Reading the synopsis of this British movie, I was expecting a classic pre-Carry On Ealing type of Comedy, but this film turned out to be quite a gripping. moving and entertaining industrial cum kitchen-sink soap drama.
When factory owner Basil Radford's popularity falls to an all time low with his workers, it leads to the sacking of one of his more outspoken workers and potential strike action by the rest of his staff calling for his reinstatement.
In a heated argument with his men, he argues that if any of the workers think they can run the factory better than him, then they ought to put their money where their mouth is and step up to the plate, which is what quiet soft spoken worker Bernard Miles, who also wrote, produced and Directed the whole show, decides to do.
Radford calls Miles' bluff and leaves forthwith leaving the workers in charge of everything, the factory, the wages, the production, the bills, the distribution and the malcontented staff, personified by Niall McGuiness and his gang of anarchic layabouts.
Kenneth More however is another member of the team who rises to the challenge and displays a previously unseen superb business acumen that steers the company in the right direction, even managing to secure a major overseas contract for the firm.
However when word gets out that the respected Radford is no longer in charge, the hitherto steadfast Banks, associate companies and suppliers panic and pull out of all their dealings with the struggling firm, leading Miles, More and the rest of the workforce fighting one problem after another.
All seems lost until Radford, a man who it seems has been judged to harshly, sees his beloved firm struggling, and his hard working workforce losing the battle he at first despaired of but which he now has full admiration for. He helps by using his money and influence to secure deliveries, orders, loans etc, while staying anonymously behind the scenes.
Great performances from what runs as a who's who of post-war British Cinema, and great early performances from Patrick Troughton and Hattie Jacques, This coupled with the gritty black and white photography perfectly capturing the struggles and hardships of a war-battered and rationed England now long since gone, make this a good little film for a quiet afternoon.
Muck, grease and overalls, so realistically portrayed you can almost smell the oil.
When factory owner Basil Radford's popularity falls to an all time low with his workers, it leads to the sacking of one of his more outspoken workers and potential strike action by the rest of his staff calling for his reinstatement.
In a heated argument with his men, he argues that if any of the workers think they can run the factory better than him, then they ought to put their money where their mouth is and step up to the plate, which is what quiet soft spoken worker Bernard Miles, who also wrote, produced and Directed the whole show, decides to do.
Radford calls Miles' bluff and leaves forthwith leaving the workers in charge of everything, the factory, the wages, the production, the bills, the distribution and the malcontented staff, personified by Niall McGuiness and his gang of anarchic layabouts.
Kenneth More however is another member of the team who rises to the challenge and displays a previously unseen superb business acumen that steers the company in the right direction, even managing to secure a major overseas contract for the firm.
However when word gets out that the respected Radford is no longer in charge, the hitherto steadfast Banks, associate companies and suppliers panic and pull out of all their dealings with the struggling firm, leading Miles, More and the rest of the workforce fighting one problem after another.
All seems lost until Radford, a man who it seems has been judged to harshly, sees his beloved firm struggling, and his hard working workforce losing the battle he at first despaired of but which he now has full admiration for. He helps by using his money and influence to secure deliveries, orders, loans etc, while staying anonymously behind the scenes.
Great performances from what runs as a who's who of post-war British Cinema, and great early performances from Patrick Troughton and Hattie Jacques, This coupled with the gritty black and white photography perfectly capturing the struggles and hardships of a war-battered and rationed England now long since gone, make this a good little film for a quiet afternoon.
Muck, grease and overalls, so realistically portrayed you can almost smell the oil.