This film is a classic. Peter Sellars, plays the role of Fred Kite a Trade Union rep in a factory in 60’s Britain. Its full of hilarity and gems and gives an exaggerated view of workplace Britain pre-1980’s.

Kite is a card holding member of the Communist Party and a stickler for the rules. One of the other prinipal leads (Ian Carmicheal I think) plays a sappy unigrad the nephew of a rich aunt with a less than favourable view of the ‘great unwashed’ (Working Classes). He joins the factory where Kite and his ‘brothers’ work and begins to upset the apple cart by virtue of his various protestations. Fred sends this guy to Coventry ( a euphenism for being blacklisted) and as a result no one will talk to him or work with him. The press get involved and lay siege to Kite and his ‘antiquated’ beliefs and methods.

For me, it was full of the kinda stuff about who runs the workplace the workers or management. It paints all sorts of powerful representations around change, efficiency, greed, politics, relationships, and power.

It was recognised at the time as a powerful propoganda coup for proponents of radical labour law change too, but that’s another story to be had over a pint or two. :D

Ive had this box set a while. I was brought up on this stuff. Sid James and his dirty old man laugh, Hattie Jaques chasing Kenneth Williams (ooh Matron) Barbara Windsor and her bouncing thrupennies, Bernard Breslaw and his various delightful incantantations, Terry and June in Carry on Camping..

I watched Carry on Doctor with a friend of mine recently (she has an appreciation for these loons too) and we were literally laughing out loud.

Ok, so it might well be the kinda thing that you either love or hate, but if you have an appreciation for the silly mixed with the saucy with a quirky 60’s Britishness then you’d be hard pressed to find anything better.

Its a brilliant piece of film noir. It has it all, its atmoshpheric, sinister, cold, well written, damn scary, great characterisation, good acting. My fave film.

It just didn’t do it for me.

If I’m honest, it kinda made me feel uncomfortable.