UK, 1951
85m
35mm film, black and white, 1.37:1
mono, English
A British comedy fantasy film directed by Alexander Mackendrick.
Plot Summary
Quiet, lonely inventor Sidney Stratton creates a revolutionary new fabric which never gets dirty or wears out. But far from being greeted as a genius, Stratton finds himself and his invention facing resistance from both the powerful textile mill owners (who fear that the fabric will put them out of business) and their equally powerful workers (who fear that it will cost them their jobs).
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Directed by: Alexander Mackendrick
Copyright MCMLI [1951] by Ealing Studios Limited
The J. Arthur Rank Organisation presents an Ealing Studios production
Produced by: Michael Balcon
Associate Producer: Sidney Cole
Production Supervisor: Hal Mason
Unit Production Manager: L.C. Rudkin
Screenplay by: Roger MacDougall, John Dighton, Alexander Mackendrick
Based on a play by Roger MacDougall
Assistant Director: David Peers
Continuity: Felicia Manheim
Director of Photography: Douglas Slocombe
Additional Photography by: Lionel Banes
Camera Operator: Jeff Seaholme
Editor: Bernard Gribble
Music by: Benjamin Frankel
Played by: The Philharmonia Orchestra
Conducted by: Ernest Irving
Sound Supervisor: Stephen Dalby
[Sound] Recordist: Arthur Bradburn
RCA Sound System
Costume Designer: Anthony Mendleson
Make-up: Ernest Taylor, Harry Frampton
Hair Styles: Barbara Barnard
Special Effects: Sydney Pearson
Special Processes: Geoffrey Dickinson
Art Director: Jim Morahan
Scientific Advisor: Geoffrey Myers
Assistant to the Producer: Christopher Barry *
Made at Ealing Studios, London, England
Cast
Alec Guinness (Sidney Stratton)
Joan Greenwood (Daphne Birnley)
Cecil Parker (Alan Birnley)
Michael Gough (Michael Corland)
Ernest Thesiger (Sir John Kierlaw)
Vida Hope (Bertha)
Howard Marion Crawford (Cranford)
Miles Malleson (the tailor)
Henry Mollison (Hoskins)
Patric Doonan (Frank)
Duncan Lamont (Harry)
Harold Goodwin (lab technician at Corland Mill)
Colin Gordon (Hill)
Joan Harben (Miss Johnson)
Arthur Howard (Roberts)
Roddy Hughes (Green)
Stuart Latham (Harrison)
Edie Martin (Mrs Watson)
Mandy Miller (Gladdie)
Charlotte Mitchell (mill girl)
Olaf Olsen (Knudsen)
Desmond Roberts (Mannering)
Ewan Roberts (Fotheringay)
John Rudling (Wilson)
Charles Saynor (Pete)
Russell Waters (Davidson)
Brian Worth (King)
George Benson (the lodger)
Frank Atkinson (the baker)
Charles Cullum (1st company director)
F.B.J. Sharp (2nd company director)
Scott Harold (Express reporter)
Jack Howarth (receptionist at Corland Mill)
Jack McNaughton (taxi driver)
Judith Furse (Nurse Gamage)
Billy Russell (nightwatchman at Birnley’s)
Alternative Titles
El hombre vestido de blanco – Spain
L’homme au complet blanc – France
Der Mann im weißen Anzug – Germany
Mies valkoisessa puvussa – Finland
Lo scandalo del vestito bianco – Italy
Links
Extracts included in
Forever Ealing (2002)
Press
2000
Metro 17 July 2000 p.21
An Ealing comedy with bite […] Guinness was never better as the scientist blissfully unaware of the impact of his endeavour, while the supporting cast – Cecil Parker, Michael Gough and the wonderful Joan Greenwood – are typically excellent. A skilful balance of searing satire and good humour – from an illustrated review by Fiona Morrow
References
Periodicals
- Castle of Frankenstein no.17 p.31
- Interzone no.243 (November/December 2012) p.95 – review (by Tony Lee)
Newspapers
- Metro 17 July 2000 p.21 – illustrated review (by Fiona Morrow)
Other sources
- The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction by Phil Hardy (ed) pp.129-130
- British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928-1959 by David Quinlan pp.343-344 – credits, synopsis
- Films in 1951: Festival of Britain p.48 – illustrated note
- Horror and Science Fiction Films IV by Donald C. Willis p.308
