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The Angry Silence

1960 1h 35m Drama List
80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Tom Curtis (Richard Attenborough) works at a factory in England. His life is changed when he refuses to take part in an unofficial strike, organized by new employee Travers (Alfred Burke), a troublemaker who soon leaves the factory. Curtis sees no reason to strike, but his refusal alienates him from the rest of the unionized employees, who brand him a scab. Curtis even faces reprisals at home when a foreman (Bernard Lee) comes and warns him to fall in line.

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine The industrial tensions that were lampooned in I'm All Right, Jack are treated with gravity and passion in a British drama starring Richard Attenborough... Nov 14, 2019 Full Review Isabel Quigly The Spectator In many ways the factory world isn't unlike school: there is the same sort of gang-life, close proximity, and prefectorial system; above all a similar attitude to authority and a similar hatred for anyone who appears to be on its side. Jul 13, 2018 Full Review MFB Critics Monthly Film Bulletin The film has several themes whose admixture and thorough working out, possible in a novel, are less ideally suited to the cinema. To cover them all successfully would demand a grasp that is as yet beyond Bryan Forbes', the scriptwriter's, capacities. Jan 22, 2018 Full Review Amber Wilkinson Eye for Film If the film takes a broad brush approach to its issues of individual rights versus the collective - and dips into melodrama in terms of the violence portrayed - Attenborough is a master of subtle emotional shift. Rated: 3.5/5 Feb 3, 2016 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Before he became director (Gandhi), Attenborough excelled as actor, here giving a powerful performance in the British Oscar-nominated drama about a man who refuses to join his mates in labor strike. Rated: B Mar 21, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (10) audience reviews
Mat L Great kitchen sink drama, great story, terrific acting by all involved. Michael Craig in top form, and Pier Angeli has never been more moving and lovelier. A minor classic Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/22/24 Full Review Audience Member Guy Greenï¿ 1/2(TM)s (1960) film of Bryan Forbesï¿ 1/2(TM) screenplay is based on a treatment by Michael Craig and, brother, Richard Gregson. Set in London in the late 1950ï¿ 1/2(TM)s it was the first release of the joint venture production company Beaver Films set up by Bryan Forbes and Richard Attenborough. As the film opens, we join Tom Curtis (Richard Attenborough) at work in a small engineering factory beset with labour problems. Single-minded and fiercely independent, Curtis is slow to grasp the implications of the fomenting unrest among his workmates as they band together to challenge the management head-on in a dispute that ultimately leaves Curtis out in the cold. We follow Curtis home at night where his workmate Joe Wallis (Michael Craig - also writer) lodges with Curtis, his wife Anna (Pier Angeli) and their young family. But as industrial relations deteriorate at work we see Curtis becoming increasingly isolated and intimidated by his determined colleagues. With solid performances from Bernard Lee (Bert Connolly), Geoffrey Keen (Davis) and Alfred Burke (Travers) as the sinister agitator, the audience sees Curtis left high and dry as even the management feel compelled to abandon him. Increasingly out of his depth, we are drawn into Curtisï¿ 1/2(TM) worsening situation as his family are also intimidated in an effort to break his indomitable will. This film captures something of the early struggle for recognition by employees in small firms like this before employment protection became enshrined in the law of the land. It gives us a feel for the situation of the casualties along the way and the forces at play. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Richard Attenborough gives a powerful performance as a man who refuses to join an illegal strike at a factory. The editing here is some of the best I've ever seen, which is not bad to say it was released in 1960! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Very topical for the time. Richard Attenborough's so called friends and workmates turn against him because he has principles which do not go down well with some militant, self seeking, local union leaders. Can see how dictators get into power. Sums up partly what went wrong with British industry at the time: out of touch senior management and some vindictive, self seeking union leaders. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Pier Angeli?.a fragile, beautifully talented Italian actress who had a deep, brief romance with James Dean. I have watched a lot of her films over the years and I think she was so underated over big bosom Italian actresses..aint gonna name ?em?but she was by far a better actress in postre, instinct & expression. I frist saw her with Paul Newman in ? Somebody up there loves me? & I thought she was pure,endearing & so fragile. I love this film also starring Richard Attenborough..it?s a very british ?Kitchen sink? drama about The story is about a factory worker who refuses to take part in an unofficial strike and is ostracised by the other workers as a scab Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Powerful social statement on hardships and working-class relationships. Richard Attenborough plays the pin-cushion perfectly. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Angry Silence

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Tom Curtis (Richard Attenborough) works at a factory in England. His life is changed when he refuses to take part in an unofficial strike, organized by new employee Travers (Alfred Burke), a troublemaker who soon leaves the factory. Curtis sees no reason to strike, but his refusal alienates him from the rest of the unionized employees, who brand him a scab. Curtis even faces reprisals at home when a foreman (Bernard Lee) comes and warns him to fall in line.
Director
Guy Green
Producer
Richard Attenborough, Bryan Forbes
Screenwriter
Bryan Forbes
Production Co
Beaver Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 23, 2015
Runtime
1h 35m