The Man in the White Suit

The man in the white suit is a British comedy film from the year 1951. Directed by Alexander Mackendrick Alec Guinness plays the title role. The film is considered a masterpiece and a typical example of the comedy production of Ealing Studios in the early 1950s.

Action

The young chemist Sidney Stratton, an employee in the textile factory of Mr. Birnley is extremely insistent in implementing a fixed idea: he wants to develop the absolute tear-resistant synthetic fiber which also is also more stain-resistant. One day he manages the coup - and no one is excited about it: The factory workers who manufacture the fiber can, his invention purely abgewinnen nothing, because now they have to worry about their jobs, because there are hardly any demand for newly produced substances soon. And also the manufacturers show up in horror, but also need it to future transactions and thus profits fear, because the demand for conventional fibers will decrease rapidly.

As Stratton refuses his disastrous for future fiber creation formula to sell the idealistic inventor is a phalanx of adversaries: capital and labor join hands and oppose with all means against his pioneering invention actually have brought about the humanity but good should. Stratton do not know what to do, since the fate decides for him: his " miracle fiber" has a serious, serious mistake, and makes itself felt very plastic. On the run from his pursuers disintegrates be worn by him, white miracle suit in a very short time in tatters, without human intervention. Finally Stratton is because only in underwear. Now only Birnleys daughter Daphne is on his side. But the inventor does not give up, and after a new, igniting incident he is come, he returns to his experimental laboratory.

Production Notes

The world premiere of The Man in the White Suit took place in London on 7 August 1951. In Germany the film was first shown on 1 July 1955.

The film was based on the novel by co-writer Roger MacDougall. All three writers received an Oscar nomination in 1953. The year before, The man in the white suit for the British Film Academy Award in the category was nominated for "Best British film ".

The Filmbauten submitted by Jim Morahan, the costumes by Anthony Mendleson. Lionel Banes caused some additional camera shots.

Criticism

In Reclams film guide states: " An amusing comedy. Typical of the post-war production of Ealing Studios is the serious social background of the turbulent action. The film granted tutoring on economic and social problems, without losing entertainment value. "

In Bucher's Encyclopedia of the film reads: " The serious, even satirical social criticism raises addition, this film about the cozy complacency of the typical Ealing comedies. It provides excellent representational services, particularly by Alec Guinness as lonely inventor whose discovery of an indestructible fabric earns him the ire of both the entrepreneur and the trade unions. "

The lexicon of the International Films wrote: "Fine Pointed British comedy " and praised " told with gentle humor to formal high level ."

Halliwell's Film Guide wrote: " Brilliant satirical comedy played as farce and put together more meticulous cinematic counterpoint, so did every moment counts and all Concerned give of Their very best ."

The Movie & Video Guide praised tersely: "Most engaging comedy".

1951 in film Screenplay John Dighton Film score Benjamin Frankel Douglas Slocombe Harold Goodwin (English actor) Leslie Halliwell Leonard Maltin
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