Alan Sillitoe adapted his 1958 novel of the same title for the silver
screen in 1960. Directed by Karel Reisz, it was a box office
success up and down the U.K.
Audiences loved the anti-establishment 'blood' that was to coarse
through the veins of the entire film. It was perfectly set, with the
gritty realism of life for the main character Arthur Seaton (played
superbly by the great Albert Finney ), in the bleak and grim
industrial streets and factories of Nottingham.
Arthur Seaton spends his days toiling away in a noisy, smelly
factory. Counting each item he produces knowing he is a little
closer to going home for the day. Friday and Saturday evenings
he spends his hard earned money on pints of Ale and Saturday
night making love to Brenda ( played brilliantly by Rachel
Roberts) the wife of Jack, a work colleague of Arthur's.
Arthur being young and rebellious, likes to 'play the field' and
soon starts a relationship with Doreen ( played by the
wonderful Shirley Ann Field). But things don't run smooth for
Arthur when Brenda reveals that she is pregnant........
The story moves along at a good pace keeping the viewer
interested. The characters are so well written that I feel certain
that many of us have met one or two people just like them for real.
The dialogue is well written and compliments the grim setting that
the film portrays so perfectly.
Bryan Pringle gives a fine performance as Jack, Brenda's husband.
As do the fantastic Norman Rossington as cousin Bert and the
utterly brilliant Hylda Baker as Aunt Ada.
Two of the best lines ever said in film have to be from Saturday
Night and Sunday Morning: 'Don't let the bastards grind you
down.' and 'What I'm out for is a good time. All the rest is
propaganda.'I think these quotations speak for themselves.
Don't you?
All in all this is a brilliant film and well worth watching. You'll love it!
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