The Man in the White Suit

1951. UK. Directed by Alexander Mackendrick. Screenplay by Mackendrick, John Dighton, Roger MacDougall, based on White Suit by MacDougall. With Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood, Cecil Parker. From the late 1940s through the 1950s, Ealing Studios (under Michael Balcon) produced a series of memorable and sophisticated comedies based on character (at times the character being that of Britain itself) and odd social circumstance. In this "science fiction" satire, a young chemist invents a synthetic fiber that never wears out, but both Capital and Labor set out to make certain the special polymer is never manufactured. 85 min.