Love on the Dole

Overview

Depressing and realistic family drama about the struggles of unemployment and poverty in 1930s Lancashire. The 20-year-old Kerr gives an emotionally charged performance as Hardcastle, one of the cotton workers trying to make life better. Interlaced with humour that brings a ray of sunshine to the pervasive bleakness, this remains a powerful social study of life between the wars, and was a rare problem picture to come out of Britain at the time.

Directed by John Baxter

Top cast

Deborah Kerr

Sally

Clifford Evans

Larry

George Carney

Mr. Hardcastle

Mary Merrall

Mrs. Hardcastle

Geoffrey Hibbert

Harry

Joyce Howard

Helen

Frank Cellier

Sam Grundy

Martin Walker

Ned Narkey

Maire O'Neill

Mrs. Dorbell

I

Iris Vandeleur

Mrs. Nattle

Marie Ault

Mrs. Jike

Marjorie Rhodes

Mrs. Bull

Sebastian Cabot

Man in Crowd at Betting Payout

T

Terry Conlin

Ted Munter

A. Bromley Davenport

Pawnbroker

Peter Gawthorne

Police Supt

M

Muriel George

Landlady

P

Philip Godfrey

Charlie - Sam Grundy's Assistant

Kenneth Griffith

Harry's Pal in Billiard Hall

Charles Groves

Old Man

Details