The Man in the White Suit

The Man in the White Suit is a 1951 dark science fiction British satire starring Alec Guinness with Ernest Thesiger and Cecil Parker. The screenplay is by Roger MacDougal, who also wrote the screenplay for The Mouse That Roared. We have it as part of this DVD set.

trailer:


"There are one or two laws in the country...."

DVD Journal calls it "hands down, the best science fiction film Alec Guinness ever starred in" which, all things considered, is an interesting comment. Film Fanatic calls it a "must see" "as one of Ealing Studios’ finest works." The New York Times review says it's a "deft and sardonic little satire on the working of modern industry".

Films de France says,

The film succeeds both as an enjoyable knockabout farce and as a wonderfully effective satire on the conflict between scientific endeavour and the interests of big business (which still has great relevance today).

The City Review says the film

combines Guinness's great mirthful character with a sensational plot that transcended comedy and bore into the heart of capitalism and politics, to say nothing of the morality of science.

It's fascinating to see Alec Guinness so young. He's perfect as the inventor -earnest, driven, innocent of the consequences.