Watch I'm All Right Jack

I'm All Right Jack is a 1959 British comedy film directed by John Boulting and starring an ensemble cast led by Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, and Peter Sellers. The film takes a satirical look at the British class system and industrial relations in the post-war era. The film follows the story of Stanley Windrush, a young and naive Oxford graduate who is eager to explore the world and make a name for himself. However, he quickly realizes that the world is not as straightforward as he thought it was. After struggling to find a suitable job, he takes up an unskilled labor position at his uncle's factory, where he encounters a wide variety of characters, from the lazy and scheming union bosses to the duplicitous and manipulative company executives.

As the plot unfolds, it becomes clear that the factory is plagued by a multitude of problems - low productivity, absenteeism, and an entrenched mentality of "them vs us" among the workers. Stanley, initially caught in the middle of this conflict, soon finds himself embroiled in the struggle for power and influence between the management and the union.

One of the key themes of the film is the clash between different classes, with the working class represented by the blue-collar workers at the factory and the upper class represented by the company executives and the government officials. The film portrays the upper class as out of touch and contemptuous of the working class, with their main concern being their own wealth and status.

Another important theme is industrial relations, particularly the role of trade unions in the workplace. The film criticizes the unions' tactics of strikes and work slowdowns as well as their propensity to put their own interests above those of the workers they represent. However, it also highlights the need for collective bargaining and the importance of workers standing together to fight for better wages and conditions.

Ian Carmichael delivers a superb performance as the innocent and well-meaning Stanley, who gradually comes to realize the complexities of the world around him. His wide-eyed naivete and bumbling attempts to navigate the treacherous waters of industrial relations make him a sympathetic and endearing character.

Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers, both veteran comedians, are brilliant as the two opposing forces vying for control of the factory. Sellers plays Fred Kite, the union leader who is more interested in political power than workers' rights, while Terry-Thomas plays Major Hitchcock, the company executive who is similarly self-serving and Machiavellian.

Other notable performances include those of Richard Attenborough as the shiftless laborer who causes a major strike, and Margaret Rutherford as Stanley's eccentric aunt who is more concerned with her spiritualist meetings than with the problems of the working class.

The script, written by John Boulting and Frank Harvey, is sharp and witty, combining satire, slapstick, and social commentary to great effect. The film's pacing is brisk and engaging, never dragging or getting bogged down in its message.

Overall, I'm All Right Jack is a classic British comedy that still holds up today as a biting commentary on social and economic inequality. Its themes are just as relevant now as they were in the 1950s, and its performances and writing are top-notch. Highly recommended for fans of classic British cinema and anyone interested in the history of labor relations.

I'm All Right Jack is a 1960 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.