There's a lot of unfairness cost at salesman Tony Britton, jailed simply because he bought a watch in Germany as a birthday for his wife Sylvia Syms and didn't claim it when he went through customs. Apparently at the time, this was considered a serious offence and as a result, he ends up losing his job while behind bars and his reputation is besmirched as well. While in jail, he is treated horribly, not physically but psychologically, with guards who talk to him as if he was a child, making ridiculous demands of respect and following of the rules, unreasonably condescending in a way you would expect in the middle ages but not in modern society.
He does have an understanding boss (Geoffrey Keen) who wants to take him back upon his release, but is stopped due to the judgments of the board. This makes it difficult for him to find work, and when he does find an opportunity, it is to start back at the bottom and move his way back up. This social drama is more interesting as a character study and the exposure of a ridiculous law, and ends up being very talky in spots rather than getting straight to the point. The opening credits are very interesting for the background behind the titles, showing a huge mountain range with the village below it looking like a model train display. Britton and Syms are very good, and the supporting cast is fine as well. The plot line is basically infuriating because it deals with ridiculous abuses of power and national law, and it's basically a situation that has no real resolution other than despondency from the leading protagonist.
He does have an understanding boss (Geoffrey Keen) who wants to take him back upon his release, but is stopped due to the judgments of the board. This makes it difficult for him to find work, and when he does find an opportunity, it is to start back at the bottom and move his way back up. This social drama is more interesting as a character study and the exposure of a ridiculous law, and ends up being very talky in spots rather than getting straight to the point. The opening credits are very interesting for the background behind the titles, showing a huge mountain range with the village below it looking like a model train display. Britton and Syms are very good, and the supporting cast is fine as well. The plot line is basically infuriating because it deals with ridiculous abuses of power and national law, and it's basically a situation that has no real resolution other than despondency from the leading protagonist.