The Pot Carriers
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | Peter Graham Scott (director), Gordon Scott (producer) |
| Products | Comedy-drama film |
The Pot Carriers is a British comedy-drama motion picture from 1962, directed by Peter Graham Scott and produced by Gordon Scott under the banner of ABPC. Featuring performances by Ronald Fraser, Paul Massie, Carole Lesley, and Dennis Price, the narrative is predominantly set within Wandsworth prison. This film serves as a remake of the 1960 ITV Play of the Week, The Pot Carriers, penned by Mike Watts, who drew upon his own experiences in prison. The plot centers on Rainbow, a young inmate, as he navigates the challenges of his initial imprisonment.
Cast
- Ronald Fraser as Red Band
- Paul Massie as Rainbow
- Carole Lesley as Wendy
- Dennis Price as Smooth Tongue
- Paul Rogers as Governor
- Davy Kaye as Mouse
- Eddie Byrne as Chief Officer Bailey
- Campbell Singer as Prison Officer Mott
- Alfred Burke as Lang
- Patrick McAlinney as Dillon
- Neil McCarthy as Bracket
- Vanda Godsell as Mrs. Red Band
- David Davies as Prison Officer Tom
- David Ensor as Judge
- Keith Faulkner as Young Prisoner
- Norman Chappell as Prisoner Robert
- Alister Williamson as Escorting Prison Officer
- Charles Morgan as Chief Disciplinary Prison Officer
- Martin Wyldeck as Prison Officer Mullins
- Richard Shaw as Prison Officer Willis
- Clifford Earl as Prison Officer (Kitchen)
- Bruce Seton as Prison Officer I / C Cell Block
- John Tate as Prison Officer I / C Visiting Room
- Windsor Davies as Police Constable
- Frank Pettitt as Van Driver
- Sidney Vivian as Bus Conductor
- Douglas Muir as Court Usher
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin remarked on the film’s opening sequence, influenced by nouvelle vague cinema, and its keenly depicted prison routines. The publication commended the lively comedic moments delivered by Ronald Fraser and Davy Kaye. Although the film contains some superficial commentary on social issues such as incarceration and rehabilitation, it sustains both engagement and entertainment throughout.
Rated 3 out of 5 stars by TV Guide, the film was noted for its engaging screenplay and direction that humanize prisoners by portraying them with individuality. It effectively combines humor with a subtle portrayal of the dehumanizing conditions faced by inmates.
David McGillivray, writing for the Radio Times, also awarded it 3/5 stars, describing it as "an unusual yet enjoyable depiction of British prison life during the 1950s." He emphasized the enduring impression left by its representation of monotonous prison routines, including the unpopular practice known as slopping out.