1930·Drama·1h 34m
7.0
★
In the slums of Dublin during the Irish Civil War, the Boyle family’s fragile stability collapses after news of an unexpected inheritance lures them into a false sense of prosperity. Captain Boyle, a boastful idler, squanders their meager resources, while his wife Juno holds the household together. When the fortune proves illusory, the family faces ruin, betrayal, and tragedy.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
black and white
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Barry Fitzgerald
The Orator
Maire O'Neill
Maisie Madigan
Edward Chapman
Captain Boyle
Sara Allgood
Mrs Boyle, "Juno"
John Laurie
Johnny Boyle
Kathleen O'Regan
Mary Boyle
Dave Morris
Jerry Devine
John Longden
Charles Bentham
Dennis Wyndham
The Mobiliser
Crew
Alfred Hitchcock
Director
Alfred Hitchcock
Writer
Alma Reville
Writer
Popular Reviews
17 reviews
Andrew Warren
3.0★ · 03/17/26
For a little St. Patrick’s Day watch, I decided to watch an Alfred Hitchcock film I’ve yet to see. Juno and the Paycock, also known as The Shame of Mary Boyle, takes place during the Irish revolution, following a family who gets a fortune in inheritance. Instead of being responsible with the money, they decide to spend it and tear down their family in the process.
This is a boring film from start to finish. Thank the Lord it was only 85 minutes, because if this was any longer I’d have probably turned it off. Hitchcock had already proven himself with his prior film, Blackmail, so there’s no defending this 1929 talkie for being this terrible.
Featured Lists:
Alfred Hitchcock Ranked
This is a boring film from start to finish. Thank the Lord it was only 85 minutes, because if this was any longer I’d have probably turned it off. Hitchcock had already proven himself with his prior film, Blackmail, so there’s no defending this 1929 talkie for being this terrible.
Featured Lists:
Alfred Hitchcock Ranked
For a little St. Patrick’s Day watch, I decided to watch an Alfred Hitchcock film I’ve yet to see. Juno and the Paycock, also known as The Shame of Mary Boyle, takes place during the Irish revolution, following a family who gets a fortune in inheritance. Instead of being responsible with the money, they decide to spend it and tear down their family in the process.
This is a boring film from start to finish. Thank the Lord it was only 85 minutes, because if this was any longer I’d have probably turned it off. Hitchcock had already proven himself with his prior film, Blackmail, so there’s no defending this 1929 talkie for being this terrible.
Featured Lists:
Alfred Hitchcock Ranked
This is a boring film from start to finish. Thank the Lord it was only 85 minutes, because if this was any longer I’d have probably turned it off. Hitchcock had already proven himself with his prior film, Blackmail, so there’s no defending this 1929 talkie for being this terrible.
Featured Lists:
Alfred Hitchcock Ranked
1
Devin Esser
4.0★ · 07/23/25
#2 – The Master of the MacGuffin Alfred Hitchcock – Filmographies Ranked
Juno and the Paycock is one of Hitch's earlier works that includes dialogue before he found his identity as the master of mystery and murder. He finds a really cool base topic here in the Irish family coming into money but really struggles to make the topic come to life in anyway. Hitch really becomes a master at dialogue and intrigue in his work but it seems he just hadn't figured out the formula yet when he made this film almost a century ago.
48.8/100
My Lists that include Juno and the Paycock:#2 – The Master of the MacGuffin Alfred Hitchcock – Filmographies RankedEvery Film I watched in July 2025 Ranked
Juno and the Paycock is one of Hitch's earlier works that includes dialogue before he found his identity as the master of mystery and murder. He finds a really cool base topic here in the Irish family coming into money but really struggles to make the topic come to life in anyway. Hitch really becomes a master at dialogue and intrigue in his work but it seems he just hadn't figured out the formula yet when he made this film almost a century ago.
48.8/100
My Lists that include Juno and the Paycock:#2 – The Master of the MacGuffin Alfred Hitchcock – Filmographies RankedEvery Film I watched in July 2025 Ranked
#2 – The Master of the MacGuffin Alfred Hitchcock – Filmographies Ranked
Juno and the Paycock is one of Hitch's earlier works that includes dialogue before he found his identity as the master of mystery and murder. He finds a really cool base topic here in the Irish family coming into money but really struggles to make the topic come to life in anyway. Hitch really becomes a master at dialogue and intrigue in his work but it seems he just hadn't figured out the formula yet when he made this film almost a century ago.
48.8/100
My Lists that include Juno and the Paycock:#2 – The Master of the MacGuffin Alfred Hitchcock – Filmographies RankedEvery Film I watched in July 2025 Ranked
Juno and the Paycock is one of Hitch's earlier works that includes dialogue before he found his identity as the master of mystery and murder. He finds a really cool base topic here in the Irish family coming into money but really struggles to make the topic come to life in anyway. Hitch really becomes a master at dialogue and intrigue in his work but it seems he just hadn't figured out the formula yet when he made this film almost a century ago.
48.8/100
My Lists that include Juno and the Paycock:#2 – The Master of the MacGuffin Alfred Hitchcock – Filmographies RankedEvery Film I watched in July 2025 Ranked
Eclectic Sorcerer
2.0★ · 07/04/25
Bad
Bad
Eclectic Sorcerer
2.0★ · 07/04/25
Bad
Bad
AiBets
1.0★ · 06/18/25
Absolutely atrocious
Absolutely atrocious