The Big Day [1960] [DVD]

This tragi-comedy follows 3 very different men as they vie for a vacant managerial pose on the board of the small factory in which they work. The always wonderful Donald Pleasance is the star and gives probably his best performance ever as a flawed, shy accountant. Harry H Corbett as a ne'er-do-well who has managed to marry his boss's sister, shows what a great actor he really was and how he deserves to be remembered for far more than Harold Steptoe. While the always excellent William Franklyn as an ambitious salesman is able to give his familiar suave persona much depth than he is normally allowed. Though made on a B movie budget, 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 come into view. ~ imdb