The End of the Road

This film was shown last night as part of the NFTVA 75th anniversary celebrations.It was made by Group 3 an independent company set up by the NFFC in 1951.It originally comprised such disparate talents as John Grierson,Michael Balcon and John Baxter.However due to a general falling out between themselves everyone bar john Baxter left.He ended up as Production Controller.The company's main problem was getting a decent distribution for the films.the circuits really weren't that interested.The company folded in 1955 having made 22 films,some of them quite decent.This is a modest film which still has a timely tale.All about Mick Mack an electro plate layer who has to retire because he has reached the retirement age.He tries to get a job but all he can find is a night watchman's job.Initially his family have too much on their minds to even notice he has been retired.However when they do recognise this it has a startling impact on their lives.Currie ends up having a nervous breakdown.The film is resolved in a fairly pat and conventional way.It has to be said that this type of film would become redundant in a few years with the introduction of the angry wave eg Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.Every thing has a rather pre war feel to it,maybe influenced by Baxter?The married couple have twin beds,the husband wont let the wife go out to work,the work force all seem rather complaisant and not a hint of a union anywhere.Currie gives a sterling performance in the sort of film which would disappear with the emergence of TV drama.