Somehow both magical and depressingly realist, The Man in the White Suit is about an overly optimistic man who believes he can create a clothing fiber that is resistant to wear and dirt. When he does, he finds himself pursued by both the textile industry and its union to suppress his discovery for fear of ruining their livelihoods. It's a witty, charming piece carried along beautifully by Alec Guinness who possesses a kind of childlike stubbornness about his invention which pits him as an underdog in the beginning but soon becomes his greatest threat as the world turns on him. It's a sturdy picture with strikingly well-written satire underneath about the bigwigs and workers alike, though it's just as enjoyable to watch it as some screwball comedy with touches of sci-fi if you'd like.
Somehow both magical and depressingly realist, The Man in the White Suit is about an overly optimistic man who believes he can create a clothing fiber that is resistant to wear and dirt. When he does, he finds himself pursued by both the textile industry and its union to suppress his discovery for fear of ruining their livelihoods. It's a witty, charming piece carried along beautifully by Alec Guinness who possesses a kind of childlike stubbornness about his invention which pits him as an underdog in the beginning but soon becomes his greatest threat as the world turns on him. It's a sturdy picture with strikingly well-written satire underneath about the bigwigs and workers alike, though it's just as enjoyable to watch it as some screwball comedy with touches of sci-fi if you'd like.
