The Big Day

An incisive, economy-sized British version of 'Executive Suite' with an extraordinary cast, most of them better known for comedy and here much younger than we're accustomed to seeing them, which vouchsafes such cynical insights into office politics as "I find mediocrity around me less trouble."

In addition to the men the film also boasts a strong female lineup with radio comediennes Andree Melly and Betty Marsden as Lola to Donald Pleasance's Emil Jannings and William Franklyn's nagging wife respectively.

Great character all very well acted. Three very different candidates after the plum position and willing to use dirty tricks to get it. Very short and as it was so good it would have been even better if it had been a bit longer. A bit odd that it was so short. A very enjoyable watch and an interesting look at late 50s early 60s office life with not a PC or laptop in sight but plenty of typewriters clicking away.

A strongly recommended watch as a good film and a look at a time long since passed, unfortunately. Not seen by many, which is a shame, going by the low number of reviews so see if if you get the chance.

Almost didn't record this due to the insipid description on talking pictures, but wow head and shoulders one of the best old British films I've seen on there.every ageing middle managers dream, excellent pacing strong plot no weak link in the cast and perfect run time,the 1st film on talking pictures that I didn't fast forward 1 minute.

Three men at a small firm are in competition for rise to a directorship of the firm: Donald Pleasence, a meek man carrying on an affair with Andree Melly, a nineteen-year-old typist; Harry Corbett, who is married to the managing director's sister and who runs the shipping department; and William Franklyn, who is in charge of orders and contracts.

To the audience, they all three seem like small-minded men, with little to recommend them, although much of the movie is devoted to following Pleasence. The managing director, Colin Gordon, seems likewise a small-minded man, who maintains his control of the staff by finding fault; it seems likely that anyone of ability has left the place for better prospects and management. It seems, therefore, that this movie is intended as an indictment of British industry in general at the time, which would explain why whatever they manufacture is not specified, and why the score, when it appears, is in a minor key. A depressing, well acted, and potentially interesting movie is reduced in effectiveness by the fact there is not one of the executives to root for, and the entire firm runs on gossip and toadying.

It is no exaggeration to say that if Shakespeare had been around in 1960 this is the type of thing he would have written. Not for him the then popular Angry Young Man - he'd already done that.

This terrific tragi-comedy follows the story of 3 very different men as they vie for a vacant managerial post on the board of the small factory in which they work.

The always wonderful Donald Pleasance gives probably his best ever performance ever as a flawed, timid accountant.

Harry H Corbett, as a ne'er-do-well who has managed to marry his boss's sister, has a chance to show what a great actor he was and how much he deserves to be remembered for far more than just Harold Steptoe.

While the always excellent William Franklin, as an ambitious salesman, is allowed to give his familiar suave persona much depth than normal.

Though made on a B movie budget its acting, script, witty dialogue and location filming are all spot on. When the film was first shown post war austerity was just coming to an end and the swinging 60's were yet to arrive. A previous reviewer has mentioned the frank treatment of sex for the time and I will add to that its giving substantial roles to women - which also made it a forerunner of things to come.

This greatly underrated film would have been misunderstood when it came out and sadly fell into oblivion. It now well deserves to be rediscovered and really is a must see. Oh, and do laugh at the funny bits, they are meant to be there!