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The Man in the White Suit

  • 1951
  • Approved
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
11K
YOUR RATING
The Man in the White Suit (1951)
Trailer for The Man in the White Suit
Play trailer2:46
1 Video
99+ Photos
ComedyDramaSci-Fi

An altruistic chemist invents a fabric which resists wear and stain as a boon to humanity, but big business and labor realize it must be suppressed for economic reasons.An altruistic chemist invents a fabric which resists wear and stain as a boon to humanity, but big business and labor realize it must be suppressed for economic reasons.An altruistic chemist invents a fabric which resists wear and stain as a boon to humanity, but big business and labor realize it must be suppressed for economic reasons.

  • Director
    • Alexander Mackendrick
  • Writers
    • Roger MacDougall
    • John Dighton
    • Alexander Mackendrick
  • Stars
    • Alec Guinness
    • Joan Greenwood
    • Cecil Parker
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    11K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alexander Mackendrick
    • Writers
      • Roger MacDougall
      • John Dighton
      • Alexander Mackendrick
    • Stars
      • Alec Guinness
      • Joan Greenwood
      • Cecil Parker
    • 96User reviews
    • 57Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Man in the White Suit
    Trailer 2:46
    The Man in the White Suit

    Photos102

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    Top cast51

    Edit
    Alec Guinness
    Alec Guinness
    • Sidney Stratton
    Joan Greenwood
    Joan Greenwood
    • Daphne Birnley
    Cecil Parker
    Cecil Parker
    • Alan Birnley
    Michael Gough
    Michael Gough
    • Michael Corland
    Ernest Thesiger
    Ernest Thesiger
    • Sir John Kierlaw
    Howard Marion-Crawford
    Howard Marion-Crawford
    • Cranford
    • (as Howard Marion Crawford)
    Henry Mollison
    Henry Mollison
    • Hoskins
    Vida Hope
    Vida Hope
    • Bertha
    Patric Doonan
    Patric Doonan
    • Frank
    Duncan Lamont
    Duncan Lamont
    • Harry
    Harold Goodwin
    Harold Goodwin
    • Wilkins
    Colin Gordon
    Colin Gordon
    • Hill
    Joan Harben
    • Miss Johnson
    Arthur Howard
    • Roberts
    Roddy Hughes
    Roddy Hughes
    • Green
    Stuart Latham
    • Harrison
    Miles Malleson
    Miles Malleson
    • The Tailor
    Edie Martin
    Edie Martin
    • Mrs. Watson
    • Director
      • Alexander Mackendrick
    • Writers
      • Roger MacDougall
      • John Dighton
      • Alexander Mackendrick
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Alec Guinness performed the stunt of climbing down the side of the mansion. He was convinced by a technician that the piano wire holding him up would not break, since only piano wire with kinks in it would be prone to breaking. As he got to about four feet from the ground, the wire did in fact break.
    • Goofs
      When Mr. Harrison is called by a woman because he is wanted by Mr. Corland, he is blowing into a glass vial on a side counter which was not there in the previous shot.
    • Quotes

      Mrs. Watson, Sidney's landlady: Why can't you scientists leave things alone? What about my bit of washing when there's no washing to do?

    • Connections
      Featured in Tuesday's Documentary: The Ealing Comedies or Kind Hearts and Overdrafts (1970)

    User reviews96

    Featured review

    Great Satire

    This is one of my favorite movies of all time! It is a fantastic satire of industrial society. Sidney Stratton develops a revolutionary new fibre that will, in theory, never wear out and never get dirty. The owners of the textile mills wants to suppress this new invention because it will mean the end of their businesses. The workers want to suppress this new invention becuase it will mean the end of their jobs. However, the two groups do not trust each other. It is this distrust which drives the hysterical second half of the film.

    One of the mill owners makes a funny speech about capital and labor working together.....working together to suppress advancement.

    Perhaps given the state of British industry prior the mid 1980's, the author of the play on which the movie was based, was trying to warn British unions and management about the errors of their ways.....
    • tmsindc-2
    • May 19, 2001
    • Permalink

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    FAQ17

    • How long is The Man in the White Suit?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 1952 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Mann im weißen Anzug
    • Filming locations
      • Piccadilly Road, Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK(Van & Cars crossing left to right looking down street.)
    • Production company
      • Ealing Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,718
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,874
      • Nov 18, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,933
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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