Chance of a Lifetime (1950)

Director:

Bernard Miles

Writers:

Walter Greenwood (original screenplay) and
Bernard Miles (original screenplay)

Release Date:

14 March 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The workers in a small plough factory take over the firm, but when a large order falls through, the old management come back to help out.

Plot Keywords:

Management | Worker | Factory | Mistake | Labor

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Basil Radford	...	Dickinson
Niall MacGinnis	...	Baxter
Bernard Miles	...	Stevens
Julien Mitchell	...	Morris
Kenneth More	...	Adam
Geoffrey Keen	...	Bolger
Josephine Wilson	...	Miss Cooper
John Harvey	...	Bland
Russell Waters	...	Palmer
Patrick Troughton	...	Kettle
Hattie Jacques	...	Alice
Peter Jones	...	Xenobian
Bernard Rebel	...	Xenobian
Eric Pohlmann	...	Xenobian
Amy Veness	...	Lady Davis

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | UK:U (video rating) | UK:U (original rating)

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Pilgrim Pictures

Interesting summary of post-war labour relations

Jack of all trades Bernard Miles manages to write, direct, and produce this movie while taking one of the lead roles. Basil Radford is ideal casting as the slightly pompous, yet kind hearted boss who decides to let this employees run his agricultural implement company when they express disapproval at his employee relations.

The film shows the point trade unionism and the co-operative movement had reached in 1950, a few years after the reforming Labour government got in and just before they were replaced by Winston Churchill, showing that the country was oscillating between socialism and conservatism. Miles's intelligent script is even-handed in its approach to these issued and also gives insights into the class system of the time.

This is also worth watching for early performances from Patrick Troughton, Hattie Jacques, and Peter Jones. The direction is slightly flat at times, but Miles must have had his hands full. There are few scenes outside the well-made factory set, and this is all for the better as it gives us more of a feel of the lives of the people who work there.