Overview
Depressing and realistic family drama about the struggles of unemployment and poverty in 1930s Lancashire. The 20-year-old Kerr gives an emotionally charged performance as Hardcastle, one of the cotton workers trying to make life better. Interlaced with humour that brings a ray of sunshine to the pervasive bleakness, this remains a powerful social study of life between the wars, and was a rare problem picture to come out of Britain at the time.
Crew
DirectorJohn Baxter
WriterBarbara K. Emary, Rollo Gamble
Cast
Deborah Kerr
Sally
Clifford Evans
Larry
George Carney
Mr. Hardcastle
Mary Merrall
Mrs. Hardcastle
Geoffrey Hibbert
Harry
Joyce Howard
Helen
Frank Cellier
Sam Grundy
Martin Walker
Ned Narkey
Maire O'Neill
Mrs. Dorbell
Iris Vandeleur
Mrs. Nattle
Marie Ault
Mrs. Jike
Marjorie Rhodes
Mrs. Bull
Sebastian Cabot
Man in Crowd at Betting Payout
Terry Conlin
Ted Munter
A. Bromley Davenport
Pawnbroker
Peter Gawthorne
Police Supt
Muriel George
Landlady
Philip Godfrey
Charlie - Sam Grundy's Assistant
Kenneth Griffith
Harry's Pal in Billiard Hall
Charles Groves
Old Man
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Added May 14, 2026Updated Jun 4, 2026