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I'm All Right Jack (1959)

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15 comments in total

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18 out of 18 people found the following comment useful :-
Benchmark British satire, 10 January 2006

Author: miloc from Bronx, New York

Along with Alexander Mackendrick's "The Man in the White Suit," this is THE great satire of management-labor relations: less allegorical and more cheerfully crass. In a way this movie seems like a sort of crossroads in British comedy, poised between the warmer eccentricities of the Ealing films and and the screw-'em-all pop irreverence of the rising New Wave.

These days the film seems to be primarily remembered for Peter Sellers' magnificent caricature of socialist sanctimony, Fred Kite, but the whole gallery of players, many reprising roles from the earlier "Private's Progress," is excellent. Carmichael, all inane, wild-eyed grins, is Woosterish as ever as the brainless but well-intentioned Windrush. Terry-Thomas produces a very funny sketch of middle-class middle management. It's a perfect picture of lazy hypocrisy: the man who settles into a do-nothing job, knowing exactly how awful it is but not caring so long as he gets through the day. He had a face made for contempt; watching his mustache curl as he reads an entry in the workers' suggestion box ("Filthy beast," he mutters, as he tucks it away in a pocket) or as he picks his way through the rubbish of Kite's wifeless home is a joy. Price and Attenborough are, as always, first-class rotters, the iciest of the moneyed class, and Handl, Le Mesurier and Rutherford add vividly funny moments. As the war over Windrush expands from workplace to societal to domestic spheres, watching the various characters bounce and interact provides some of the movie's best-observed moments, such as the brief tea scene between Rutherford and Handl, who, though inhabiting utterly different worlds, seem to interact perfectly in mutual obliviousness.

And there is Sellers, of course, pitch-perfect whether marching around the factory like the lead float in a parade or rhapsodizing about Russia or going hilariously blank on live television. It's memorable work that might overbalance the movie's double-edged attack if it weren't human enough to be sympathetic as well.

All in all, silly, clever, raucous fun.

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18 out of 19 people found the following comment useful :-
Great, acerbic British comedy, 27 December 1999

Author: Rosabel from Ottawa, Canada

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.

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16 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
Review of "I'm all right Jack - 1959., 27 May 2005

Author: mzinkin from United Kingdom

For me, this is the best film of all time. A superb cast of the UK's finest character actors and an A1 script.

Peter Sellers was truly magnificent as the left wing union shop steward and Terry Thomas excelled in playing the two faced Personnel Manager. Among his classic comments are "The Management have behaved like absolute stinkers" when talking to the union and " They are a complete shower" when talking to Management about the unions. Another fine comment is when on being told that some bigwigs are visiting the factory, Terry Thomas replies "You better spruce the place up a bit, you know soap in the toilets, that sort of thing".

I must have seen this film at least 20 times and I never grow tired of it. Great story, fine comedy and great acting. Never has a film handled the issue of industrial relations in such an amusing and pertinent manner.

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12 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
A classic film., 3 July 2002

Author: mob61uk (mob61uk@yahoo.co.uk)

It's many years since I last saw this. Watching it agian, it still holds up as being a hugely enjoyable film. The politics of the storyline are an absolute cliche, but the performances are so good, from a cast of some of Britains best comedy actors, that you can forget some of the cringingly simplistic plot assumptions.

The performance that really stands out, way above the others, is Peter Sellars as the rather pathetic shop steward. He manages to give a finely balanced portrayal, that is both very funny, but also quite subtle, allowing room to show us the sadness of this character. It is, for me, Sellars' best screen performance.

A classic film.

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9 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Why cant they make films like this anymore, 5 August 2006

Author: malcolmgsw from london

I remember seeing this film at the ABC Golders Green when it first came out and it seemed pretty funny then.It was on Channel 4 recently and i just believe that this gets better with age.I just wonder why cant they make films like this anymore.Do we have to rely on TV and "Little Britain"to satirise modern Britain.There are just so many small as well as big laughs .It makes you think whether you saw that first time round.Everything about this film was so true about Britain at the time that it was made.I recall that the Boultings were involved with a dispute with trade unions over which they litigated and which i believe they lost.This was their way of getting revenge.Every character is perfectly cast from Sam Kydd and his memorable stutter to dear Margaret Rutherford who was at her comedic zenith in the cinema at that time.Of course Peter Sellers gives what must be one of the top 5 comedic performances in British cinema.His shop steward is just so perfect.Oh why don't they make films like this anymore?

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9 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
A masterful black comedy of worker/management relations., 19 October 1998

Author: Keith Willoughby from Wales

The characters from "Private's Progress" return from the war to continue with their peace-time work. Naive Stanley Windrush causes an industrial relations disaster when his workmates decide he is too eager in his job. However, the labour union reluctantly decide they have to back him...

An hilarious pastiche of 50s class struggles, with a brilliant performance by Peter Sellers as the union shop-steward, this film will have you laughing if you have liked any of the Ealing comedies, are a Peter Sellers fan, or just think that maybe the means of production should be controlled by the state after all.

