Another Guinness Bundle From Britain

The Man In The White Suit (1951) Raises Art House Roofs

One of the Ealing comedies that made Alec Guinness an art house idol during the 50's. Eggheads and coffee-sippers that frequented sure-seaters fell for Guinness same as mainstreamers went gaga over postwar newcomers like Martin and Lewis, his laff-getting set on understated as opposed to manic Dean/Jerry. Those who'd scoff at Hollywood formulae could point to Ealing as refresher from what ailed us, their output flattering to ones tired of humor hammered home. The White Suit in question is invention of lab drudge Alec, who reckons not with wreckage to Brit economy that will result if word gets out of his indestructible outfit (it won't stain or tear). The concept is strict sci-fi, but you wonder if such a thing could be developed. Representing high finance and would-be suppression of the idea is Ernest Thesiger, a surprise and most welcome. Michael Gough is also along to excite interest of horror fans. A student of then-British politics might find plenty to conjure with here, the satire a lot more pointed then than it would seem now. The Man In The White Suit plays more clever than funny, no doubt the object considering elevated patronage Ealing looked to reach (at least in the US). It was released by Universal-International in April, 1952 and earned $426K in domestic rentals, a notch below six month's earlier The Lavender Hill Mob, both these numbers stellar considering how tough a sell Brit pix normally were in the Colonies.