Sidney Stratton (Alec Guinness) is a brilliant if underappreciated research chemist on a quest to bring progress to mankind by inventing a new kind of fabric that never gets dirty and never wears out. When he finally succeeds, he is hailed a genius. But both textile manufacturers and labor unions soon come to realize that his miracle cloth could destroy their industry, and resort to desperate measures to make sure his invention never gets to market. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing, Alec Guinness delivers one of his most beloved performances in this smart satirical comedy.