Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960)

A rebellious, hard-living factory worker juggles relationships with two women, one of whom is married to another man but pregnant with his child.

Director:

Karel Reisz

Writers:

Alan Sillitoe (novel), Alan Sillitoe (screenplay)

Stars:

Albert Finney, Shirley Anne Field, Rachel Roberts

Won 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 5 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Albert Finney	...	Arthur Seaton
Shirley Anne Field	...	Doreen
Rachel Roberts	...	Brenda
Hylda Baker	...	Aunt Ada
Norman Rossington	...	Bert
Bryan Pringle	...	Jack
Robert Cawdron	...	Robboe
Edna Morris	...	Mrs. Bull
Elsie Wagstaff	...	Mrs. Seaton
Frank Pettitt	...	Mr. Seaton
Avis Bunnage	...	Blousy Woman
Colin Blakely	...	Loudmouth
Irene Richmond	...	Doreen's Mother
Louise Dunn	...	Betty
Anne Blake	...	Civil Defence Officer

Storyline

Arthur, one of Britain's angry young men of the 1960s, is a hardworking factory worker who slaves all week at his mindless job for his modest wages. Come Saturday night, he's off to the pub for a loud and rowdy beer session. With him is Brenda, his girlfriend of the moment. Married to a fellow worker, she is nonetheless captivated by his rugged good looks and his devil-may-care attitude. Soon a new love interest Doreen enters and a week later, Brenda announces she's pregnant. She tells Arthur she needs money for an abortion, and Arthur promises to pay for it. By this time, his relationship with Doreen has ripened and Brenda, hearing of it, confronts him. He denies everything, but it's obvious that their affair is all but over.

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Plot Keywords:

abortion | day in title | kitchen sink realism | based on novel | independent film

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Taglines:

Makes "Room at the Top" look like a vicarage tea-party.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 April 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lauantai-illasta sunnuntaiaamuun

Filming Locations:

ABC Cinema, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Woodfall Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First film of Colin Blakely.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Arthur Seaton: Nine hundred and fifty four, nine hundred and fifty bloody five. Another few more and that's the lot for a Friday.

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Connections

References Wee Geordie (1955)

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Soundtracks

"Let's Slip Away"
(uncredited)
Music by John Dankworth
Lyrics by David Dearlove
Played when Brenda and Arthur see each other at the carnival

User Reviews

Watch again and again and again....

This is one of those types of films that actually lets you forget who the big stars in it really are (a young Albert Finney) - and just lets you enjoy the film for what it is - a classic and gritty British film. I've watched it over and over and seen it again today - and forgot how good - and funny in places it really is.

Director Karel Reisz used his skills perfectly in this - he took places lit and furnished as he found them, let people naturally perform and simply laced together a piece of cinematographic brilliance.

People forget that he also directed such films as The French Lieutenants Woman and produced This Sporting Life, but I personally feel this masterpiece, amongst his early and sadly rare work was the best by far.

If you've not seen this film and claim to be a fan of 1960s British Cinema, you'd better get it into your collection and view it very soon - be prepared for some smiles, some laughs, some hard scenes but, overall, a treat.

Enjoy!