When the British electorate voted for the first time after the war they rejected Winston Churchill and his "keep the wheels of commerce running smoothly" style of government for Clement Attlee's "Brave New World,Part Two" promise of a more equitable society where men who had risked their lives for their country could have some say in running it. For the next decade,until the Hungarian Uprising of 1956,the Left had the moral high ground in British politics.Its influence was particularly keenly felt in labour relations,indeed,not until Margaret Thatcher did a Prime Minister feel strong enough to successfully challenge it. "Chance of a lifetime" is Bernard Miles' bow of burning gold to fight for the New Jerusalem of Collective Ownership. Refreshingly free of cliché figures the film presents Basil Radford as a decent middle class man 25 years behind the times who,in a moment of exasperation offers his workers control of the means of production. His employees,most of them earnest and hard - working contract to run the factory for themselves. Mr Miles has avoided the stereotypical chirpy cockneys and canny warm - hearted northerners but still managed to decorate his cast with recognisable types.Mr K.More has a convincing London accent rather than an Ealing Studios twang.Mr A.Oliver - much on the fledgling TV at that time as railwaymen storyteller Dai Lewis treats us to his wonderfully expressive voice.Much of the forthcoming elite crop of British film actors appear and stake their claim to our affections. Mr Miles remained defiantly a man of the people all his career as a playwright,an actor or an entrepreneur.If you know him only as the doddering old geezer in "The smallest show on earth",this energetic passionate and humanistic piece will be a pleasant surprise.
Review of Chance of a Lifetime
