Chance of a Lifetime (1950): Cast & Plot
Chance of a Lifetime is a 1950 drama starring Basil Radford as Dickinson, John Harvey and Geoffrey Keen. It runs 1 hour 29 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 29m (89 min)
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Pilgrim Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Chance of a Lifetime About?
The premise of Chance of a Lifetime without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The workers in a small plough factory take over the firm, but when a large order falls through, the old management come back to help out.
Chance of a Lifetime Themes & Keywords
· 35 tags- experimental film
- parody comedy
- management
- worker
- factory
- wish
- mistake
- labor
- england
- challenge
- union
- tractor
+23 more Show fewer
- tea
- social experiment
- small town
- role reversal
- post world war two
- plow
- parody
- labor union
- industrial
- farm
- experiment
- equipment
- election
- complaint
- complaining
- coworker coworker relationship
- cigarette smoking
- change
- bank
- bank clerk
- advisor
- 1950s
- 1940s
Chance of a Lifetime Cast & Characters
Basil Radford leads the cast as Dickinson, with John Harvey as Bland and Geoffrey Keen as Bolger.
- Basil Radford as Dickinson
- John Harvey as Bland
-
Geoffrey Keen as Bolger -
Niall MacGinnis as Baxter
Also Starring in Chance of a Lifetime
· 34 more- Bernard Miles Stevens
- Julien Mitchell Morris
- Josephine Wilson Miss Cooper
- Compton MacKenzie Sir Robert Dysart
- Russell Waters Palmer
- Eric Pohlmann Xenobian
- Kenneth More Adam
- Gordon McLeod Garrett
- Patrick Troughton Kettle
- Sam Kydd Worker
- Peter Jones Xenobian
- Hattie Jacques Alice
- Leonard Sharp Mitch
- Amy Veness Lady Davis
- Erik Chitty Silas Pike
- Norman Pierce Franklin
Show all 38 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Hilda Fenemore Worker
- Alastair Hunter Groves
- Peggy Ann Clifford Worker
- Bernard Rebel Xenobian
- George Street 1st Trade Union Man
- Stanley Van Beers Calvert
- Basil Cunard Worker
- Noel Dyson Tea Lady
- Stanley Rose 2nd Trade Union Man
- Mollie Palmer Millie
- Donald Tandy Worker
- Jim Watts Worker
- Nigel Fitzgerald Pennington
- Helen Harvey Worker
- Tony Halfpenny Worker
- John Boddington Bank Clerk
- Henry Bryce Worker
- Howell Davies Worker
Chance of a Lifetime Plot Summary
What happens in Chance of a Lifetime from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the years of postwar austerity, Dickinson struggles to keep his failing agricultural-implements factory afloat. The workforce is restive, resenting the heavy-handed management of Bland, and they repeatedly feel ignored as issues pile up. After Dickinson installs a suggestion box to listen to workers, late responses from Bland only deepen tensions. When Bolger [Geoffrey Keen] is sacked, the anger boils over into a full strike. In a bold moment, Dickinson prods the sentiment by arguing that he works harder than they do and dares the workers to run the business themselves. The revolt takes on a life of its own as Baxter [Niall MacGinnis] rallies the others, and they elect Stevens [Bernard Miles] and Morris [Julien Mitchell] to run things.
Full summary
The whole story of Chance of a Lifetime, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Chance of a Lifetime?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the primary product that the factory specializes in producing?
Cars in Chance of a Lifetime
14 cars on screen, including the 1937 Austin 14/6 Goodwood and the 1939 Commer Supervan.
-
1937 Austin 14/6 Goodwood Important role -
1939 Commer Supervan Important role -
1947 Ferguson TEA 20 Important role -
1935 Albion 3½ Ton Minor role
Seen Chance of a Lifetime?
Movies Like Chance of a Lifetime
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Chance, Chance at Heaven and Opportunity Knocks.
Chance of a Lifetime FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, cast and post-credit scenes of Chance of a Lifetime, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Chance of a Lifetime?
Chance of a Lifetime runs 1 hour 29 minutes (89 minutes).
When was Chance of a Lifetime released?
Chance of a Lifetime was released on April 24, 1950.
Who is in the cast of Chance of a Lifetime?
Chance of a Lifetime stars Basil Radford as Dickinson, John Harvey as Bland and Geoffrey Keen as Bolger, among 38 credited actors.
Does Chance of a Lifetime have a post-credit scene?
No. Chance of a Lifetime has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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