Joan Greenwood's delivery of Daphne's monologue at 6:32 may be the pivot point of the plot. Sidney faced the problem of the invention of a product that will benefit all of mankind but that nobody wants. That last scene of the movie where Sidney leaves the factory with a dejected expression after his textile becomes unstable, then his expression becomes resolute in a sort of an 'AHA!' moment.
This movie was a response to the manufacturer of nylon which angered those in the silk industry. Nylon was threatening to put silk manufacturers and salespeople out of work. In response the nylon manufacturers met in secret and agreed on planned obsolescence with their fibers.
I always read the film thusly: that in a capitalist society, what both capital and labor fear is invention. That in the Cold War, people who couldn’t be easily squeezed into either box were “trouble”.
A highly subversive story in which labor and capitalists greedily combine forces to stop development of something that will benefit all mankind because it would harm their individual interests. Not to mention that one of the business moguls tries to get his own daughter (played masterfully by Greenwood, she of the honeyed voice) to seduce Guinness's character in order to learn the secrets of his invention (remember when this film was made). Roger MacDougal, the author of the screenplay, was a guest speaker at one of my film writing courses at UCLA in 1969. A charming chap who could have been a character in one of his own films.
A great film, and a very nice take on it. I worked in the laboratories of an old industrial rubber company in the mid 70s and can relate to this 100%.
Fantastic breakdown of what looks like an epic, and classic film. I must watch it now. Thanks for sharing this.
Joan Greenwood's delivery of Daphne's monologue at 6:32 may be the pivot point of the plot.
Sidney faced the problem of the invention of a product that will benefit all of mankind but that nobody wants.
That last scene of the movie where Sidney leaves the factory with a dejected expression after his textile becomes unstable, then his expression becomes resolute in a sort of an 'AHA!' moment.
Loved this film as a kid
But now?
@@margin606 I haven’t seen it as an adult but I can’t imagine the film has got worse in that time
This movie was a response to the manufacturer of nylon which angered those in the silk industry. Nylon was threatening to put silk manufacturers and salespeople out of work. In response the nylon manufacturers met in secret and agreed on planned obsolescence with their fibers.
My first love DAPHNE BIRNLLEY A K A JOAN GREENWOOD.
I always read the film thusly: that in a capitalist society, what both capital and labor fear is invention. That in the Cold War, people who couldn’t be easily squeezed into either box were “trouble”.
cronycapitalists*
George Smiley and Mikhel! : ) Guinness and Gough
A highly subversive story in which labor and capitalists greedily combine forces to stop development of something that will benefit all mankind because it would harm their individual interests. Not to mention that one of the business moguls tries to get his own daughter (played masterfully by Greenwood, she of the honeyed voice) to seduce Guinness's character in order to learn the secrets of his invention (remember when this film was made).
Roger MacDougal, the author of the screenplay, was a guest speaker at one of my film writing courses at UCLA in 1969. A charming chap who could have been a character in one of his own films.
cronycapitalists*
That's master Obi wan
He'd done lots of films before that Star Wars shite, think he was on a 5-10% of takings for Star Wars rather than a flat fee
Nothing illustrates british backwardness better than this film.
A shallow interpretation of the movie