Look Back in Anger

Drama | English | 98 minutes

Info

Jimmy Porter is a brutally vicious man who vents his anger against Alison, his submissive wife. When Jimmy asks Alison what she wants, she responds, “Peace.” They live in a shabby attic flat with Cliff, Jimmy’s partner running a candy stall in the local market. Tensions between Jimmy and Alison escalate when Alison invites an actress friend, Helena, to stay with them while she’s rehearsing in a play. The same day that Ma Turner, the kind woman who lent Jimmy money to open his candy stall, has a stroke, Alison decides to leave Jimmy and live with her father in his country house. Jimmy learns the reason Alison left him is she was pregnant. Jimmy and Helena begin to fight, but eventually they begin an affair. One day, Jimmy and Helena see Alison sitting alone at the train station, disconsolate. Alison lost the baby. Helena, wracked with guilt, leaves Jimmy. Alison and Jimmy now hope they might be able to reconcile.

Cast

Richard Burton (Jimmy Porter) / Mary Ure (Alison Porter) / Claire Bloom (Helena Charles) / Gary Raymond (Cliff Lewis) / Edith Evans (Ma Tanner)

Why Stream This Film?

A film that comes to mind in depicting a raging, sadistic, sensual man is Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire. Matching the venom of Kowalski, but also the brilliance of Brando, is Richard Burton in Look Back in Anger.

Rotten Tomatoes Score (Critics Consensus): 92%
Metacritic Score: 69

Accolades

BAFTA Awards: Nominated, Best British Film; Best British Actor (Richard Burton); Best British Screenplay (Nigel Kneale)
Golden Globe Awards: Nominated, Best Actor (Richard Burton)
National Board of Review: Listed, Top Ten Films of the Year

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