Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960)

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning
Directed by Karel Reisz
Written by Alan Sillitoe from his novel
1960/UK
Woodfall Film Productions
First viewing/FilmStruck
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

[box] Arthur Seaton: Don’t let the bastards grind you down![/box]

Albert Finney made his name with this great portrait of a total louse.

Arthur Seaton (Finney) hates his job as a lathe operator in a factory somewhere in the north of England.  He gets his only joy at work by playing pranks on other workers and then lying about it.  He lives for the weekend when he spends his time getting roaring drunk and having an affair with a co-worker’s wife, Brenda (Rachel Roberts).  Eventually he begins also dating proper young Doreen (Shirley Anne Field).

Arthur lives with his conventional working class parents who are mostly glued to the TV.  At home, he enjoys playing pranks and assaulting neighbors and then lying about it.  In fact, he lies about everything, at times just for the hell of it.  Brenda’s pregnancy with his child may be the only thing that will make him grow up.  But not before he gets his comeuppance.

This is one of the Angry Young Men film that was rocking British cinema in the early 60’s, complete with a little mild rock and roll.  As you can tell from the plot summary, I did not like Arthur.  He’s less angry than anger-provoking.  However, I liked both Finney and the film.  He is just perfect as a cocky, conceitedly handsome bloke without manners or morals.  Director Reisz created some striking images and the film is beautifully lit by cinematography great Freddie Francis. Recommended.

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning won the BAFTA Award for Best British Film.

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