The Man in the White Suit

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The Man in the White Suit

Released Mar 31, 1952

1h 25m

Comedy

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17 Reviews

81%

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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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Chris Bennion

The Times (UK)

A typically rambunctious Ealing affair with a serious satirical edge, and features excellent turns from Joan Greenwood...

Dec 14, 2022

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Joseph Jon Lanthier

Slant Magazine

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.

Rated: 4/4

Nov 10, 2012

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…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….

Rated: 5/5

Sep 16, 2025

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Jordon Searle

Loud and Clear Reviews

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.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 12, 2025

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Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

This celebrated black-and-white Ealing comedy classic has plenty of zip and smarts.

Mar 4, 2025

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Shows what the extraordinary Alec Guinness can bring to a role.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 14, 2019

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Sam G

A delightful comedy satire! Alec Guiness is not to be missed!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/29/24

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Jim P

Brilliant! Brilliant white 😆 Great story, great acting and the bubbly sound effects..! A truly remarkable piece of socio-political art from the 🇬🇧

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/16/24

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Luca D

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/27/23

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Shioka O

British humour in here is all satire.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Blobbo X

Entertaining lesson in Capitalism.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Martin B

Love Alec Guinness but not in this one. The reason mainly is unlike in many of his movies where he's a step ahead in this on he's a step behind. Never gets what he's doing wrong and never got why so many were against what he had invented. Then the chase scene which was a was of time and an ending that had to come that was very predictable. I don't get the high rating he's done so much better.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/11/22

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Alexander Mackendrick

Director

Alec Guinness

Sidney Stratton

Joan Greenwood

Daphne Birnley

Cecil Parker

Alan Birnley

Michael Gough

Michael Corland

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Sir John Kierlaw

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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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