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The Man in the White Suit

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100% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Chemist Sidney Stratton (Alec Guinness) is at a crossroads in his career. He's been trying to invent a long-lasting clothing fiber, but his unreasonable demands for high-end equipment have gotten him fired from job after job. Finally, Sidney creates a white suit that is impervious to the elements -- it cannot stain or wrinkle. At first, he is celebrated as a hero but, soon enough, the clothing manufacturers realize that the perfect suit is actually very bad for business.
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The Man in the White Suit

Critics Reviews

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Chris Bennion The Times (UK) Dec 14, 2022
A typically rambunctious Ealing affair with a serious satirical edge, and features excellent turns from Joan Greenwood... Go to Full Review Joseph Jon Lanthier Slant Magazine Nov 10, 2012
4/4
That Stratton proves so unable to resist his hubris surely provides the film with a cautionary subtext, but this is beautifully complicated by an ending that denies the possibility of rehabilitation. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Sep 16, 2025
5/5
…Alexander Mackendrick’s pertinent, strident, still powerful film about the manufacturing malaise built-into the capitalist status quo…aThe Man in the White Suit is a timeless, spiky satire with deadly serious intent…. Go to Full Review Jordon Searle Loud and Clear Reviews Sep 12, 2025
3.5/5
The way the story unfolds feels even more culturally relevant to the times we are living in now than when the film was made in 1951. Go to Full Review Alistair Lawrence Common Sense Media Mar 4, 2025
This celebrated black-and-white Ealing comedy classic has plenty of zip and smarts. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Sep 14, 2019
3/4
Shows what the extraordinary Alec Guinness can bring to a role. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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bruce F @bruce999 Aug 15, 2026 i loved this movie... its fun to watch See more Maguy L. @MagsTheFrog Jun 26, 2026 Classic! Amazing film that is still relevant across the decades into the first quarter of the 3rd millennium. See more Sam G @RT88581841 Sep 29, 2024 A delightful comedy satire! Alec Guiness is not to be missed! See more Jim P @RT08384096 Sep 16, 2024 Brilliant! Brilliant white 😆 Great story, great acting and the bubbly sound effects..! A truly remarkable piece of socio-political art from the 🇬🇧 See more Luca D @JoeCamel7 Jun 27, 2023 A very simple and silly little film. Definitely easier to watch than most older films so I would recommend this to people with shorter attention spans. See more Shioka O @RT54204327 Feb 27, 2023 British humour in here is all satire. See more Read all reviews
The Man in the White Suit

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Cast & Crew

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Alexander Mackendrick

Director

Alec Guinness

Sidney Stratton

Joan Greenwood

Daphne Birnley

Cecil Parker

Alan Birnley

Michael Gough

Michael Corland

Ernest Thesiger

Sir John Kierlaw

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The Man in the White Suit

The Man in the White Suit (1951) The Man in the White Suit (1951) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Chemist Sidney Stratton (Alec Guinness) is at a crossroads in his career. He's been trying to invent a long-lasting clothing fiber, but his unreasonable demands for high-end equipment have gotten him fired from job after job. Finally, Sidney creates a white suit that is impervious to the elements -- it cannot stain or wrinkle. At first, he is celebrated as a hero but, soon enough, the clothing manufacturers realize that the perfect suit is actually very bad for business.
Director
Alexander Mackendrick
Producer
Michael Balcon, Sidney Cole
Screenwriter
Roger MacDougall, Roger MacDougall, John Dighton, Alexander Mackendrick
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Ealing Studios
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 31, 1952, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Nov 16, 2012
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.3K
Runtime
1h 25m
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