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8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
gets better with subsequent viewings, 2 March 2006

Author: yorimevets-2 from United States

I saw this film as a child when I thought and spoke as a child, but now that I've spent a few decades in the working world Jack has become better than ever. They certainly don't write them like this any more! My theory is that if a film is not worth listening to, then it's not worth watching. The dialogue here will not disappoint. Terry-Thomas is at his insane British best, what a complete shower! The Argument scene flashes us back to the black and white world of 50s television before the days of judge Judy and Jerry Springer, but you could see the population would be interested. The rich aunt and Mrs Kite having tea is a reminder of when England was a better place that may not have really existed in a world filled with lager louts. Just remember -- management is corrupt and labour is lazy.

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11 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
`Nail-on-the-head' satire, very funny with a top class cast who's only weakness is it's slight anti-trade union feel, 7 December 2003
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK

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!

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7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Best Labour / Union Film ever!, 3 October 2004

Author: Spuzzlightyear from Vancouver

I was quite surprised with this film, not because of liking it (I did), but just how much union politics the Boulting Brothers put on their sleeve with working on this movie. I have been in a Union business that failed before, and I was quite shocked at how much I could compare my own experiences with what was on display here with the Unions and Management trying to maneuver themselves ahead of on another. While Peter Sellers does put on a great performance, this really is Ian Carmichael's movie. I hadn't seen any of his work, and this was a great introduction. All of the other cast is great as well. One final note, it probably contains the most annoyingly catchy title song ever, it'll probably haunt your cranium for days.

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
"All them cornfields.......and ballet in the evenings.....", 12 March 2006

Author: ianlouisiana from United Kingdom

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

During the 1977 strike at the Grunwick film processing plant in London,a large group of flying pickets led by Mr Arthur Scargill made the journey south from Yorkshire with the intention of preventing the "scabs" from going to work.They failed to do so,meeting firm resistance from the Metropolitan Police,during the course of which one of Mr Scargill's close cohorts was arrested.Once given bail he fled the country on the grounds that he wouldn't receive a fair trial in a police state and fled to Eastern Europe to seek sanctuary.Within a remarkably short time he returned to England,having experienced what living in a police state was really like.That sort of disillusionment I'm sure would have befallen Fred Kite had he ever visited the Workers' Paradise of his imaginings. "All them cornfields...and ballet in the evenings",he rhapsodises at a time when Stalin had only been dead four years.Shop Steward Kite is the sort of slightly potty Socialist whose antics gave birth to the idea of the "Loony Left" in British politics.With a Hitler moustache and an extreme haircut Mr Kite strides round the factory with a face like a bag of hammers followed by his equally surly minions,sowing conflict where there once was peace. Not that his fellow employees need much encouragement to down tools,indeed they seem to spend their days assiduously trying to avoid work.Nor are his employers much better,eternally trying to get the workers to do more for less money.Personnel Manager Mr Terry-Thomas is at his wits' end "You're an absolute Shower",he shouts despairingly to jeers from the workforce. Into this industrial maelstrom comes well-meaning incompetent Stanley Windrush(Mr Ian Carmichael) who has failed dismally at every other career path since leaving the army(see "Private's Progress").He is welcomed by the bosses (Mr Richard Attenborough and Mr Dennis Price as former army colleagues of Windrush) who see him as the right man to totally screw up the factory and leave it open to a takeover by nasty foreigner Mr Marne Maitland.Stanley soon comes to the attention of Fred Kite(Mr Peter Sellers) and his daughter(Miss Liz Fraser).Fred sees Stanley as a fellow intellectual,his daughter sees him as a prospective husband. Determined to offend everybody,"I'm all right Jack" succeeds admirably. There is no point in calling it "racist",it merely reflects the no doubt disgraceful attitudes of half a century ago,and it is an act of cultural vandalism to cut out parts that might offend the more delicate sensibilities of the early 21st century.Censorship is still censorship. Mr Sellers has been rightly lauded for his portrayal of the ludicrous self-important but pathetic shop steward.He could easily have turned him into a monster with no redeeming features ,a comedy villain,but he has succeeded in the much more difficult task of making Kite a man we can ridicule but at the same time feel some sympathy for,perhaps even a little affection.In one memorable scene he is matched blow for blow by Mr Terry- Thomas as circumstances force them to share a room.Accompanied by a superb trombone solo on the soundtrack(Don Lusher?)Mr Terry-Thomas picks his way gingerly through discarded clothing and unwashed cutlery,his moustache nearly drooping with unhappiness. Sam Kydd and Victor Madren are particularly telling as a couple of disgruntled workers,but the whole cast is a delightful I - Spy of the cream of British light comedy actors. Even if the premise that British industry is corrupt from top to bottom offends you,please remember that the Boulting Brothers did exactly the same axe job on the Army and the legal profession,and that should make you feel better.

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