charlesfcope I saw this film when it came out, although I was under-age. The local flea-pit in Manchester wasn't too bothered about such things. It made an impression then, as my own life growing up in a big council estate was not that different. When I later went to live in Nottingham I realised even more how accurate to local Nottingham working class life the film was.Some of the other reviewers here have referred to the film as "Northern". No-one would expect detailed understanding of subtle regional differences from people outside the UK, or even outside the North and Midlands of England, but the East Midlands has a distinct character from the rest of the UK. It is not "Northern". The East Midlands has a different accent, and a different attitude to life - Nottingham is a very very working class town. It is indeed close to the Manchester culture - bossy, free thinking women, a culture of drinking to excess at the weekend etc, yet the humour is drier and sharper.I see this film whenever it comes on TV, which is rarely these days. It's one of my favourites of all time. The only thing wrong with it is Albert Finney's accent. People say nobody can do the Nottingham accent, but Albert Finney has no excuse for doing a Salford accent throughout - he went to drama college in Nottingham, although he's from Salford originally. He does all right with other accents, so why not have a go at the accent of a town he knows well. (Americans please correct me if I'm wrong).The modern equivalent would be any Shane Meadows film. He is heavily influenced by this film, and all to the good.On a personal note, as all the youngsters bemoan Brexit, this film is set in a world before the EU. Full employment and loads of money. I too worked in the Raleigh factory for a while at that time. My job was temporary (as a student) but the people there were a great laugh, and just as portrayed in the film. In real terms I earned a fortune. I should have saved it instead of spending it on having a good time, but I suppose that's why I know how accurate the film is to the period. I didn't get my friend's wife up the duff though - we had the Marie Stopes clinics even in those days.

bkoganbing Albert Finney gives a breakout performance in Saturday Night And Sunday Morning which launched him into stardom. But as for Great Britain's angry young men I much prefer Richard Burton in Look Back In Anger. But I will say it is certainly a tribute to Finney as an actor and to his charisma that he kept the audiences interested in such a lout of a character that he portrayed.Burton's Jimmy Porter was a lout himself, but someone capable of looking at the wider world and caring about it. His best scene in Look Back In Anger was him standing up to the market supervisor on behalf of an Indian merchant who was being discriminated against.But our protagonist Arthur Seaton could give less of an atom of human waste product about the wider world. He's stuck in a dull factory job and takes it out on the world. He lives only for the weekend when he's out carousing with his mates at the local pub and carousing with Rachel Roberts who is married to one of his supervisors at the job.Things change a bit when Finney meets up with Shirley Anne Field who's a pretty young thing and doesn't have an inconvenient husband around. He's keeping them both, but then Roberts gets inconveniently pregnant by Finney.There's some indication in the end that Finney might readjust his attitude on life in general and the opposite sex in particular under the tutelage of Field. Still I really haven't much hope for him.Rachel Roberts turns in a fine performance as a woman used and abused by a truly sexy lout of a man. And Finney despite the repellent nature of his character will keep you glued to the big screen or small.

Jackson Booth-Millard Three years before the big budget and Oscar winning Tom Jones, the actor who much later in his career starred in films like Big Fish, The Bourne Ultimatum and Skyfall got his debut in this all British film, which featured in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, from director Karel Reisz (The French Lieutenant's Woman). Basically, set in 1960's Nottingham, young factory machinist Arthur Seaton (BAFTA winning and nominated Albert Finney) is hardworking and only gets paid modest wages, he is angry at many things in his life, including his parents, and he does not to stay living in drudgery like all around him. The wages he earns he spends at weekends on drinking and having fun, he is having an affair with the wife of an older co-worker, Brenda (BAFTA winning Rachel Roberts), and he also starts a relationship with single and nearer his age Doreen Gretton (Shirley Anne Field). Arthur's personal life takes a drastic turn on Saturday night when Brenda tells him she is pregnant with his child, Arthur asks for advice from Aunt Ada (Hylda Baker) about an abortion, but this does work out and Brenda decides to keep the child and face the consequences. Brenda's husband finds out about the affair with Arthur and being pregnant with his child, and following this he gets his brother and a fellow soldier to try and catch him and give him a severe beating, they chase him through a town carnival. After these Brenda returns to her normal life with her husband and the children, Arthur recovers and returns to working at the factory, but he knows he cannot see his mistress or to be born child again, and in the end Arthur and Doreen discuss their future, i.e. possible marriage and a new home together. Also starring Norman Rossington as Bert, Bryan Pringle as Jack, Robert Cawdron as Robboe, Edna Morris as Mrs. Bull, Elsie Wagstaff as Mrs. Seaton and Frank Pettitt as Mr. Seaton. Finney gives a great performance as the young man struggling against authority and responsibility, Roberts is terrific as the older woman who causes a big dilemma, and Field is good as the young woman unaware about his disregard. You have to keep in mind that pregnancy between a young and older person was controversial in the 1960's, and of course abortions were illegal, so there are engaging issues to keep you watching, a powerful and most interesting classic drama. It won the BAFTA for Best British Film, and it was nominated for Best British Screenplay and Best Film from any Source. Albert Finney was number 33 on The 50 Greatest British Actors, and he was number 22 on The World's Greatest Actor, and the film was number 49 on The 50 Greatest British Films. Very good!

moonspinner55 Atmospheric, startlingly mature adaptation of Alan Sillitoe's novel (by the author) regarding Arthur Seaton, a 20-ish working-class Brit employed at the local factory and still living at home, who is 'knocking about' with a co-worker's wife while despairing against marriage (and the TV-watching rut his parents have slipped into). Just as he begins courting a local lovely with mother-troubles of her own, he finds out his married playmate is pregnant. Prickly film has fine moments of both tension and schoolboy humor, propelled by Albert Finney's flawless central performance. Highly-influential in its time, and still powerful today, the picture employs a confrontational tone with acerbic dialogue, never lapsing into fake pathos or dreary ruminations. It is ripe and alert and alive. *** from ****