I'm All Right Jack (1959)

100% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(1,250 ratings)

Set in the 1950s in Britain, this award-winning social comedy by director and co-writer John Boulting features Ian Carmichael as the inept Stanley Windrush, a hopeless twit with -- we are to believe -- an Oxford degree. Unlike others in his social circle, Stanley wants to work. When he tries out for… More Set in the 1950s in Britain, this award-winning social comedy by director and co-writer John Boulting features Ian Carmichael as the inept Stanley Windrush, a hopeless twit with -- we are to believe -- an Oxford degree. Unlike others in his social circle, Stanley wants to work. When he tries out for jobs in industry with the full expectation of working his way into a management position, he sets off disasters and alienates his interviewers. So his uncle gives him a job in his munitions factory, knowing what an idiot he is, and relying on him to eventually cause a strike (the uncle needs this for his own reasons). Fred Kite (Peter Sellers in a performance that would launch him as an international star) takes Stanley under his wing yet that does not exactly turn out as expected either. Stanley screws up by accidentally being too efficient, and the entire British work force is affected. If one can accept a portrayal of factory workers as shiftless men unwilling to work, and managers as good 'ole boys whose jobs are gained only by networking, then this film will be all the more entertaining. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: John Boulting
Written By: John Boulting
Genres: Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1959 Wide
On DVD: Jan 21, 2003
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
An intermediary work, one foot in Ealing gentility, the other in the abrasion of Anderson, Reisz, et al.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's a mostly forgotten work today, despite its all right construction and the funny performance by a restrained Sellers.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
...the Boulting brothers' acerbic satire I'm All Right Jack (1959) is a merciless and hilarious dagger thrown at both Labor and Management, two opposing factions each rotten with exclusive self-interest.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
Anchor Bay presents I'm All Right Jack in a clean, sharp black-and-white print (1.66:1 anamorphic) that looks splendid. The DD 2.0 monaural audio is also quite fine. Extras are the original trailer plus a thorough Sellers biography/filmography.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Splendid Boulting Brothers satire with a great Peter Sellers performance.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cassandra M

For me, this is the best film of all time. A superb cast of the UK's finest character actors and an A1 script. Peter Sellers was truly magnificent as the left wing union shop steward and Terry Thomas excelled in playing the two faced Personnel Manager. Among his classic comments… More
For me, this is the best film of all time. A superb cast of the UK's finest character actors and an A1 script. Peter Sellers was truly magnificent as the left wing union shop steward and Terry Thomas excelled in playing the two faced Personnel Manager. Among his classic comments are "The Management have behaved like absolute stinkers" when talking to the union and " They are a complete shower" when talking to Management about the unions. Another fine comment is when on being told that some bigwigs are visiting the factory, Terry Thomas replies "You better spruce the place up a bit, you know soap in the toilets, that sort of thing". I must have seen this film at least 20 times and I never grow tired of it. Great story, fine comedy and great acting. Never has a film handled the issue of industrial relations in such an amusing and pertinent manner.
Eric B

Sharp but somewhat dated satire about unions, strikes and industry in 1950s Britain. The opening scene in the candy factory is a riot -- I wish the rest of the film were as funny. Favorite little details: Peter Sellers' purposeful walk and patsy Ian Carmichael's steady… More
Sharp but somewhat dated satire about unions, strikes and industry in 1950s Britain. The opening scene in the candy factory is a riot -- I wish the rest of the film were as funny. Favorite little details: Peter Sellers' purposeful walk and patsy Ian Carmichael's steady stream of "terribly sorry"/"frightfully sorry" apologies.

Cast

            Ian Carmichael as Stanley Windrush

            Peter Sellers as Fred Kite

            Terry-Thomas as Maj. Hitchcock

            Richard Attenborough as Sidney de Vere Cox

            Dennis Price as Bertram Tracepurcel

            Margaret Rutherford as Aunt Dolly

            Irene Handl as Mrs. Kite

            Liz Fraser as Cynthia Kite

            Miles Malleson as Mr. Windrush

            Marne Maitland as Mr. Mohammed

            John Le Mesurier as Waters

            Raymond Huntley as Magistrate

            Victor Maddern as Knowles

            Kenneth Griffith as Dai

            Fred Griffiths as Charlie

            Sam Kydd as Shop Steward

            Cardew Robinson as Shop Steward

            Bruce Wightman as Shop Steward

            Martin Boddey as Num Yum's Executive

            Brian Oulton as Board Examiner

            Malcolm Muggeridge as TV Panel Chairman

            John Glyn-Jones as Detto Executive

            Maurice Colbourne as Missiles Director

            Michael Ward as Reporter

            Stringer Davis as Reporter

            Esma Cannon as Spencer

            Terry Scott as Crawley

            Wally Patch as Workman

            Alun Owen as TV Producer

            Muriel Young as TV Announcer

            Frank Phillips as BBC Announcer

            David Lodge as Card Player

            Keith Smith as Card Player

            Kenneth J. Warren as Card Player

            Basil Dignam as Minister of Labor

            Harry Locke as Trade Unior Official

            Michael Bates as Booter

            Robert Bruce as Reporter

            John Comer as Shop Steward

            Donal Donnelly as Perce Carter

            E.V.H. Emmett as Narrator

            Eynon Evans as Truscott

            Margaret Lacey as Empire Loyalist

            Edie Martin
            
            Ronnie Stevens as Hopper

            Marianne Stone as TV Receptionist

            John Van Eyssen as Reporter

            Alan Wilson as Union Jack Workman

            Ian Wilson as Evangelist

            Robert Young
            
            William Peacock as Photographer

            George Selway as Union Jack Workman

            Pauline Winter as Miss Forsdyke

            Roy Purcell as Police Inspector

            Arthur Skinner
            
            Jeremy White
            
See full cast