Director: Alexander Mackendrick
Screenplay: Roger MacDougall, John Dighton, Alexander Mackendrick
Based on a Play by: Roger MacDougall
Starring: Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood, Cecil Parker, Michael Gough, Ernest Thesiger, Howard Marion-Crawford, Vida Hope
Country: UK
Running Time: 85 min
Year:1951
BBFC Certificate: U
Made by Ealing Studios at what might be considered their peak, The Man in the White Suit was released in 1951, the same year as The Lavender Hill Mob. It was originally conceived as a play, written by Roger MacDougall. This reportedly quite savage satire was reworked by John Dighton and Alexander Mackendrick to demonstrate that peculiar Ealing brand of sharp and cosy. Mackendrick directed the film, giving him a chance to prove himself at the helm, after having his directorial debut, Whisky Galore!, taken out of his hands at the editorial stage by Ealing head Michael Balcon.
The resulting film sits alongside a number of Ealing Studios’ most highly regarded comedies, though it tends to get put in the shadow of The Ladykillers, Kind Hearts and Coronets and The Lavender Hill Mob.
Having already released those three titles in beautifully restored, collector’s edition UHD formats over the past couple of years, Studiocanal are now turning their attention to The Man in the White Suit. It’s one of the first Ealing comedies I saw, having owned it in a VHS double pack with Kind Hearts and Coronets as a teenager. As such, it’s an old favourite of mine, though I haven’t seen it for a long time. Being offered the chance to review this newly remastered release, complete with a lot more extra features than the previous UK Blu-ray, gave me the perfect opportunity to revisit the film.
The Man in the White Suit centres around Alec Guinness as Sidney Stratton, an eccentric chemist who must sneak his way into textile mill laboratories, having been ostracised from Cambridge University and several workplaces, due to his bold, dangerous and expensive research methods.
Stratton manages to find himself an unpaid researcher position at Birnley Mills, almost by accident. He’s almost fired when he starts ordering incredibly expensive materials, but mill owner Alan Birnley (Cecil Parker) changes his tune when he discovers the scientist is close to inventing a fabric that never wears out and never needs washing. Birnley lets him spend what he likes and, eventually, Stratton comes up with the goods.
However, when both Birnley’s competitors and the mill workers catch wind of Stratton’s new indestructible invention, they fear for their livelihoods. Both parties then fight to stop the new fabric from going on the market.
Stratton is passionate about his work though, and believes the public has a right to this wonderful material. So, aided by Birnley’s intelligent and charming daughter, Daphne (Joan Greenwood), Stratton goes on the run.
Well, I’m pleased to say that The Man in the White Suit lives up to my memory. I wouldn’t say it’s as laugh-out-loud funny as some of Ealing’s comedies, but it remains hugely entertaining, sharp and as delightful as ever.
Beneath its visual gags and witticisms, the film plays out as a class war that curiously sees usually opposing sides finding common ground and working together to squash what might be seen as progress. Workers, union organisers and industrial bosses – those you’d expect would benefit from innovation in their field – unite in fear of Sidney’s creation. His idea, simple and pure, threatens the delicate equilibrium of production, profits and supply. It’s Ealing’s trademark “delicate balance” – change might benefit the consumer, but at what cost to the livelihoods of others?
In a broader sense, the film can even be read as a metaphor for the nuclear programme. Here is a technology that promises salvation but is fraught with unintended consequences and dangers. Some also believe it can be seen as a metaphor for what was happening at Ealing Studios itself during that period, where creative ambition fought against commercial survival.
Moving away from its themes, one of the film’s most memorable quirks is its famous bubbling sound effect. The strange, musical burble of Sidney’s chemical experiments was designed by the uncredited sound editor Mary Habberfield. Her work was so effective that it even made its way into a promotional novelty song, though the single didn’t take off.
The cast is fantastic, as is often the case in these Ealing productions. Guinness is as reliable as ever, taking on a less showy performance than his eight-role showcase in Kind Hearts and Coronets. I love his almost childish sense of excitement and naivety, matched with flashes of ego and pride.
Joan Greenwood is also wonderful as Daphne, the boss’s daughter. Much like in Kind Hearts and Coronets, her character is far from a walkover in The Man in the White Suit, despite being utterly charming. There’s a dark sequence where she’s seemingly talked into seducing Sydney to convince him to give up his invention. She looks to be going through with it until a clever twist lets us realise she’s playing some mind games of her own.
Also subtly impressive is the cinematography by the great Douglas Slocombe (who would later go on to shoot the original Indiana Jones trilogy). Not only are there some beautifully executed visual sequences, but he cleverly and meticulously plays with light and shadow to give the titular suit its luminous sheen.
If I have one quibble, it’s with the film’s ending. As Dr. Dean Brandum rightly suggests in his commentary on the disc, it feels like a slight cop-out. After such a deliciously sharp critique and clever buildup, the finale retreats into something neat and safe, slightly dulling the film’s bite.
Still, even with that final brief stumble, The Man in the White Suit is a wonderfully enjoyable blend of sharp satire and farcical visual humour. It’s a pleasure to watch, whilst having some interesting things to say about the world in which we live. As such, it’s another comic gem from Ealing Studios, made during their golden era.
Film: 
The Man in the White Suit will be released as a 2-disc 4K UHD Collector’s Edition on 15th September as part of Studiocanal’s Vintage Classics series. I watched the Blu-ray disc from the set and it looks stunning – pin-sharp with incredible details, a light, natural grain and perfect tones. I had no issues with the audio either.
Special Features
– NEW Matthew Sweet on The Man in The White Suit
– Extract from BEHP audio interview with editor Bernard Gribble
– Revisiting The Man in The White Suit – director Stephen Frears, film historian Ian Christie, and author and British film historian Richard Dacre discuss the unique qualities of The Man in the White Suit as well as the legacy of its director, Alexander Mackendrick
– Audio Commentary by Film Historian Dr. Dean Brandum
– T for Teacher (1947) – The Tea Bureau sets out the golden rules for a perfect brew. Animation designed by Peter Sachs, words by Roger MacDougall
– Behind the Scenes stills gallery
– Original Trailer
Contents of 4K UHD Collector’s Edition:
– 2 discs (UHD and BD)
– 64-page booklet
– A2 poster of original artwork
Dr. Dean Brandum provides a commentary over the film. He focuses largely on discussing the careers of those involved in making it, though he also provides a little analysis here and there.
Matthew Sweet also discusses the film in an interview. He talks about how he sees the film as an analogy for the nuclear programme. It’s an interesting and convincing take that helped inform my review.
Stephen Frears, Ian Christie and Richard Dacre are also interviewed about The Man in the White Suit in a 14-minute featurette. This is a good cover-all of the film and its qualities.
There’s also an archival interview with editor Bernard Gribble about his work on The Man in the White Suit. He begins by describing how the film was a much more savage satire in its original script form. He also discusses some of the films and editors he admires.
Also included is the short ‘T For Teacher’, which was written by Roger MacDougall, who was the original author of The Man in the White Suit. It’s an amusing little film about how to make the best cup of tea. It uses some wonderfully striking and inventive animation.
Overall, Studiocanal have done this Ealing classic proud, with a beautiful transfer and a host of valuable extras. It comes very highly recommended.
Disc/package: 
