Chance of a Lifetime

Basil Radford ""Dickinson" runs a small foundry that makes farming implements in post-war Britain that has it's fair share of disgruntled employees. When they threaten a walk out after the stroppy "Bolger" (Geoffrey Keen) gets the push, he offers to let them try their hand at running the business instead. What ensues is a depiction of their valiant attempt to make a go of it, and what makes it interesting - aside from some characterful performances from Radford, Niall MacGinnis, Kenneth More and a smartly paced dialogue - is that Bernard Miles doesn't present us with a rose-coloured "co-op" success story. They have plenty of glitches, contretemps and the ending is clever and fulfilling, without being cloyingly sentimental. It's emblematic of the start of a new era of industrial relations peppered with some good comedic lines and a genuinely plausible, collaborative, perspective. Definitely worth watching.

Made in 1950, the film revolves around the worker's decision to take over the management of an agricultural machine factory from their benign but traditional minded boss played by Basil Radford. Strong acting performances from Bernard Miles, Kenneth More, Neil Macginnis, Basil Radford and Geoffrey Keen, as well as the realistic scenes played out on the factory floor, make this a thought provoking and enjoyable film. What makes this film convincing is that the characters are not one dimensional and the dialogue between the workers, as they struggle to come to terms with their responsibilities, feels and sounds genuine. This is film which intends to show what life was really like on the shop floor as well as portray factory workers, not as mere pawns or victims in the world of work, but rather as working men who could display initiative, courage and determination to save their jobs.

This is fascinating as a time document of workers' conditions after the war, competing with impossible circumstances, here trying to save a factory from going to the dogs by taking it over themselves, and ultimately, when difficulties and adversities threaten to overwhelm them, get some well needed help from the catcher in the rye, the old boss himself. One of many curiosities here is the appearance of Comptom MacKenzie himself in the role of Sir Robert Dysart, but generally the acting here is superb all the way, especially by the young Kenneth More, the director and producer Bernard Miles himself, Basil Radford and actually every one. Although you don't understand much of the details and the working circumstances of 1950, the film is extremely vivid, everyone putting his heart in it, even the Xenobians make a very convincing impression, and the film gives a thrilling insight into working men's lives and conditions after the war.

Madame Kumar was the mysterious character immortalized by Alfred Hitchcock in "The Lady Vanishes" (1938) and was played by Josephine Wilson who plays here a loyal secretary, first to the old boss (Basil Radford) and then to the replacement workers cooperative boss, played by a young Kenneth More.It helps to know a bit of post war British economic history as we had to export or die as we as a country were severely in debt to our biggest creditor the U.S.A.Communism was taking hold in many east European countries and the U.K. government were watchful of any trend in 1950 in this direction often orchestrated by the old U.S.S.R.This time the Czar does return but in a subordinated role.

The action takes place in a tractor factory and there are the usual squabbles between management and workers over pay and conditions both before and after the change at the top when the former "revolutionaries" start to fall out with their colleagues.The only real laugh in the film is seeing Hattie Jacques wiggling her body to allow a coin to fall down out of her cleavage in a scene where the workers are personally contributing to a fighting fund.I feel sure the "Carry On" producers kept her in mind for the string of comedies to follow.There is no love interest in this film.Watchable 6/10.

Jack of all trades Bernard Miles manages to write, direct, and produce this movie while taking one of the lead roles. Basil Radford is ideal casting as the slightly pompous, yet kind hearted boss who decides to let this employees run his agricultural implement company when they express disapproval at his employee relations.

The film shows the point trade unionism and the co-operative movement had reached in 1950, a few years after the reforming Labour government got in and just before they were replaced by Winston Churchill, showing that the country was oscillating between socialism and conservatism. Miles's intelligent script is even-handed in its approach to these issued and also gives insights into the class system of the time.

This is also worth watching for early performances from Patrick Troughton, Hattie Jacques, and Peter Jones. The direction is slightly flat at times, but Miles must have had his hands full. There are few scenes outside the well-made factory set, and this is all for the better as it gives us more of a feel of the lives of the people who work there.