Chance of a Lifetime

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.

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.

This was clearly a contentious film when it was first released.Originally this film was rejected by the circuits.It was championed by the producer and was imposed on the Odeon circuit by the Board of Trade.It was received enthusiastically by the critics..The Rank card was unimpressed stating "Unspectacular production,but one of general interest".However audiences stayed away.For example in Leeds where Up In Arms obtained 42 days of screening,this film obtained just 6.In southeast Essex The Royal Wedding obtained 88 and this film 13.Initially the producer claimed that Ranks marketing would kill the film but was subsequently forced to admit that the film had done badly notwithstanding the genuine efforts of the Odeon people to boost it.

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.

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.