Look Back in Anger

Look Back in Anger.
1959 Woodfall Film Productions, distributed to DVD by MGM.
Starring: Richard Burton, Claire Bloom, Mary Ure, Edith Evans, Gary Raymond, Donald Pleasence
Director: Tony Richardson
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This 1959 film adaptation of a John Osborne play is also Tony Richardson's directoral debut.

Richard Burton is Jimmy Porter, an aspiring, lower class musician who tries to support himself and his upper class wife Alison (Ure) by working as a street vendor. Jimmy is incredibly angry at everything, particularly the status gap between he and his wife, who he constantly berates verbally. Jimmy's partner Cliff and friend (Raymond) also lives with them, trying to portray the calm voice of reason whenever Jimmy starts to abuse his wife with words.

There's also a further complication: Alison is pregnant with Jimmy's baby, and she's waiting for the right time to tell him. In the meantime, Alison's friend Helena (Bloom) has showed up to help out. Unfortunately, Jimmy hates Helena for her upper class background, and she advises Alison to leave Jimmy temporarily and stay with her parents. This doesn't stop Jimmy from beginning an affair with Helena in Alison's absence.

Cliff eventually strikes out on his own, and Helena ends her affair with Jimmy after an unexpected run-in with Alison. But there's a happier surprise awaiting our man who's angry at the world.

Recommended film. Another fine example of the British kitchen sink drama with an outstanding performance from Richard Burton, who may have been a little too old to play Jimmy...