The Man in the White Suit [1951] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Amazon.co.uk Review

Ealing Comedy--cosy, gentle and whimsical, right? In this case, think again. Alexander Mackendrick was always the most politically aware of the Ealing directors, and in The Man in the White Suit he takes the studio's favourite theme of the little man up against the system and gives it a sharp satirical twist. Sidney Stratton (Alec Guinness at his most unworldly), a maverick scientist working in a Northern textile mill, invents a fabric that never gets dirty and never wears out. He's hailed as a genius--until management and unions alike realise what his brainwave implies.

Mackendrick's humour is exact and pointed, and the satire turns savage as a lynch mob of bosses and workers hunt Sidney down through dark narrow streets. Mackendrick's disenchanted view of hidebound, class-ridden British society still rings horribly true, and he draws note-perfect performances from the cream of British character actors: Cecil Parker as the liberal mill-owner (based it's said, on Ealing boss Michael Balcon); Ernest Thesiger as the evil old godfather of the industry; and, wittily sensual as Sidney's confidante, the ever-wonderful Joan Greenwood. Plus, listen out for the "voice" of Sidney's bizarre apparatus, the funniest and most unforgettable sound effect ever devised. --Philip Kemp

Customer Reviews:

Trouble at the Mill.......2006-01-18

"The Man in the White Suit" is a whimsical and at times surreal tale about an unorthodox , yet persistent, scientist who invents a type of cloth which never wears out and never gets dirty. While this invention provides an apparent short term market advantage for his employer , it soon becomes clear that it's implications appear to be destructive to the future of the whole textile industry. Alec Guinness's heroic inventor soon becomes a hate figure for factory employers and employees alike, much to his bewilderment, and both sides of industry frantically endeavour to suppress the new technology he created . The main theme of the film is science ,and the liberating effect of new technology, versus entrenched interests fearful of the financial consequences to them of it's successful implementation. Thankfully much of the Luddist mentality this film portrays has disappeared from British society and if Alec Guinness's invention was to be made today, I suspect it would be welcomed with open arms by global trade and commerce. The film is well acted, Joan Greenwood plays the love interest (such as it is) with style, and there are some humourous moments to savour as the story unfolds..

Gurgling Ingenuity.......2005-09-27

I recently purchased The Horse's Mouth (1958) from Amazon as well as "The Alec Guinness Collection" which includes The Man in the White Suit (1951) plus four others: Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), The Captain's Paradise (1953), and The Ladykillers (1955). Frankly, I was amazed how well each of the six films has held up since I first saw it.

Directed by Alexander MacKendrick (who also directed The Ladykillers four years later), what we have in The Man in the White Suit is Guinness' own version of the naive, indeed eccentric visionary/inventor/humanitarian. Sidney Stratton's dream is to create a fabric which never wears out and cannot be soiled. Endless (sometimes explosive) experiments involving various gurgling contraptions prove unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Stratton is fired from his job in one research laboratory, continues his research in another, and eventually succeeds. Or so he thinks.

One of these film's several delights is Joan Greenwood's portrayal of Daphne Birnley, daughter of the owner of the company in whose laboratory Stratton finally discovers the correct formula for the miracle fabric. Her father is played with great style by Cecil Parker who is almost as eager to marry off his daughter as he is to save his company. Only a spoilsport would reveal the climax of this entertaining film, one which may surprise viewers as much as it does Stratton and Alan Birnley. Sadder but wiser, Stratton ambles (as only Guinness can) into an uncertain future. Nowhere else throughout the plot is the special soundtrack more effective than it is in this final scene.

Classic British film making........2004-12-13

A classic film from the days when Britain really knew how to do it.
The legendary Sir Alec Guiness excells in this classic, which you can watch time and time again and never tire of.
One of the finest films to come out of the Eailing Studios and a must for anyone interested in classic British cinema.

Guinness at his comic best.......2002-06-16

Alec Guinness displays all his comic genius in this Alexander Mackendrick saga of dirty dealings up at t' mill. The special effects of the mad scientist's machinery and sound effects are exceptionally good for their time.

Alec Guiness proves that progress is not good news for all.......2000-11-09

As so often in Ealing comedies, the common man against the system is the theme of this film. In this much, "The Man in the White Suit" echoes the the battle to save a village railway in "The Titfield Thunderbolt", and the ordinary Londoners' stand against arrogant officialdom in "Passport to Pimlico". Mild-mannered genius Alec Guinness invents an everlasting fabric, making himself unpopular with textile workers and bosses alike, but making him a big hit with Joan Greenwood. Throughout the film, he remains single-mindedly devoted to his miracle fabric, and somewhat oblivious to the amorous attentions of both Greenwood and one of his factory co-workers played by Vida Hope. The film includes some brilliant comic moments, particularly as a succession of unwitting employers discover just how much of their money Guinness has been syphoning off to pay for the development of his invention.

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