Paul Stevens
MIXING biting social satire with brilliant comic performances, the Boulting Brothers' tour de force, I'm All Right Jack is an acerbically-poignant reminder of a now dim and distant past, when trades unions ruled the waves and bosses achieved success through skulduggery, avarice and corruption.There are superb performances from Terry-Thomas as a works official at Missiles Ltd. and Ian Carmichael as a naive apprentice, whose naked honesty and industriousness lands him in big trouble with the unions; but the star role throughout is reserved for Peter Sellers as Fred Kite, the Soviet-loving, petty-minded shop steward There are epoch-defining glorious set-pieces throughout to enjoy, including a scene where Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers discuss the labour problems of the day, while the former darns the latter's socks: "There we are, it's hardly invisible mending, but it'll do!" And a memorable studio debate chaired by, of all people, Malcolm Muggeridge which ends in utter chaos.
If you want an amusing, yet thought-provoking glimpse into a fractious fascinating past - this is the film for you.
