I'm All Right Jack (1959)

A naive aristocrat in search of a career becomes caught up in the struggles between his profit-minded uncle and an aggressive labor union.

Director:

John Boulting

Writers:

Alan Hackney (novel), Frank Harvey (screenplay)

Stars:

Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, Peter Sellers

Won 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Carmichael	...	Stanley Windrush
Terry-Thomas	...	Maj. Hitchcock
Peter Sellers	...	Fred Kite / Sir John Kennaway
Richard Attenborough	...	Sidney De Vere Cox
Dennis Price	...	Bertram Tracepurcel (as Denis Price)
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

Storyline

Naive Stanley Windrush (Ian Carmichael) returns from the war, his mind set on a successful career in business. Much to his own dismay, he soon finds he has to start from the bottom and work his way up, and also that the management, as well as the trade union, use him as a tool in their fight for power.

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Plot Keywords:

literature on screen | european literature on screen | british literature on screen | humoristic literature on screen | british humoristic literature on screen | 

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Taglines:

THE BOULTING BROTHERS Annihilated the Army in "Private's Progress" - Lampooned the Lawyers in "Brothers-in-Law" - Debunked the Diplomats in "Carlton-Browne" - Gave the Varsities Vitriolic Treatment in "Lucky Jim" AND NOW With a Sharpened Sense of Satire They Badger Big Business, Are Severe on Staid Statesmen, ANd Take a Titillating Tilt at Trade Unions!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the shop stewards march to the offices, Sam Kydd is missing because he took the day off due to acquiring a bad cold.

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Goofs

After darning Fred Kite's sock, Major Hitchcock has another drink. In some shots, his fingers are low on the glass, in others at the rim.

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Quotes

Fred Kite: I've got to be off. I can't stay here arguing. I've got a lot to do. Report to the Executive, check up on the pickets.
Mrs. Kite: From what I can see, the only time you ever jolly well *do* any work is when you're on strike.

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Crazy Credits

Opening quote: "Oh! Brave New World that hath such people in't" --William Shakespeare

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Connections

Referenced in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004)

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Soundtracks

I'm All Right Jack
Written by Ken Hare
Sung by Al Saxon

User Reviews

Great, acerbic British comedy

The cast alone is a triumph in this movie - some of the best British character actors who ever lived are here: Terry Thomas, Miles Malleson, John Le Mesurier, all backing up Ian Carmichael as the earnest, silly-ass upper-class bumbler and Peter Sellers as Fred Kite, the Marxist shop steward. Sellers in particular is wonderful; his Fred Kite is a lower class striver who has acquired just enough education to give him an inflated idea of his own abilities, but not enough to realize the gaps and inadequacies in his views. He is a perfect realization in miniature of Taine's statement that there is nothing more dangerous than a general idea in a narrow, empty mind. He boasts to his Oxford-educated gentleman lodger about the summer course he took at the university once, reminding him in a familiar fashion about the very good marmalade and toast provided by the college, while the obviously wealthy young man politely admits that he wasn't acquainted with the public dining hall during his years there.

The plot becomes more and more complex as the movie progresses, with almost everyone turning out to be on the take. The climax comes in a free-for-all over a bag containing thousands of pounds intended to bribe Stanley into joining the sensible schemers plundering the public while paying lip service to public service and solidarity with the working class. Malcolm Muggeridge has a interesting cameo in this scene, playing himself. Most recent broadcasts of this movie have edited out the disturbing racist statements of the working class characters, but the original movie had no sentimental soft spot for anyone, workers or bosses.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 March 1960 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

I'm All Right Jack

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Charter Film Productions, Boulting Brothers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1