IMDb >
Room at the Top (1959)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsRoom at the Top (1959) More at IMDbPro »
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
January 1959 (UK)
more
Tagline:
A Savage Story of lust and ambition
Plot:
An ambitious young accountant schemes to wed a wealthy factory owner's daughter, despite falling in love with a married older woman. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Accountant
|
Cocktail Party
|
Ruins
|
1940s
|
Racetrack
more
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars.
Another 8 wins
&
10 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
User Comments:
Wonderful Simone Signoret
more (30 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Simone Signoret | ... | Alice Aisgill |
 | Laurence Harvey | ... | Joe Lampton |
 | Heather Sears | ... | Susan Brown |
| Donald Wolfit | ... | Mr. Brown |
| Donald Houston | ... | Charles Soames |
| Hermione Baddeley | ... | Elspeth |
| Allan Cuthbertson | ... | George Aisgill |
| Raymond Huntley | ... | Mr. Hoylake |
| John Westbrook | ... | Jack Wales |
| Ambrosine Phillpotts | ... | Mrs. Brown |
| Richard Pasco | ... | Teddy |
| Beatrice Varley | ... | Aunt |
| Delena Kidd | ... | Eva |
| Ian Hendry | ... | Cyril |
| April Olrich | ... | Mavis |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
USA:115 min | Argentina:115 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Features the first open reference to the sex act in a British film.
more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: The story takes place in 1947, but all the women's fashions and hairstyles are strictly in the contemporary 1958 mode, when the film went before the cameras.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Three's Company: Room at the Bottom (#5.6)" (1980)
more
FAQ
Midwest Premiere Happened When and Where?more
more (30 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Room at the Top (1959) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| A Place in the Sun | Les liaisons dangereuses | The Cider House Rules | Tunes of Glory | Shakespeare in Love |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb UK section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |
Set in an English factory town, "Room At The Top" tells the story of an ambitious, blue-collar cad named Joe Lampton (Laurence Harvey), the film's anti-hero, attracted to two women. One woman is his boss's daughter; ergo, she is his ticket to a bright financial future. The other is an older woman named Alice (Simone Signoret).
The script trends in the direction of melodramatic soap opera, with emphasis on character development. It's rather talky. And the plot is somewhat slow. On the other hand, because of the way in which sexual relationships are portrayed, the script was a bit ahead of its time. The story has a lot to say about individual sacrifice.
The film's naturalistic, B&W lighting is fine. Background music is nondescript and unimportant. The most significant element of the film, perhaps, is the high quality of acting. Both Donald Wolfit and Hermione Baddeley give really fine performances in support roles. But, of course, the real reason to see "Room At The Top" is to marvel at the outstanding performance of Simone Signoret, who won the Oscar for Best Actress in a lead role.
Although this is not my kind of film, it is very well made. It's an important film, both for its avant-garde sexual content and for the acting achievement of wonderful Simone Signoret.