these are specifics; they're just generalities that don't really form the soul of the man. This isn't the fault of Rod Taylor, who gives what is probably his finest performance in Cassidy. Physically, he's a bit too robust for the part, but he understands the inner workings of the character and he captures those inner workings beautifully. A young Maggie Smith in a supporting role is also a stand-out, and an equally young Julie Christie also makes an impression. Veteran performers Flora Robson, Michael Redgrave and Edith Evans add significantly to the film's success. Perhaps if John Ford had directed all of the film, it might have had the power and focus it too often lacks; certainly, one of the scenes attributed to him -- the death of the mother -- is by far the best in the picture. Craig Butler, Rovi
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