THE AGITATOR is a rare and early working class drama that features future DR WHO William Hartnell (here credited as 'Billy') in a leading role. He plays a socialist firebrand who spends his time provoking the emotions of his fellow labouring classes, only to find a twist of fortune when he inherits the very factory in which he works. He soon realises the glory of capitalism and the error of his previous leftist ways in a plot which is deliciously naive and somewhat sentimental. Given that this was a low budget picture made in 1945, it's rather slow and stately, dialogue-heavy and only really interesting as a snapshot of the era, but you do get the glorious scene of Hartnell engaging in fisticuffs with DAD'S ARMY's John Laurie.
Review of The Agitator
