Man in the White Suit, The, is a famous English satirical motion picture. Ealing Studios released the comedy in 1951. It was one of several highly praised films of the 1940’s and 1950’s that became known as “Ealing comedies.” A typical Ealing comedy pitted an underdog individual against authority. The comedies were quiet in tone and tended to concentrate on character rather than wisecracking dialogue or visual gags.
The Man in the White Suit starred Alec Guinness as Sidney Stratton, an idealistic and self-educated young chemist who invents a fabric that never gets dirty and will never wear out. At first a mill owner agrees to market the indestructible fabric, believing he can dominate the textile market. But soon both labor and management attack Stratton because they see that his invention will force the closing of textile mills and cost thousands of workers their jobs. The Man in the White Suit raises serious economic and social questions, but the film remains a droll comedy that deftly satirizes both workers and their bosses.
The chief supporting players included Joan Greenwood as the mill owner’s daughter, who becomes Stratton’s romantic interest, and Cecil Parker as her father. Alexander Mackendrick was the director. Mackendrick also was the co-author, with Roger MacDougall and John Dighton, of the clever and humorous screenplay.
See also Guinness, Alec .
