The Man in the White Suit

The Man in the White Suit was a satirical comedy movie made in 1951 by Ealing Studios. It starred Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood and Cecil Parker, and was directed by Alexander Mackendrick. It followed a common Ealing Studios theme of the "common man" against the Establishment.

Related Topics:
Satirical - Comedy - Movie - 1951 - Ealing Studios - Alec Guinness - Joan Greenwood - Cecil Parker - Alexander Mackendrick - Establishment

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Guinness played Sidney Stratton, a scientist working in a textile mill who invents a yarn which both repels dirt and never wears out. He has a suit made out of the fabric, which is brilliant white because it cannot be dyed and is slightly luminous. He is lauded as a genius until both the management and the unions realise the consequence of his invention. The management try to trick him into signing away the rights to his yarn but he refuses. He is then kept prisoner but escapes to seek help from the union, but is surprised to find that they too turn on him.

Related Topics:
Scientist - Textile mill - Yarn - Fabric - White - Dye - Genius - Management - Unions - Invention - Prisoner

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The climax of the film sees Stratton running through the streets in his white suit, pursued by both managers and employees. Near the end of the film he grabs a dustbin lid and a chair leg to fight off the crowd coming to kill him. As they advance towards him, his suit begins breaking apart. The mob, realizing that his yarn has a flaw, rips pieces of the suit off of him in triumph, and he is left standing in his underwear. This stops the crowd in their tracks. Later Stratton is dismissed from his job, and just as he walks out of the door, he consults his notes. As the film ends he exclaims "I see!" and strides off to inflict his talents elsewhere.

Related Topics:
Street - Manager - Employee - Dustbin - Chair - Crowd - Underwear

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