The Angry Silence

The Angry Silence
Directed by	Guy Green
Produced by	Richard Attenborough Bryan Forbes Jack Rix
Written by	Bryan Forbes Michael Craig Richard Gregson
Starring	Richard Attenborough Pier Angeli Michael Craig Bernard Lee
Music by	Malcolm Arnold
Cinematography	Arthur Ibbetson
Edited by	Anthony Harvey
Distributed by	British Lion Film Corporation
Release date	15 March 1960
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£97,000

The Angry Silence is a 1960 black-and-white British drama film directed by Guy Green and starring Richard Attenborough, Pier Angeli, Michael Craig and Bernard Lee. The film marked the first release through screenwriter Bryan Forbes's production venture, Beaver Films and Forbes won a BAFTA Award and an Oscar nomination for his contribution (shared with original story writers Michael Craig and Richard Gregson).

The story is about working class factory worker Tom Curtis (Richard Attenborough) who refuses to take part in an unofficial strike organised by agent provocateur Travers (Alfred Burke). Curtis finds himself ostracised by the other workers and accused of being a scab. Curtis has two children and his wife, Anna (Pier Angeli) is pregnant. He faces a painful dilemma when choosing between doing what is morally right (and the choice of his fellow work colleagues) and what is bidden by the rules. He is not persuaded to participate in the strike by violence, as some of the other dissenters, but is given the silent treatment instead.

The film is also notable for the early appearance of several actors who later went on to become household names, such as Oliver Reed.

Kenneth More was initially considered for the lead role which Richard Attenborough played.

The film received positive reviews in the UK and US. Variety wrote that Guy Green had directed with "quiet skill, leaving the film to speak for itself". The film was entered into the 10th Berlin International Film Festival.

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