The Kitchen is a 1961 British drama film directed by James Hill and starring Carl Möhner, Mary Yeomans, Brian Phelan, Tom Bell, Eric Pohlmann and James Bolam. The script was by Sidney Cole and Arnold Wesker, based on the 1957 stage play of the same name by Wesker. It was produced by Cole for Act Films Ltd. The film follows the dozen staff in a restaurant's kitchen during the course of one busy morning.

Plot

There is no traditional plot. The film looks at the various relationships between different staff members, a large part having immigrated from Continental Europe. The kitchen staff is almost exclusively male and the waiting staff is exclusively female. The presence of one new member of staff allows each person to be introduced in turn. The owner wanders around checking things. The story looks at the workplace stress, unhealthy environment, bickering between staff, petty thievery, and rather excessive drinking of more than one staff member.