I'm All Right Jack (1959)

Director:

John Boulting

Writers:

John Boulting (screenplay)
Alan Hackney (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

8 April 1960 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Three of England's Top Comedians...One Big Laugh Riot!

Plot:

Naive Stanley Windrush returns from the war, his mind set on a successful career in business. Much to his own dismay...

Plot Keywords:

Labor Relations | Industrial Town | Factory | Naive | Forklift

Awards:

Won 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Ian Carmichael	...	Stanley Windrush
Terry-Thomas	...	Major Hitchcock
Peter Sellers	...	Fred Kite / Sir John Kennaway
Richard Attenborough	...	Sidney De Vere Cox
Dennis Price	...	Bertram Tracepurcel
Margaret Rutherford	...	Aunt Dolly
Irene Handl	...	Mrs. Kite
Liz Fraser	...	Cynthia Kite
Miles Malleson	...	Windrush Snr
Marne Maitland	...	Mr. Mohammed
John Le Mesurier	...	Waters
Raymond Huntley	...	Magistrate
Victor Maddern	...	Knowles
Kenneth Griffith	...	Dai
Fred Griffiths	...	Charlie
Donal Donnelly	...	Perce Carter
John Comer	...	Shop Steward
Sam Kydd	...	Shop Steward
Cardew Robinson	...	Shop Steward
Tony Comer	...	Shop Steward
Bruce Wightman	...	Shop Steward
Bill Rayment	...	Shop Steward (as Billy Rayment)
Ronnie Stevens	...	Hooper
Martin Boddey	...	Num Yum's Executive
Brian Oulton	...	Appts. Board Examiner
Malcolm Muggeridge	...	T.V. Panel Chairman
John Glyn-Jones	...	Detto Executive
Pauline Winter	...	Miss Forsdyke
Maurice Colbourne	...	Missiles Director
Jeremy White	...	Young Chemist
Robin Ray	...	Young Chemist
Michael Bates	...	Bootle
John Van Eyssen	...	Reporter
Robert Bruce	...	Reporter
Michael Ward	...	Reporter
Stringer Davis	...	Reporter
Tony Spear	...	Reporter
Arthur Skinner	...	Photographer
William Peacock	...	Photographer
Eynon Evans	...	Truscott
Esma Cannon	...	Spencer
Robert S. Young	...	Owens (as Robert Young)
Roy Purcell	...	Police Inspector
Marianne Stone	...	T.V. Receptionist
Terry Scott	...	Crawley
Marion Shaw	...	Tea Girl
Wally Patch	...	Workman
Alun Owen	...	T.V. Producer
Muriel Young	...	T.V. Announcer
Frank Phillips	...	B.B.C. Announcer
Ian Wilson	...	Evangelist
Margaret Lacey	...	Empire Loyalist
George Selway	...	Union Jack Workman
Alan Wilson	...	Union Jack Workman
David Lodge	...	Card Player
Keith Smith	...	Card Player
Kenneth J. Warren	...	Card Player (as Kenneth Warren)
Basil Dignam	...	Minister of Labour
Harry Locke	...	Trade Union Official
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Leyton	...	Recruit to Detto (uncredited)

Directed by
John Boulting

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
John Boulting		screenplay
Alan Hackney		screenplay
Alan Hackney		story "Private Life"
Frank Harvey		screenplay

Produced by
Roy Boulting	....	producer

Original Music by
Ken Hare

Cinematography by
Mutz Greenbaum		(as Max Greene)

Film Editing by
Anthony Harvey

Art Direction by
William C. Andrews		(as Bill Andrews)

Makeup Department
David Aylott	....	makeup artist (as Dave Aylott)
Barbara Ritchie	....	hair stylist
Eric Allwright	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Adrian D. Worker	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Philip Shipway	....	assistant director
Denis Johnson Jr.	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Julian Mackintosh	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
William Hutchinson	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Peter James	....	set dresser (uncredited)
James Sawyer	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
A.J. Van Montagu	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Tony Woollard	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Chris Greenham	....	sound editor
Red Law	....	sound recordist
George Stephenson	....	sound recordist
Jack Davies	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Allwork	....	camera operator
John Jordan	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Laurie Ridley	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Jack Sullivan	....	chief electrician (uncredited)
Trevor Wrenn	....	clapper loader (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
John McCorry	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
John Poyner	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Ron Goodwin	....	music arranger
Ron Goodwin	....	musical director

