The film was the big cinematic claim to fame of my home town of Macclesfield, Cheshire, England where the exteriors were shot.
It portrays the often grim reality of life in a northern mill town when poverty and disease tool a grim toll and a Doctor (played by Trevor Howard) could be a really vital link between life and death contrasted with the ambitious figure of Mills as the would be Mayor. The film starts with him as Mayor looking back on his life, so a lot of it is therefore a flash back.
I won't spoil the story. The acting shows the young and developing talents of both Mills and Howard before they were the legends they were to become.
Following its rediscovery it has been released on video. I don't think it has yet been released on DVD.
It portrays the often grim reality of life in a northern mill town when poverty and disease tool a grim toll and a Doctor (played by Trevor Howard) could be a really vital link between life and death contrasted with the ambitious figure of Mills as the would be Mayor. The film starts with him as Mayor looking back on his life, so a lot of it is therefore a flash back.
I won't spoil the story. The acting shows the young and developing talents of both Mills and Howard before they were the legends they were to become.
Following its rediscovery it has been released on video. I don't think it has yet been released on DVD.