Ealing classic The Man in the White Suit on 4K UHD in September
22 July 2025
StudioCanal has announced the release of a newly restored version of the Ealing classic The Man in the White Suit (1951), starring Alec Guinness (Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Lavender Hill Mob). Directed by the great Alexander Mackendrick (The Ladykillers, Whisky Galore!), this 4K restoration of the classic BAFTA and Oscar nominated comedy will receive its premiere at The Edinburgh International Film Festival. The screening will take place on Tuesday 19 August at 4pm at the Edinburgh Filmhouse. Tickets are available now.
A special 2-disc 4K UHD Collector’s Edition featuring a 64-page booklet, an A2 poster of original artwork and a host of extras material will be available to own from 15 September via StudioCanal’s Vintage Classics label.
Ealing Studios’ output from the 1940s and 1950s helped define what was arguably the golden age for British cinema. It fostered great directors such as Alexander Mackendrick and Robert Hamer, while giving stars such as Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers the chance to shine. This new restoration of The Man in the White Suit is a testament to the studio’s exceptional output during that era.
Sidney Stratton (Alec Guinness), a humble inventor, develops a fabric which never gets dirty or wears out. This would seem to be a boon for mankind, but the established garment manufacturers don’t see it that way; they try to suppress it. Nevertheless, Sidney is determined to put his invention on the market, forcing the clothing factory bigwigs to resort to more desperate measures.
Also starring Joan Greenwood (Kind Hearts & Coronets, Whisky Galore!), Cecil Parker (The Ladykillers, I was Monty’s Double) and Michael Gough (Batman, The Small Back Room), the film was BAFTA-nominated for Best Film and Best British Film, and Oscar-nominated for Best Screenplay.
The Man in the White Suit will be released as a 4K UHD Collector's Edition by StudioCanal on 15 September 2025 at the pre-order price of £40.
4K UHD COLLECTOR'S EDITION SPECIAL FEATURES:
NEW Matthew Sweet on The Man in The White Suit
Extract from BEHP audio interview with Bernard Gribble
Revisiting The Man in The White Suit – director Stephen Frears, film historian Ian Christie, and author and British film historian Richard Dacre discuss the unique qualities of The Man in the White Suit as well as the legacy of its director, Alexander Mackendrick
Audio Commentary by Film Historian Dr. Dean Brandum
T for Teacher (1947) – The Tea Bureau sets out the golden rules for a perfect brew. Animation designed by Peter Sachs, words by Roger MacDougall