Other crew
Olga Brook	....	continuity (as Olga Brooke)
David Ffolkes	....	title designer (uncredited)
Michael ffolkes	....	titles (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Charter Film Productions

Distributors

• British Lion Film Corporation (1959) (UK) (theatrical)
• Lion International Films (1960) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (1960) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (1989) (UK) (video)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Australia:G | Finland:S | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Charter Film Productions

Quotes:

Kite: My daughter, Cynthia. She works 'ere in the factory. Spindle polishing.
Windrush: Oh, really? Perhaps I will take the room, Mr Kite.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hitler: The Comedy Years (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

I'm All Right, Jack

`Nail-on-the-head' satire, very funny with a top class cast who's only weakness is it's slight anti-trade union feel

After the second world war is over, a new spirit of togetherness is fostered in the UK, and industry blossoms. Eager to get involved, the well-to-do Stanley Windrush tries to get a management job but fails. However some friends of the family, head of industry types get him a job with the workers at a missile factory. However his enthusiasm gets him in trouble with the all-powerful unions – but is that what the bosses planned for all along?

First of all I cannot believe that this film has so few votes and comments (at time of writing this it's 270 and 5 respectively). I know this doesn't correlate with the number of users who have seen the film but it is a fair representation! I find that shocking, as this is one of the stronger satires I've seen for a good long while. The plot is a sort of comedy ploy by the bosses to shift work around to other firms (by relying on their own firm striking) and get personally rich as a result, however it is the satirical edge that makes it worth watching. Both bosses and unions get it in the neck here – neither coming off well in the wash!

Bosses are seen as profit driven and not looking at the greater good, workers on the other hand are seen as looking after themselves while the unions cause more problems than they solve! There is an element of truth in all this – that's why it is funny – although it is obviously laid on a bit strong in the name of comedy. As a current worker in the UK manufacturing industry (yes, there is some left – although it's an American company!) I am greatly amused by the caricatures as some elements (happily less each year) of them can still be seen in my place of employment! The management get off quite light as they are actually, at core, trying to improve the business's efficiency and thus compete with foreign firms. The workers and the unions get the hardest stick which is a little unfair – after all the workers make the least and are the ones at risk, while the unions have brought about great steps in workers rights. For example it was funny for me to see FLT's moving around in heavily pedestrianised areas – nowadays many larger factories will be totally segregated between vehicles and workers.

The plot does manage to mix the swipes so that it seems fair on the surface – it is a pretty damning dig at British industry and, from modern views, it is quite prophetic as British industry has really fallen in the past few decades. The `one out, all out' strike mentality is well spoofed here but there's no doubting the damage that it (with other factors) has had. The only downside of the film looking back, is the racist views and racist language that is used at a couple of moments – but in fairness these are not THAT offensive and can be overlooked as the culture of the film at the time.

Despite the quite anti-union feel to the film, Sellers does well to not overplay his character. The socialist worker type is really easy to get laughs off but Sellers brings out character and doesn't just go for an out and out mockery of the character. Carmichael is OK in the lead but is overshadowed by the sheer depth of excellent support roles. Le Mesurier's excellent, twitchy efficiency expert, Thomas' manager – sweating and terrified of the workers he calls `an absolute shower' in the way only he can say it! Further faces fall into the film in the distinguished shapes of Attenborough, Rutherford and Price to name a few.

Overall this film comes out as a very classy satire. It hits the nail on the head and, over 40 years later, much of it can still be seen today – and the damage from the stuff it satirises is being felt. The film is funny if you have a passing understanding of British industry in terms of politics, workers rights and unions – even without this understanding the central plot is broad enough and funny enough to be worth seeing!