The Man in the White Suit (1951)
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- Approved
- 1h 25min
- Comedy, Drama
- Apr 1952 (USA)
- Movie
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:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Alec Guinness | ... |
Sidney Stratton
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| Joan Greenwood | ... |
Daphne Birnley
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| Cecil Parker | ... |
Alan Birnley
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| Michael Gough | ... |
Michael Corland
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| Ernest Thesiger | ... |
Sir John Kierlaw
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| Howard Marion-Crawford | ... |
Cranford
(as Howard Marion Crawford)
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| Henry Mollison | ... |
Hoskins
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| Vida Hope | ... |
Bertha
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| Patric Doonan | ... |
Frank
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| Duncan Lamont | ... |
Harry
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| Harold Goodwin | ... |
Wilkins
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| Colin Gordon | ... |
Hill
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Joan Harben | ... |
Miss Johnson
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Arthur Howard | ... |
Roberts
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| Roddy Hughes | ... |
Green
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Stuart Latham | ... |
Harrison
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| Miles Malleson | ... |
The Tailor
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| Edie Martin | ... |
Mrs. Watson
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Mandy Miller | ... |
Gladdie
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Charlotte Mitchell | ... |
Mill Girl
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Olaf Olsen | ... |
Knudsen
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| Desmond Roberts | ... |
Mannering
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| Ewan Roberts | ... |
Fotheringay
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| John Rudling | ... |
Wilson
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| Charles Saynor | ... |
Pete
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Russell Waters | ... |
Davidson
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| Brian Worth | ... |
King
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George Benson | ... |
The Lodger
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| Frank Atkinson | ... |
The Baker
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Charles Cullum | ... |
1st Company Director
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F.B.J. Sharp | ... |
2nd Company Director
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Scott Harrold | ... |
Express Reporter
(as Scott Harold)
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Jack Howarth | ... |
Receptionist At Corland Mill
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Jack McNaughton | ... |
Taxi Driver
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| Judith Furse | ... |
Nurse Gamage
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Billy Russell | ... |
Nightwatchman
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Andy Alston | ... |
Mill Worker (uncredited)
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Jack Arrow | ... |
Mill Worker (uncredited)
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David Boyd | ... |
Office Boy (uncredited)
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| Jim Brady | ... |
Mill Worker (uncredited)
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Harold Coyne | ... |
Mill Worker (uncredited)
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Dan Cressey | ... |
Lab Technician (uncredited)
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Alan Haines | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Laurence Hepworth | ... |
Chauffeur (uncredited)
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Frank Howard | ... |
Mill Worker (uncredited)
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Gertrude Kaye | ... |
Mill Worker (uncredited)
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Jimmy Millar | ... |
Mill Worker (uncredited)
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| Arthur Mullard | ... |
(uncredited)
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Joe Phelps | ... |
Mill Worker (uncredited)
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Johnny Rossi | ... |
Baker (uncredited)
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Carol Wolveridge | ... |
Schoolgirl in Front of Class (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Alexander Mackendrick | ||
Written by
| Roger MacDougall | ... | (play) |
| Roger MacDougall | ... | (screenplay) & |
| John Dighton | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Alexander Mackendrick | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Michael Balcon | ... | producer |
| Sidney Cole | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Benjamin Frankel | ||
Cinematography by
| Douglas Slocombe | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Bernard Gribble | ||
Editorial Department
| Lionel Selwyn | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Margaret Harper Nelson | ... | (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Jim Morahan | ||
Costume Design by
| Anthony Mendleson | ||
Makeup Department
| Barbara Barnard | ... | hair stylist |
| Harry Frampton | ... | makeup artist |
| Ernest Taylor | ... | makeup artist |
| Daphne Martin | ... | assistant hairdresser (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Hal Mason | ... | production supervisor |
| L.C. Rudkin | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| David Peers | ... | assistant director |
| John Assig | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
| Terry Bishop | ... | second unit director (uncredited) |
| Jim O'Connolly | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Norman Dorme | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Andrew Low | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
| Len Wills | ... | assistant art director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Arthur Bradburn | ... | recordist |
| Stephen Dalby | ... | sound supervisor |
| Mary Habberfield | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
| Norman King | ... | chief sound engineer (uncredited) |
| Cyril Swern | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Sydney Pearson | ... | special effects |
Visual Effects by
| Geoffrey Dickinson | ... | special processes |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Lionel Banes | ... | additional photography |
| Jeff Seaholme | ... | camera operator |
| Jack Dooley | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Ted Lockhart | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Bob Penn | ... | floor stills (uncredited) |
| Michael Shepherd | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Ken Westbury | ... | camera assistant (uncredited) |
| Hugh Wilson | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Muriel Cole | ... | crowd casting (uncredited) |
| Thelma Graves | ... | assistant casting (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Ron Beck | ... | wardrobe assistant: men (uncredited) |
| Edith Crutchley | ... | wardrobe assistant: ladies (uncredited) |
| Ernie Farrer | ... | wardrobe master (uncredited) |
| Lily Payne | ... | wardrobe mistress (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Ernest Irving | ... | conductor: The Philharmonia Orchestra |
Script and Continuity Department
| Felicia Manheim | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Geoffrey Myers | ... | scientific adviser |
| Christopher Barry | ... | assistant to producer (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- General Film Distributors (GFD) (1951) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1951) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Stichting Filmcentrum (1951) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Gaumont (1952) (France) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures (1952) (United States) (theatrical) (as Universal-International)
- Parvisfilmi (1959) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1965) (Finland) (tv)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV) (1970) (Finland) (tv)
- Thorn EMI Video Australia (1985) (Australia) (video)
- Thorn EMI Video (United States) (VHS)
- TF1 (1987) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- Warner Home Video (1989) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (United States) (VHS)
- M. Nyström (1991) (Finland) (video)
- Anchor Bay Entertainment (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- Optimum Home Entertainment (2006) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2008) (Finland) (tv)
- Rialto Pictures (2012) (United States) (theatrical) (reissue)
- StudioCanal (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
- Tamasa Distribution (2014) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Classic Films Distribución (2015) (Spain) (theatrical)
- 9Gem (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- Epoca (Argentina) (VHS)
- New Century Telecommunications (United States) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Crest National (DVD coding)
- The Philharmonia Orchestra (music played by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Sidney Stratton, a humble inventor, develops a fabric which never gets dirty or wears out. This would seem to be a boon for mankind, but the established garment manufacturers don't see it that way; they try to suppress it.
Written by John Oswalt |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Should they let him play...or should they put him away? See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| 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. See more » |
| 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. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Ealing Comedies or Kind Hearts and Overdrafts (1970). See more » |
| 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? See more » |