The Agitator

CinematographyJames WilsonEdited byDouglas MyersMusic byJohn GreenwoodDistributed byAnglo-American Film Corporation104 minutesCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglish

The Agitator is a 1945 British drama film directed by John Harlow and starring William Hartnell, Mary Morris and John Laurie.^[1][2] It was written by Edward Dryhurst based on the 1925 novel Peter Pettinger by William Riley. It was made by British National Films at the company's Elstree Studios, with sets designed by the art director Wilfred Arnold.

Ayoung mechanic unexpectedly inherits the large firm where he works and tries to run it according to his socialist political beliefs.

• William Hartnell as Peter Pettinger
• Mary Morris as Lettie Shackleton
• John Laurie as Tom Tetley
• Moore Marriott as Ben Duckett
• J.H. Roberts as Mr. Ambler
• George Carney as Bill Shackleton
• Frederick Leister as Mark Overend
• Joss Ambler as Charles Sheridan, Manager of Overend Works
• Elliott Mason as Mrs. Pettinger
• Cathleen Nesbitt as Mrs. Montrose
• Joyce Heron as Helen Montrose
• Edward Rigby as Charlie Branfield
• Philip Godfrey as Bert Roberts
• Moira Lister as Joan Shackleton
• Beatrice Varley as Mrs. Shackleton
• Cyril Smith as Dunham
• Howard Douglas as Taylor
• Lloyd Pearson as Derek Cunlyffe
• Edgar Driver as Smith
• Bransby Williams as Salvation Army leader

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Here is a strong story which grips its audience up to the moment when it starts to make rather obvious fun of Pettinger in his exalted position – and sometimes even after that. Billy Hartnell makes the most of the character of Peter Pettinger, and on the whole he is well supported by the rest of the cast, which includes such well-known names as John Laurie, Moore Marriott, Joss Ambler, Cathleen Nesbitt and Bransby Williams. Wilfred Arnolds' art direction is good, and John Harlow has kept his direction in key. The film is certainly thought-provoking and a good example of the less lavish type of British production."^[3]

• Gillett, Phillip. The British Working Class in Postwar Film. Manchester University Press, 2003.

• The Agitator at IMDb
• The Agitator then-and-now location photographs at ReelStreets