The Man in the White Suit

Year: 1951
Production Country: UK
Directed by: Alexander Mackendrick
Featuring: Alec Guinness / Joan Greenwood / Cecil Parker / Michael Gough / Ernest Thesiger
Running time: 85min
Certificate: U

Alec Guinness delivers his most complex comic performance in Alexander Mackendrick's sly industrial satire. Read more

Synopsis

Mackendrick’s plague-on-all-your-houses industrial satire may be the most cynical Ealing film of all. Guinness delivers his most complex comic performance as the unworldly genius Sidney, whose invention of an indestructible, dirt-proof fabric terrifies textile barons and trade unions alike. A parable of the inexorability of technological progress and the tyranny of vested interests – with some sly sexual politics thrown in – it’s as acerbic a piece of social commentary as ever escaped from Ealing.

There will not be an introduction by Mamoun Hassan on Friday 9 Nov as stated in the Guide. The screening will now take place in NFT3 (from NFT1). We apologise for any inconvenience. Mamoum Hassan will introduce the Seniors’ Matinee of The Maggie on Fri 9 Nov 14:00 NFT2.